The Unspoken Promise

His scent permeated the room.

The heat of that kiss hung in the air, dense and oppressive, even though Damian had moved away and his lips were no longer against me.

My breath was shallow and my heart was pounding as I stood motionless.

What on earth had just occurred?

I could see the reluctance and the war waging beneath Damian's icy façade, even if his eyes were fixed on mine and inscrutable. His mouth tightened as if he were making himself maintain his distance.

The man who had just kissed me as if he wanted to eat me whole was now staring at me as if I were a threat.

Something he had to get away from.

Then he turned away without saying anything.

As simple as that.

As if the kiss had been in vain.

As if I didn't matter.

I resisted showing the terrible pain that wrenched in my chest. "That's it?" I didn't care if my voice sounded coarser than I had intended. "You just walk away after kissing me like that?"

With his hands resting on the edge of his desk, Damian faced away from me. His broad shoulders were shadowed by the flickering firelight, and he appeared to be struggling to keep his body together.

"You ought to leave, Lyra," he remarked in a quiet, steady voice.

Go?

After all?

"No." With my fists clenched, I took a step forward. "I won't just—"

With a tone that could have sliced through my chest, he said, "This was a mistake."

An error.

The lump in my throat was swallowed. "So why did you give me a kiss?"

Not a word.

The sort that was too lengthy and pressed against my ribs like a big weight.

At last, he turned and met my gaze with his dark blue eyes. Something was there, something unadulterated, something in struggle. But immediately he was burying it under that icy, unreadable mask, shutting it down.

He said, "You want the truth?"

Despite my doubts about my ability to handle it, I nodded.

With a step closer, Damian moved the air between us. He spoke in a low, almost menacing voice. "Because I wanted to break you see if I could."

The words struck me with the force of a physical blow.

Shatter me.

To him, that was all this was. An examination?

Something broke inside of me, but I forced myself to look him in the eye. "Then you didn't succeed," I said.

His gaze grew gloomy.

"Did I?"

Something deep inside me stirred when he uttered it, a mixture of rage and something much more deadly.

However, I would not provide him with the satisfaction.

I raised my chin while speaking steadily. Indeed. Because, Damian, I don't break.

His jaw muscle twitched, and for a moment I thought I caught a glimpse of sorrow flickering in his face. However, it vanished as swiftly.

He turned away without another word.

Dismissed.

As if my presence were merely a bother.

Alright.

He could play this game if he so desired.

I walked out, slamming the door behind me as I whirled on my heel.

---

That night, I hardly slept at all.

I could feel his hands on me, his lips, and the way he kissed me as if he couldn't stop himself every time I closed my eyes.

Then his words, which wounded me harder than they should have, replayed in my head: because I wanted to test if I could shatter you.

I finished by dawn.

Whatever game Damian was attempting to start, it was finished. I'm done allowing him to influence my thoughts.

I would give him distance if that was what he desired.

I wouldn't allow myself to be seduced by a man who viewed me as only an obstacle to overcome.

My heart thumped when I saw him standing in the kitchen, drinking his coffee as if nothing had occurred, but I chose to ignore it when I came downstairs.

I didn't say anything as I passed him.

I was stopped by his voice.

"Where are you heading?"

I turned, forcing myself to maintain a neutral expression. "Out."

His eyes swept over me, evaluating. “By yourself?”

I folded my arms. "Why? Do I require authorization?

Damian put down his coffee and breathed through his nostrils. "It's not secure."

There was no comedy in my laughter. "And who is to blame for that?"

He clenched his jaw. "Lyra—"

"No," I interrupted, my tone piercing. "This is not yours to do. After what you said last night, you are not entitled to behave as though you care.

Not a word.

His shoulders were tense, and his fingers curled slightly against the counter, but his face was still unreadable.

At last, he said something. "Return by noon."

I squinted. "Or what?"

With an overwhelming presence, Damian took a step closer. "Or I'll come look for you."

Despite the quietness of his words, the danger was obvious.

I raised my chin despite the chill that went down my spine. "You don't frighten me, Damian."

His lips were pulled by a ghost of a grin. "You ought to be."

Ignoring the pounding of my heart in my ears, I turned and left.

---

In an attempt to decompress, I wandered the city for the next few hours.

But I was unable to get away from him no matter how far I walked.

Everything was still there, encircling me like an unseen chain: the taste of his lips, the recollection of his touch, and the way he had gazed at me the night before.

I detested it.

I detested the fact that, despite everything, he still annoyed me.

I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I hardly paid attention to the black automobile parked across the street.

Not until the door opened.

I went cold.

With her shoes clicking on the sidewalk, a woman emerged.

Wolfe, Victoria.

The mother of Damian.

She came closer, her eyes calculating and cold, and I swallowed hard.

She smiled slowly as she said, "I was wondering when we'd finally get the chance to talk."

All of my instincts told me that this was wrong.

Horrible.

"What are you looking for?" I asked, maintaining a steady tone.

Victoria studied me with a tilt of her head. “As a warning to you.”

I tensed up.

"A cautionary tale?"

Her grin broadened, but it lacked warmth.

"Go, Lyra," she said with ease. "Before it is too late."

I made myself look at her even though my stomach churned.

"You don't scare me."

Victoria laughed quietly. "Oh," she whispered, taking a step toward him. "You ought to be."

Her voice was a whisper against my ear as she leaned closer.

"Because you won't survive what comes next if you stay."

A shiver went through my body.

She turned and walked back to her car before I could reply, and without saying another word, she slipped inside.

My hands were squeezed into fists as I stood there, my heart racing.

I had been told by Damian that his mother was dangerous.

However, I suspected that even he was unaware of the extent of her willingness.

What's the worst?

I didn't know if he would protect me from her.

Or if he would allow her to ruin me.