Being the devoted wife I am, I make him happy.
"Yes. My husband. We'll be there in two days. Tell Ivette I'd prefer Damien not spend the evening with food poisoning, so she should skip making her ‘famous’ pasta."
I don't wait for her reply or for her to tell me that I'm exaggerating, that I'm selfish for not inviting them to the wedding. I haven't been to therapy, but I don't need a degree to recognize their patterns.
If I complained about anything, suddenly I was ungrateful for all their hard work keeping me in dance classes or school. If Aria got something I wanted, I was selfish for not celebrating my sister's joy. Though they only pulled out that sister card when it suited them. The rest of the time? They made damn sure I knew I was extra baggage. The piece that didn't fit in their perfect little family picture.
"So I’m about to meet the in-laws," Damien murmurs against my neck.
"Unfortunately." I close my eyes.
I want to stay here. Inside these four walls where there's no serial killer hunting me. Where he doesn't have Council votes weighing on his shoulders. Where my family can't reach me.
A knock echoes through the room, and reality crashes back in.
"Damien, it's urgent." Vasili's voice carries through the door.
Damien lets out a low protest but pulls back anyway. Cold air rushes in where his warmth had been, and I hate how much I already miss his touch.
He slips into the bathroom and comes back moments later, tugging a black shirt over his head. I let myself really look at him in the morning light. Ink swirls across his arms, neck, and chest in intricate patterns. A silver hoop in his ear catches the light, and with those dark waves falling over his forehead, he's dangerous. Devastating. Mine.
"Keep staring like that and you're going to make me blush, baby."
"Impossible. You're too shameless for that." I stand, needing to get ready myself. I have calls to make for Marco's party, and I want to see Luna today.
"True." He catches my wrist as I pass. "So please, keep undressing me with your eyes."
When I glance back, he winks and heat floods my face.
I retreat to the bathroom and grip the counter, knuckles whitening as I force myself to meet my own gaze in the mirror.
Cover those dark circles.Look at your skin. It's so dry. So pale. God, you can't let anyone see you like this.
Aria's call stirred all of this up, but even knowing that, I can’t make it stop right away. After a few slow, steady breaths, the whispers finally start to fade, slipping back into the background where they belong.
When I emerge looking halfway human, Damien is leaning against the doorframe like he's been there for a while, waiting.
"I thought you left."
"Not without saying goodbye." He closes the distance between us in two easy strides. "I'll be home for dinner."
My heart kicks hard against my ribs.
I nod and press a soft kiss to his cheek, my lips lingering for a second longer than they should. "Be careful," I whisper against his skin.
"I'm leaving two men with you today." His fingers brush my temple as he tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear, a gesture so gentle it almost hurts. Then he's gone, the space he leaves behind feeling too big, too empty.
"Thank God you're here to rescue me," Luna says when I walk into Roman's house.
"From what?" I laugh at her exasperated expression.
"From my control freak fiancé, who would monitor my breathing if he could."
Guilt knifes through me. This is my fault. Because of what happened with The Bloody Dahlia.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's just Roman jumping at the excuse to watch me twenty-four seven." She grins. "Though I won't lie, I'm using it to keep him home more."
