Guilt for what?
Rhett cleared his throat. “I’m going to leave the two of you alone. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
Wren glanced back at him, but he was already turning and walking away.
My legs grew restless, and I paced the length of my room. I ran my hand through my hair, avoiding the horns. “Fuck!Who did they think they were talking about me like that? They had no right, no fucking right.”
“Damien.” The tinkle of her voice stopped my inner ramblings, and I turned to face my little bird. She shut the door and came closer to me. Her shoulders trembled as she stood before me, and it broke my fucking heart. “When I was checking on Rhett, I—”
“I know,” I growled, my shadows whipping around me, slicing my skin in a comforting sting. “There’s not a fucking moment in time, unless I tell you, that I’m not watching you.”
She bit down on her bottom lip. “I thought that was the case.”
“I should’ve killed the maids for doing that… not just cut out their tongues—”
“You cut out their tongues?” Her voice rose an octave.
“No, I didn’t.” I pouted. “I wanted to. Imayhave pierced through one of their tongues, though, before I decided not to.”
“Damien.” She reached for me, and I flinched. My body reacted from the trauma, slipping into fight-or-flight mode for a moment.
But the little gasp that left my mate’s lips brought me back. “I’m so sorry, Damien.”
Pushing the fear away, I moved forward. I caught her hands in mine and pressed my lips against her trembling fingers. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to flinch.”
Wren shook her head slowly, a ton of different emotions flashing in her eyes. “You never have to apologize for that. I’m the one who’s sorry. I didn’t know that I would trigger a reaction like that.”
My gaze flicked down. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be sorry, Damien. I—I didn’t mean to hurt you.” More guilt and frustration for herself poured through the bond.
I squeezed her hands tighter in mine. “You didn’t hurt me, little bird. It’s not you at all. I’m so fucked up. You don’t even know the half of it.”
“Then tell me. It doesn’t matter what happened. Let me be there for you. Your past is your past, but the lingering trauma is something we can work through together.”
I dropped her hands and forced out another breath. “I didn’t want you to find out like this.”
“If you aren’t ready to tell me, I understand. We don’t have to talk about it.” Sincerity filtered through our bond.
My heart pounded in my chest hard enough to crack a rib bone. That pain would’ve been be delicious. “I need to tell you. I can’t risk someone else telling you.”
Her hand reached out for me again, but she hesitated.
I frowned. Why did I have to fucking flinch? I hadn’t flinched around anyone in such a long time. I swallowed down the sour feeling of helplessness as I moved toward the bed. I dropped on the end of it and reached out my hand for Wren. “Come here. I need to touch you.”
Pink blossomed over her cheeks, and her gaze darted down to her feet.
I chuckled. I loved how innocent she was before she met us, and she still acted shy. But fucking Kalista, having my cock inside her was a blessing. “Not in that way. Not right now, little bird.”
Her eyes lifted to mine as she came forward and put her little hand in mine.
I pulled her down beside me, and she bounced a little as her butt hit the edge. “You know, I always wanted to be a vengeance demon like my parents. That’s not what the Fates had planned for me, though. I didn’t practice with my shadows very much as a teenager because I thought the Fates hated me or that they didn’t do their job properly.”
“I love what you are,” she murmured, and my shadows throbbed as if they recognized her words.
“Instead of seeking out pain for the sake of pain like many Shadow Demons do, I helped my parents cause vengeance on those who deserved it and fed off their pain.” I gripped her hand tight. “Please don’t get upset with what I tell you.”
She leaned her cheek against my shoulder, and the warmth that spread through me assured me she wouldn’t think less of me.
