Cat stirred, and her eyelids fluttered open. She turned her head slightly, her eyes adjusting to the dim light until they finally focused on me. There was a moment of confusion, then a flicker of surprise before her features relaxed.
“Damien?” she whispered, her voice hoarse with sleep.
I squeezed her hand and offered a small, reassuring smile. “I'm here,” I said quietly.
“Why?” There was an undercurrent of curiosity, perhaps, or the faint trace of vulnerability, which was rare for Cat.
“I needed to know you were safe,” I replied, my voice low and even. “After everything that's happened, I couldn't rest until I saw you with my own eyes.”
She watched me for a long moment, her gaze searching mine. Then she slowly nodded and a faint smile curved her lips. “I'm glad you're here,” she admitted. The simple honesty of her words struck a chord deep within me.
As the first light of dawn began to filter through the window, bathing the room in muted, golden light, we sat in silence, neither of us needing to speak. In that moment, with the world held at bay, it felt like nothing could touch us. Here, in this quiet room, there was just the two of us, and that was enough.
19
CAT
When dawn’s light crept through the window, I stirred and was surprised to find Damien's hand still clasped in mine. I sat up and blinked the sleep from my eyes, startled to find him watching over me.
“Did you even sleep?” I asked, attempting to lighten the mood despite the stiffness of my back.
He shook his head, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips. “No, I stayed awake to be sure you were safe.”
I let out a half-laugh, half-sigh. “Guard duty? That’s a bit out of character for the notorious Shadow Prince, isn’t it?”
Damien’s expression was unreadable. “I needed to make sure you were safe,” he repeated.
When I stretched my arms, the soreness from my lashing punishment made itself known. “Well, since you’re here, I might as well update you on the drama. It’s better than reality TV.”
Damien raised a brow in confusion. “What happened?”
“It’s Lord Zacharia and Gianna,” I began, my tone turning serious. “The punishment wasn’t just for what happened at the banquet. It goes deeper than that. I think they struck a deal. The whole thing reeks of an inside job.”
His brow furrowed. “A deal? With Gianna?”
I nodded, certain that the pieces were clicking into place.
“Thorne mentioned something,” Damien said, his voice low. “He believes the emperor might be orchestrating this, pushing Zacharia into a corner. He thought your punishment was a power play, more about sending a message. I don’t think it has anything to do with Gianna.”
I let out a dry laugh. “Great, we’re all pawns on a chess board. Any idea what the endgame is?”
Damien shook his head. “Not yet, but I’m looking into it. We need to tread carefully. But honestly, I believe it was to punish you for standing up to Julian.”
“Tread carefully,” I echoed mockingly. “In high heels, no less. Just how I always imagined my espionage adventures.”
He gave a small, appreciative smile at my attempt to lighten the mood. “I’ll help you through this, whatever it takes.”
“Promise?” I asked, only half-joking.
“Promise,” he affirmed.
The room was silent for a moment, the implications of our situation settling around us like the dust motes dancing in the morning light. I could tell it would be a long day.
“You should go.” I squeezed his hand. “Maeve will be arriving any minute now to wash my face and brush my teeth.”
Damien nodded. “I know. I just…”
“I know,” I said. “Oddly enough, I don’t want to part with you, either,” I whispered. It was a strange feeling. Not too long ago, I hated Damien. A small part of me still did because he was keeping me from going home. But another part of me had grown close to him. I didn’t know if it was real, or if it was this damn bond he was always rambling about. Whatever the case was, he was becoming a comfort for me. And that was a dangerous feeling.
