Page 6 of Secrets Of Blackwood
“Come now, Damien, aren’t you overstepping your bounds?” Alexander’s voice is slick, oozing false charm. His green eyes flicker with the thrill of provocation, challenging me, challenging my will to keep my fury leashed.
“Back off, Sinclair,” I growl, every syllable dripping with venom. The words rumble through me, deep and resonant, a primal sound that marks my territory. “I’m not playing games here.”
He tilts his head, feigning innocence, but the malice in his gaze is unmistakable. “Oh, but isn’t this what you live for? The knight in tarnished armor, rushing to save the damsel from dragons of your own kind?”
“Watch your mouth,” I snap, heat flushing my skin as I step closer, invading his space. The warning is clear in my posture, in the tension of my muscles—a predator ready to strike. “If you so much as breathe in her direction again, you’ll regret it.”
Alexander’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. It’s a mask, hiding the serpent beneath. But he knows when the odds are against him, and today, the scales tip in my favor. He backs away, slow and deliberate, his laughter a silent taunt echoing in my mind.
Lily stands behind me, her presence a calm in the storm. I can feel her gaze, heavy with things unsaid, things we’re both afraid to acknowledge. I turn to her, pushing aside the darkness that clings to my soul, and offer a semblance of peace in a world brimming with chaos.
“Are you okay?” I ask, my voice losing the harsh edge it carried moments ago. Concern laces each syllable, genuine and insistent. Lily’s response matters more than I’d like to admit, and as I wait for her words, I realize that this isn’t just about protection anymore. There’s something else here, something dangerous and alluring.
“Thank you, Damien,” she replies, her voice steadier now, and I sense the steel beneath her soft exterior—an echo of the strength I see in myself. Her gratitude wraps around me, warm and unsettling.
“Always,” I promise, and it feels like a vow—one that could either save us or destroy us both.
* * *
Lily
Damien’s muscles coil, and I recognize the lethal calm before a storm. My breath hitches as I watch him, feeling an unexpected surge of safety in his presence. His gaze never wavers from Alexander, and I’m caught in the crossfire of their silent battle.
“Enough,” Damien growls, the word slicing through the tension like a knife.
Alexander’s smirk fades for just a moment, replaced by a flash of something darker. Yet he doesn’t move to strike; instead, he raises an eyebrow, amusement dancing in those predatory green eyes. “For now,” he murmurs, his voice a low hum that sends shivers down my spine.
Then he steps back, the motion smooth as silk and just as deceptive. It’s not a retreat, but a strategic withdrawal. He tosses one last look over his shoulder, eyes locked on Damien, a silent vow to revisit this unfinished clash.
As Alexander melds into the crowd, my gaze clings to Damien, and I feel the world tilt. The intensity in his stance eases, but the surrounding air still crackles with the aftermath of confrontation. I swallow hard, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest that has nothing to do with fear.
“Thank you,” I whisper, hoping my voice doesn’t betray the tremor I feel inside. Damien’s gray eyes meet mine, and there’s a storm brewing there too, but it feels like one meant to protect rather than destroy.
The courtyard’s din fades to a dull murmur as Damien shifts his focus from the dispersing crowd to the girl before him. The hint of a smile plays on his lips, cutting through the severity that marks his features. He steps closer, and my breath hitches at the proximity. His hand raises, and I brace for a touch I’m not sure I’m ready for.
“Are you alright?” he asks, voice softer than I’d expect from someone who just stood up to Alexander Sinclair.
His fingers are gentle as they brush a loose strand of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear with care that belies his rugged exterior. It’s an intimate gesture, one that sends warmth cascading down my spine.
My gaze lifts to meet his stormy eyes, and I’m struck by the shift in him. Where there was ice, there now seems to be a flicker of something warmer. My heart thumps against my ribcage, each beat echoing the confusion and intrigue swirling within me. Vulnerability washes over me, yet I feel a strange sense of safety under his gaze.
“Thank you,” I manage, voice faint, a whisper carried away on the breeze. There’s a depth to Damien, shadows and light warring in his eyes. He’s a mystery, a protector cloaked in the guise of danger, and I’m drawn to him. In this moment, surrounded by whispers and wandering eyes, the connection between us feels like the only real thing.
* * *
Damien
“Can you stand?” I ask, my voice an indistinct murmur meant only for her ears. The concern I feel is genuine, almost surprising me with its intensity. Around us, the courtyard continues to pulse with adolescent energy, but my focus narrows to the tremble I see in her delicate frame.
“Y-yes,” Lily replies, her voice carrying over the cacophony of our peers. She steadies herself, and I’m aware of the slender strength in her as she rises to full height. Her gratitude is palpable, yet there’s a hesitation in her eyes, a wariness that shadows the blue depths like storm clouds on a clear day.
Lily
His question anchors me, and for a moment, I forget we’re surrounded by a sea of curious onlookers. His presence is both commanding and reassuring, a living contradiction that holds my attention more than anything else.
“Thank you, Damien,” I whisper, feeling the weight of his name on my tongue. It feels intimate, too familiar for two people who’ve shared nothing but a charged moment of defiance. I can’t ignore the pull I feel towards him, an attraction that simmers beneath my skin, even as I sense the darkness that clings to him like a second shadow.
“Be careful around Sinclair,” he cautions, his tone threaded with an edge that suggests he knows more than what he lets on. “He’s not one to let things go easily.”