Ava watches as Damon stands to his feet, his expression turning fierce. "Who the hell do you think you are to touch what's mine?" he growls, his voice filled with possessiveness. At that moment, Alex steps forward, placing me protectively behind him, and chuckles.
"Don't think I don't know who you are," Alex retorts, his voice laced with anger. "You mean to say what you stole. She was mine, my bride-to-be before you showed up and took her away from me. You murdered her."
"Murdered her??" Damon chuckles, his amusement evident. "I thought you had brains, but now I see how much of a fool you are. I never murdered her... if I did, she wouldn't ever show up in this world."
Confused by their exchange, I take a step back, trying to make sense of the situation. Who are they arguing about? "Please, stop!" I interject, my voice cracking with emotion. "Don't hurt him. Damon means well."
My words seem to pierce through the tension, and Damon reluctantly lets go of Alex's hand, stepping back. I rush towards him, hugging him tightly, tears streaming down my face. "Please, Damon... don't let this escalate. I believe in you. You're a good person." I look up, meeting his eyes, hoping to convey my trust and support.
All I see in his eyes is a mix of terror and dismay. I don't want to disappoint him in any way. "Damon?" I whisper, searching for a glimmer of the kind-hearted Damon that I've come to know.
"Let's go, Ava," Alex tries touching me, but I step back and shake my head. "Ava?"
"I'm sorry, Alex, but I am going with Damon," I mumbled. Damon didn't look happy, his expression somber as he held my hand and pulled me away from Alex and the forest. Moving towards his horse, he lifted me and sat me on it.
The ride back to the palace was quiet. "What's wrong?" I asked, but he didn't reply. "Damon!" Still, no reply. What happened? Did I say something wrong?
Arriving at the palace, he stepped down and helped me but instead of going to our room, he took me to some other, larger room.
Shutting the door, I hold his hand, stopping him from moving. "What's wrong? You can't just bring me to this strange land and not talk to me."
"Let go of my hand, Ava," he looks at me, his eyes back to normal but still filled with anger.
"What did I do?"
"You begged me for another man?" His words hit me, and I could feel how angry he was. "He punched me, that didn't matter to you, but when I was about to do the same, you stop me... Do you care about Alex that much?"
"No, it's just that..." Before I could continue my sentence, I sneezed thrice. "It's just that he was too..." Sneezing again, Damon still looks angry as he lifts me and takes me to the bathroom. "What are you doing?" I question as he unzips my dress.
"You're going to catch a cold."
"I don't need you seeing me naked."
"You don't have a choice."
"Of course I do. I can bathe myself," I growl and hold onto my dress, but that doesn't stop him from unhooking my bra, his hands on my back. "You can leave."
"Ava?"
"I'm not going to stand here and let you bathe me, Damon," my face is completely red, and I make sure my back is turned to him. What happens next surprises me because his hand rests on my rear, and it's not just a normal touch... he spanks it, and it hurts.
"Ouch."
"Turn around."
"No." Another slap comes, and I fight the urge to cover my rear because if I do, the dress will fall to my waist. "Stop it, Damon."
"Turn around, Ava."
"Go away," I growl and then move away. The bathtub is big enough to leave space between us. Turning around, I still see that angry expression on his face. He runs his hands through his hair before taking off his clothes. My face must have reddened even more as I catch a glimpse of his manhood.
He doesn't say much, picks up a bar of soap, rubs it all over his body, takes his bath, grabs a towel, and then he's out of the bathroom. He didn't even try anything funny with me. I did expect him to try and touch me, but I won't give in or anything of that sort.
Taking off my dress, I slowly took my bath, thinking about everything that happened today and what they were talking about. Alex and Damon know each other. The way they were speaking signifies that they have known each other for a very long time.
But what caused such a huge grievance between them?
The look on their faces was pure hatred.
It was the first time I saw Alex looking so angry, so angry that he wanted nothing else but to kill Damon. And Damon, on the other hand, seemed pissed that he pulled me away from him.
What these two men need is some guidance and understanding.
Standing up, I grab a towel, tie it around my body, and step out. I find Damon sitting on the bed with my favorite book, reading. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" He barks back at me, and I roll my eyes before putting on one of his shirts - it's long sleeves, but it feels like a long dress on me.
Opening a drawer, I pull out his underwear, put them on, and find a needle to sew the sides so they fit me perfectly.
Climbing onto the bed, I snatch the book from his hand. "Why are you reading it? I don't see why the great Damon the Fifth would read just a silly book."
"Why do you think a man like me would read it?" he shoots back, still seeming angry. "I would like to know how Lucifer dealt with women like yourself. Jiao wasn't hard to get like you and didn't beg for another man's life in his presence."
"I'm sorry. I couldn't stop Alex from hurting you because he moved so fast for me to react, but I knew you would listen to me. I don't want either of you two getting hurt because of me," I mumble, dropping the book.
"Silly," he growls, staring at me. "I can't believe you made me punch Grant in the face. What were you thinking, running off like you know anyone here? What if the wolves caught up with you and killed you? What if-"
"But I'm alive and kicking. You worry too much."
"Come here," he holds my hand and pulls me close to him. "You truly need some discipline, Ava."
"I'm not a child," I pout, and he chuckles. His hands move to his waist as he drops his head onto my neck, inhaling my scent. He says nothing, just remains that way. "Damon?"
"If you leave me, I will die," he withdraws a little, our faces one inch apart, our eyes burning into one another. "Promise me you won't leave me for someone else, even if you don't love me. Stay with me, or I might lose my mind." His words feel heavy. "Promise you won't leave."
"I can't," my words aren't what he expected. "I'm confused with my feelings, Damon. I can't promise anything "
His hands tighten around my waist as he nods. "I understand," a fake smile appears around his lips. "Even if you wish to leave, I won't let you." He moves me from his lap and stands to his feet. "Go to sleep, Ava. I'd like to get some fresh air." I watch him move to the balcony, where he pulls out a cigarette, lights it, and places it in his mouth.
His face is void of expression, and I can't quite figure out what he is thinking. Is he truly in love with me, or is it just the heat of the moment?
But deep down, what do I want?