Chapter 13
13
DAMIEN
I stood outside the volcano in a modest garden nestled by its base. With only one trip to the mainland each month, it was difficult to buy food that lasted long enough without spoiling. That meant we grew most of our own vegetables and raised chickens and pigs to balance things out. In my free time, which was most of the time, I was here. The mundane work was therapeutic and kept my mind busy.
The soil here was surprisingly fertile, a small gift from the otherwise stern and unforgiving landscape. Rows of vegetables thrived. Robust tomatoes hung heavily on sturdy vines alongside leafy greens that carpeted the plot. This garden wasn't simply a pastime, it was an essential part of surviving on an inhospitable island where every meal was a logistical challenge due to infrequent supply runs.
As I moved between the plants, pulling weeds and checking the health of our crops, I lost myself in the task. Each plant required attention—water here, trim there—which kept my mind occupied and away from worrisome thoughts about the outside world. With every tomato I plucked or lettuce head I harvested, I momentarily forgot the reasons for my isolation.
Before my uncle left this morning, I asked him to fly me out of the volcano to the garden so we wouldn’t raise any suspicions among the guards about how I got there. The island’s sentinels were obsessively watchful and reported every little disturbance to my father. We had to remain diligent. The last thing I needed was to give them any reason to doubt me. I was already nervous about today’s luncheon. I couldn't help but wonder how Arya was managing under the intense scrutiny she was bound to face at the emperor's table.
I wanted to believe her, but I’d known Arya’s reputation for quite a while and nothing good could come of relying on her to keep her word. Last night I took a big risk. I was still wondering why.
I was digging around the base of a squash plant when my uncle’s voice cut through the quiet. “Damien!”
His voice echoed against the volcanic stone, a stark reminder that no matter how deeply I buried myself in the dirt of the garden, I couldn't escape. I straightened and wiped the soil from my hands on my pants before turning towards the sound, ready to step back into the complexities I’d momentarily left behind.
As I stepped outside of the lush greenery of the garden, I saw my uncle weaving his way through a cluster of stone-faced guards. Their rigid stances relaxed slightly in his presence—a sign of respect or perhaps caution for what he represented. He furtively glanced around, his eyes darting from one guard to the next to ensure no one paid too much attention. Catching my eye, he gestured urgently towards the volcano, a silent command that brooked no delay.
With a flourish typical of his dramatic nature, his dragon wings unfurled, a magnificent spread of crimson that shimmered under the sun's relentless gaze. The sight was always a stark reminder of the power and majesty contained within his older frame. I jogged over, the soil of the garden still clinging to my boots, leaving faint traces on the rocky ground.
In one fluid motion he scooped me into his arms and we ascended sharply. The wind whipped around us, tugging at my clothes and roaring in my ears as we spiraled upwards. The ground fell away, becoming a patchwork of the harsh, rugged terrain that comprised our secluded refuge. We soared higher until the volcano's mouth loomed ahead, a dark maw ready to swallow us whole. With a dive that stole the breath from my lungs, we plunged into the volcano and rapidly descended into its depths.
The moment we touched down, he retracted his wings with a swift, flowing motion that spoke of years mastering his transformation. The dim light inside the volcano threw deep shadows across his face, accentuating the lines of worry that had formed. He began to pace, each step heavy with unspoken dread, and my stomach knotted with the anticipation of bad news.
“What is it? Should I prepare to flee?” I raced through a mental list of things to do and pack.
My uncle's hand shot out, gripping my wrist with surprising strength. “No,” he hissed, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes darting nervously. “The luncheon was not about that.”
I frowned, confusion and irritation mingling. “What was it about, then?”
“It was about you, yes… but not for the reason we thought. The emperor was inquiring about your relationship with Lady Gianna. I believe he wanted to sabotage it,” Uncle Bai murmured, his voice tinged with fearful contemplation. “He even threatened Lord Zacharia.”
I shrugged off his concern with a dismissive toss of my head. “Well, that’s good. At least Gianna won’t have any silly thoughts about us in the future.”
“No, Damien, it’s not good,” Uncle Bai countered softly, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made me pause. “It’s not good at all.”
I raised an eyebrow, perplexed. “I’ve already cut ties with the Ryder family. I don’t need them to—”
“Yes you do!” Uncle Bai’s voice rose sharply, a rare break in his usually composed demeanor. “You need Arya !”
I recoiled slightly, taken aback. “Excuse me?”
He nervously licked his lips and reached out a trembling hand to grip my shoulder. “Damien… she has the mark.”
My confusion deepened. “Uncle, what are you talking about?”
“The mark, Damien! She has it!” he exclaimed. His desperation was palpable as he seized my forearm and yanked up the sleeve to expose the twin flame mark. “Her mark is identical to yours!”
My response was immediate and dismissive, almost embarrassed by the direction of the conversation. “Uncle, you’re mistaken.” I shook my head, aware of my pink-tinged cheeks as I remembered the embarrassment of waking with my body entwined with Arya’s this morning. I pulled my sleeve back down to cover my mark. “I’ve seen Arya’s mark, and it’s not the same. She has a mark, but it’s a butterfly on her lower back—nothing like this.” I saw it this morning. She was in a state of undress. I hadn’t meant to see it… but I did.
Uncle Bai stopped pacing and looked at me with an expression of frustration mingled with pity. He took a deep breath, his voice steady despite the urgency behind his words. “Damien, have you seen the one on her arm?”
His question caught me off guard. “Her arm?” I echoed, my confusion clear. The thought that Arya might have another mark, one that mirrored mine, hadn't crossed my mind. It seemed improbable, almost too convenient given the circumstances, and yet the seriousness in Uncle Bai’s eyes made it hard to dismiss outright.
“Yes, her arm,” he pressed, his gaze intensifying. “You need to look closely next time. It’s hidden most of the time, but it's there—an exact match to yours.”
I frowned as seeds of doubt began to sprout in my mind. This added a layer of complexity I hadn’t anticipated. My interactions with Arya had been carefully controlled, partly due to our respective roles and partly because of the charged atmosphere that always seemed to surround her. The thought that I might have overlooked something as significant as a matching mark was unsettling.
“Why would she hide it? And how can you be so sure about this?” I questioned, trying to grasp the full implications.
“I don’t know, Damien. That’s something you would have to ask her,” Uncle Bai said. “I saw it when… when Julian was attacking her.”
I whirled on him. “What?” I exclaimed. “He was attacking her?”
Uncle Bai nodded. “At the luncheon, she left the hall to relieve herself and I noticed Julian follow her shortly after. When they didn’t come back, I decided to check on things and found him trying to push himself on her. But…”
“But what?”
“You know the rumors, Damien,” Uncle Bai grimaced. “I don’t know what was wrong with Lady Arya today, but—”
“You mean the rumors that she’s having an affair with Julian?” I raised a brow. My uncle nodded. “She lost her memories, Uncle. She probably has no recollection of him, whether they were an item or not.”
“That may be the case since I found her arm wrapped around his neck, cutting off his air supply,” Uncle Bai said with a dry chuckle. “For a human, she’s mighty strong.”
“That she is,” I murmured, deep in thought. “I... I need to see it myself.” I wasn’t fully convinced, but I couldn’t ignore the gnawing curiosity Uncle Bai’s revelations had sparked.
Uncle Bai nodded, understanding the tumult of thoughts racing through my mind. “Check when you can, but be discreet, Damien. If it’s true, if she really has the mark, then things are far more complicated than we thought. And far more dangerous. With the emperor’s recent threats, Lord Zacharia will not let you anywhere near either of his daughters after this.”
I snorted. “I’d like to see him try.”
When nightfall descended, it was time to escape the island under the clouds of darkness and shadows. Shifting into my dragon form, I soared out of the volcano and angled toward the mainland, debating whether to go straight to the Ryder residence or to The Gilded Serpent to hear what Lysandra had learned. I decided on the latter.
I landed in a dark alley and walked the streets of the Southern District with my hood drawn over my head and my face obscured. Lights from The Gilded Serpent shone brightly as a beacon to those in need of a little female companionship. I stepped past the columns adorned with intricate carvings of serpents and golden accents and stepped inside.
Men from all economic walks of life filtered in and out of the brothel. It was the one place in all of Elaria that was considered a neutral zone where it didn’t matter who you were, whether you were a nobleman from the Northern District or a low-class citizen from the Southern District. As long as you had coin, you were welcome.
Rich wine and heady perfume swirled in the air as I strode across the room. Scantily-clad women flitted around, dancing among the men and ensuring their glasses remained full.
Keeping the hood of my cloak over my head, I pushed through the throng and took the stairs to the second floor. Without stopping, I went straight to my private room that Lysandra kept reserved for me. Checking to make sure I hadn’t been followed, I closed the door behind me. With a sharp tug on the cord hanging beside the door attached to a bell, I announced to Lysandra that I was here.
As I waited in the lounge area, my thoughts wandered to Arya. I slammed my fist on the couch cushion as I imagined being attached to that viper for a lifetime.
“Her? Of all people, her ?” I muttered.
She was the most arrogant, snobbish woman I’d ever met. It was also no secret that she was sleeping with my older brother Julian. Even if she had conveniently forgotten their little arrangement due to her accident, her memories would return and they would carry on as they had prior to the accident. There was no way I would be able to convince her to leave him for me. And why would she?
We hated each other. That much was clear.
“The immortals had a sick sense of humor,” I whispered just as the door to the room opened and Lysandra slipped inside.
“You’re here early,” she purred as she closed the door and sauntered over with swaying hips to sit beside me. She frowned and started massaging my shoulders. “You look… upset, my lord.”
I shrugged her off. “It’s nothing. What have you got for me?”
Her frown deepened. “Uh… I got you a token to enter the Underclaw Market.”
My brows shot up. “How did you get that?”
She smirked. “Remember,” she sang. “Don’t ask questions.” She placed a red-tipped fingernail over my lips and I swatted it away.
“Any information on the vampires?”
She pouted and rubbed her smacked hand. “Not much. They invited a couple of girls over to the Citadel this coming weekend. One of my girls is going, so hopefully I will have more information soon.”
I nodded. “Anything else?”
“I heard rumblings about the fae…” she said cautiously, nibbling her bottom lip. “But I don’t know how accurate this information is.”
I peered over at her with a raised brow. “Oh?”
“There are whispers from the Faelight Forest.” She lowered her voice as if someone might overhear. “They’re saying the iron surrounding the forest is not being changed as frequently as it’s supposed to be.”
I whipped my gaze to her. “What?”
“It has not been reported to the court yet; it’s just… rumors as of now,” she whispered.
Rumors always carried a hint of truth. The Ryder family was in charge of iron in Elaria. If something was wrong with the iron mines and Lord Zacharia had not reported it to the emperor, trouble would befall their family.
I turned to her with a serious expression. “I need a favor, Lysandra.”
She gave a bright smile and straightened. “Of course! Anything for you, love,” she purred.
I ignored her sultry undertone. “First, I need you to find the root of this rumor, and second, put a stop to it.”
She furrowed her brows in confusion. “Why?”
“Do you need to know why?” I snapped. “If you can’t stop the rumor, reroute their attention elsewhere.”
She opened her mouth to say something and then wisely shut it, nodding when I sent her a pointed glare. “Of course, my lord.”
“I’m serious, Lysandra. This is of the utmost importance—”
“But why, my lord?”
“It doesn’t matter! Just get it done,” I said angrily.
She swallowed and nodded again. “Yes, of course. Anything else?”
I shook my head. “No. Where’s the token?”
She reached a hand into her bra and pulled it free, then grinned as she handed it to me. When the token, warmed by her skin, touched my hand, I had to hold back a grimace. I quickly stuffed it into my pocket and stood to leave.
“I’ll be back this weekend to hear what your inside girl in the Citadel has to say.”
She grabbed my sleeve to stop me. “Wait, my lord!” she pleaded. “Is there anything I can do to… service you tonight?” She peered up at me, openly begging for my affection.
I snatched my arm back with enough force to knock her backward. “No!” I growled, then stormed out of the room and away from The Gilded Serpent before anyone saw me.
I stepped out into a night lit only by a blanket of glittering stars and a half-moon and strode through the dark streets toward the Northern District. When I reached the Ryder residence, I crept around to the back of the courtyard and hopped over the stone wall with ease. There weren’t many patrols in this area, as most of the Northern District was generally safe. But I kept a wary eye out for the guards I knew Lord Zacharia kept around his house.
On silent footsteps, I skulked along the courtyard’s winding walkways, hiding in the shadows and avoiding the servants and guards that bustled in their duties, blissfully unaware of the dragon in their midst.
When I reached Arya’s room, her lights were still on so I waited. And waited. Thirty long minutes later, someone blew out the candles and I watched Maeve walk out of her bedroom. The servant walked in the opposite direction holding something that I couldn’t make out. Once she was gone, I tiptoed to Arya’s room and opened the doors that led to the courtyard, slipping inside and shutting them behind me without a sound.
“Who’s there?” Arya whisper-yelled, bolting up from her bed before I even took my first step.
How she heard me, I had no idea. I knew for a fact she was human, so she shouldn’t have any supernatural hearing. Then again, there were a lot of unexplainable things about Arya lately.
I silently inched toward her bed. Rustling sheets and bare toes on the wood floor told me she was out of bed. She met me halfway and we reached for each other’s throats at the same time. I was amazed that she even aimed correctly, taking into account how much taller I was than her.
My grip on her neck was intended only to hold her in place, but she squeezed my neck like she was ready to snap it then and there.
“Speak!” she demanded. “Who sent you?”
“It’s me,” I growled.
She loosened her grip but didn’t let go. “What are you doing here?”
I snorted and let out a sarcastic laugh. “I was asking myself the same thing,” I murmured. “I… I heard about what happened at the luncheon.”
She swallowed and I felt the movement against my hand. “Oh? Did you come here because you were worried?” she chuckled. “I appreciate your concern, but I can handle myself.”
“While I don’t doubt that, I was still…”
“Worried?” she finished for me.
I scoffed. “No. Not at all.”
She snorted. “Okay. If you say so, Captain Obvious.”
I rolled my eyes and flexed my hand on her throat, seized by the impulse to squeeze her to death. “I thought you and my brother were…”
“Fucking? Yeah, no,” she snapped. “I’d rather jump off a cliff than fuck that little dimwit.”
I choked on a laugh but managed to keep a straight face. Half the things she said I didn’t understand, but they sounded funny and I was almost positive they didn’t reflect well on Julian. “There are rumors about the two of you.”
“Well, I’ll have to rectify that.” She flexed her hand on my throat. “The last thing I need is him ruining my pristine reputation,” she said sarcastically.
I snorted. “Right. Because you have such a wonderful reputation.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” she whispered as she took a step toward me. “Haven’t you heard?”
“No… I haven’t. Why don’t you tell me about it?” I stepped closer to her.
She laughed. “I’m not so self-centered that I would talk that highly of myself, Your Highness,” she whispered. “You’ll just have to hear about it from others, I guess.”
I smirked. “I guess so.”
“Now… are you going to release me, or are we going to stay like this all night?” she asked softly.
“I should be asking you that, Lady Arya. Are you going to release me?”
She laughed quietly. “I’m not known for giving others the upper hand. Why don’t we release each other at the same time. Fair?”
I nodded. “Fair. Count of three?”
“Count of three,” she repeated.
“One,” I said.
“Two,” she said.
“Three!” we said at the same time as we released each other and took a measured step away from one another.
“I see you’re a man of your word,” she murmured.
“As are you.” I could still feel her soft hand wrapped around my neck. “Why were you going to bed so late?”
“Reasons,” she cryptically offered. “Then again, you’re here at this ungodly hour, so you should thank me for being awake.”
“I have a favor to ask,” I whispered, going straight for what I’d come for.
“Oh? Now that’s surprising. And here I thought you’d actually come to see me because you were worried,” she snorted.
I sighed. “I’m being serious, Arya.”
“Okay, okay, shoot. What is it?”
“I need to see your arm,” I asked tentatively.
There was a pregnant pause, and I thought maybe she didn’t hear me. The room was so quiet it was almost deafening.
“Why?” Defensiveness had crept into her tone.
“Does it matter? Just show me—”
“Hell yeah, it matters!” she exclaimed a little too loudly.
“Shh!” I quieted her. “You’ll alert the guards!”
She scoffed. “You’re asking to see a part of my body in the middle of the night. Don’t you think that’s a bit rude?”
“I’ve already seen some of you,” I said knowingly, thinking about the mark on her lower back. The thought made me blush. Thank the immortals we were in the dark.
“And that’s all you’re going to see.” Her voice held the ring of stubbornness. “I don’t know what your uncle told you today, but—”
“He told me about the mark on your arm,” I cut her off. “And that’s why I need to see it.”
“Why?” she countered. “What’s it to you?”
I exhaled loudly, fighting to keep my temper in check. “Arya…” I growled. “Please – and know that I don’t generally say this to other people – but could you please show me your mark?”
There was another lengthy pause before I heard her move. She shuffled toward the right and rustled some things around before there was a spark of fire and a candle flared to life.
“Come on,” she hurried me. “You want to see the mark or not? We need light.” She pulled up her sleeve.
In the soft glow of candlelight, I saw that her entire forearm was covered with different markings. Not a single space of skin was spared. I inched closer and gently took her wrist, turning her forearm over to see her inner arm and bringing it closer to the light. When I saw the image, I had to hold in my gasp.
Plain as day, the twin flame mark stood out like a beacon in the midst of all the other marks surrounding it. It was identical to the one emblazoned on my inner forearm.
I gently brushed my thumb across the dragon and phoenix etched on her soft skin, making her shiver in my hands. I couldn’t believe it. I’d found it… found her .
“When… when did you get this?” I choked out as I pointed to the twin flame mark.
She frowned and looked up at me. “Why does everyone ask me that?” she mumbled as she pulled her arm out of my grasp. “The night before the boat accident.”
Air escaped my lungs.
It must be a sign. A sign I missed because I kept chasing after Gianna. I looked at Arya, the candlelight flickering across her face in the darkness and for the first time, I noticed the soft features of her expression. The plumpness of her rosy lips. The golden flecks in her honey brown eyes. Her bronze cheeks that on any other lady would be tinged pink. She was a beauty; one I had avoided at all costs due to her trickster temperament.
But Arya wasn’t the same as before. No, she was different now.
I closed in and boxed her against the wall with one arm. She stumbled back with a frown and planted a hand on my chest to stop me.
“What the hell are you doing?” she whispered.
I placed my other hand on the wall so she couldn’t get away and stared as if really seeing her for the first time. Maybe I was.
“Come with me,” I murmured and leaned forward, breathing in her lavender scent.
Her frown deepened. “What? No!” she said adamantly. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Get out! I showed you my arm, now leave. This is… inappropriate. We had a deal, Damien—”
I couldn’t keep the possessive growl from my voice. “Well, that deal is null and void. I changed my mind.” I snatched her wrist and held it against the wall, pinning her there. “You’re coming with me. Either you come voluntarily, or I take you by force.”
Her hand fisted and she gritted her teeth. “I don’t like being threatened. I don’t take kindly to it.”
I smirked. “Even so, I tend to get my way.”
A slow smile spread across her face and I paused. My brows furrowed and twitched. I didn’t believe for a second she would give in this easily. Before I could react, she screamed.
“Help!” she shouted. “Help me! I’m being kidnapped!”
I quickly covered her mouth and she bit down on my palm so hard, I ripped my hand away and stumbled in my haste to move from the little feline.
“By the immortals!” I shouted as I cupped my bleeding palm, the indentions of her teeth plain as day on my skin. “Are you insane?”
Blood coated her teeth as she bared them at me with a snarl. “You haven’t seen crazy yet!” she threatened. “Did you really think you could just snatch me from my own bed in the middle of the night and I’d let you? Get the fuck out of here!”
“The screams are coming from Lady Arya’s room!” the guards yelled from the courtyard.
I didn’t have much time left. I needed to leave before I was caught, but I didn’t want to leave without her. Without my mate . When I stepped toward her again, she snapped her teeth at me and I froze.
“Try me again!” she shouted.
I snorted. The situation was almost comical. “All right, kitten. You want to play? I’ll play.”
I blew out the candle, encompassing the room in darkness. Darting to the only window in the room, I opened it and jumped down a split second before her doors were thrown open by the guards.
I grinned and slunk away into the shadows.