Chapter Fifteen

Damian

I stood in the darkened room and watched as Hope slept. The strain of the frown i was wearing inserted a dull ache in my temples.

Her chest rose and fell with her slight breaths, and even in sleep, tension furrowed her brow. I moved closer and touched my fingers to her forehead, smoothing them across the pale skin.

She was as lovely as ever, even in her weakened state. Raven curls lay haphazardly against the pillow. I took one between my fingers and moved it from her forehead. It was longer now, no longer the shorter cap of curls that had flown about her head as she laughed or smiled.

Her skin had lost its previous glow, but i knew restoring her health would bring it back. Her eyes had been dull, frightened, but I remembered well the brilliant blue sparkle, how enchanting she looked when she was happy.

I cursed and moved away from the bed. It had all been a ruse. She hadn’t ever been happy. Truly happy. It seemed I had been incapable of making her so.

All the time we were