Chapter 20: Blood and Empire I arrived at Damien’s penthouse just after 9 PM, sketchbook tucked under my arm like a secret. He opened the door wearing only black sweatpants, his muscular chest still slightly damp from a recent shower. The moment he saw my red-rimmed eyes, his expression shifted from hunger to something fiercer protective. He pulled me inside without a word, took the sketchbook from my hands, and set it on the console table. Then he cupped my face and kissed me slowly, deeply, like he was trying to erase the afternoon with my family. “Tell me,” he said against my lips. I told him everything Lila’s worried disappointment, Ethan’s reluctant support, my father’s ultimatum. Damien listened in silence, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. When I finished, he led me to the couch, pulled me onto his lap, and held me close. “You’re not alone in this anymore,” he murmured. “But
Last Updated : 2026-04-15 Read more