Alle Kapitel von Between Thirst and Love : Kapitel 71 – Kapitel 80

I thought the guilt would disappear with time.It didn't.Days passed after the ball, and Elara continued living as though nothing had happened.She woke each morning with the same bright smile.She ate her breakfast.She attended her lessons.She asked me questions.She laughed.She had forgotten everything.The ball.The music.The crowded room.And most importantly, the boy with the green eyes.I had taken those memories from her.Every time I looked at my daughter, I reminded myself that I had done it to protect her.But the more I repeated those words, the less I believed them.One evening, I watched Elara sleeping.Her small face was peaceful.She looked so innocent.So unaware of the things that existed beyond the walls of the Donovan mansion.I reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead.'I'm sorry,' I whispered.She didn't stir.I pulled my hand away.I couldn't stay in that room.I couldn't breathe.For years, I had carried everything inside me.Elias.O

Cassian’s POVI was beginning to hate the silence of Ashcroft Manor.Not because I had never experienced it before, but because I knew exactly what it meant.Damien had returned to being the man he was before Elara arrived in our lives. Cold, distant, and determined to shut everyone out. His study had practically become his bedroom, and getting more than three words out of him had become an impossible task.It was almost amusing.A few weeks ago, I had been the one sulking in corners, avoiding conversations, and pretending that nothing bothered me. Now, I was watching my brother do the same thing, except his situation was considerably worse.At least I had possessed the good sense to eat.Damien looked as though he had forgotten the purpose of food entirely.'You know, brother, if you continue staring at those documents, they might eventually burst into flames.'He didn't look up.'Leave, Cassian.''I’m fine. Thank you for asking’.I dropped into the chair opposite his desk.'I heard

Elara's POVMy fingers drifted to my lips for the third time in less than a minute.I snatched my hand away as though I had caught myself doing something forbidden.What was wrong with me?I could still feel him.The warmth of his hands against my waist. The gentle brush of his thumb against my cheek. The way his lips had moved against mine, desperate and familiar, as though a single kiss could bridge the distance that had grown between us.My lips still tingled.And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't seem to forget the feeling.I pressed both hands against my face and let out a frustrated groan.'Get a grip, Elara.'The words sounded pathetic even to my own ears.I had spent an entire week convincing myself that I could live without Damien. Seven days of forcing his face from my thoughts, refusing to dwell on the sound of his voice, and reminding myself why I had left Ashcroft Manor in the first place.Seven days of pretending that my heart had finally begun to understand what my

Elara's pov.I had barely slept.Every time I closed my eyes, I found myself remembering the previous night. Damien's face, the warmth of his touch, and the unexpected moment we had shared kept replaying in my mind no matter how many times I tried to push the memories away.It was ridiculous.I had far more important things to worry about than a kiss that had caught me completely off guard.Or whatever that moment had been.I turned onto my side and stared at the curtains, watching the morning sunlight seep through the gaps.Today, Steven would fulfil his end of our bargain.I had waited long enough for answers, and I wasn't going to let another day pass without confronting the man who had spent most of my life keeping the truth from me.Leon Donovan.The man who had raised me.The man I had called Father for twenty years.And the man who had taken my mother away from me.I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and pushed myself out of bed.There was no point dwelling on the past. W

Chapter 79 — Nowhere Is SafeDamien's POV'I'll send you the location as soon as I can.'Steven adjusted his coat, preparing to leave my study.'Do that,' I replied.He reached for the door and pulled it open.'Damien, will you be coming down for dinner, or do I have to—'The voice stopped abruptly.I glanced toward the doorway and found Cassian standing there, one hand resting against the frame. His attention had shifted from Steven to the room behind him.Then he saw Elara.'Elara?'For a moment, my brother simply stared.Then his face broke into a smile.'Elara!'Before she could react, he stepped past Steven and pulled her into an embrace.'Heavens, I've missed you!' he exclaimed, holding her tightly. 'Do you have any idea how worried I've been?'Elara stood frozen in his arms.She didn't hug him back.She didn't even move.I watched my brother's smile gradually fade as he realized something was wrong.He loosened his hold and looked down at her.'You're really here,' he murmured.