Page 107 of Sinful Sacrifice

Me: No. I’ll be okay. Probably take a nap.

When we’re home, I head straight to the bedroom. Luckily, my period story checked out because Julian didn’t ask any more questions.

As much as I want to collect my belongings, throw them in a bag, and leave, I can’t. With Julian downstairs, there’s no way I’m walking out the front door. Unless I jump out of a two-story window and dodge the perimeter cameras, I’m stuck here.

It doesn’t take long for Damien to step into the bedroom and softly shut the door behind him. He’s not wearing his blazer, and he loosens his cuff links as he strolls toward the bed.

“Did you know Cernach killed my father?” I ask coldly.

His expression remains unreadable as he comes closer.

“Did you know?” I bite out.

“Yes.”

My heart drops in my chest. “You didn’t think to tell me?”

He scrubs a hand over his jaw. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“Oh, you didn’t want to hurt me?” I repeat around a long swallow. “You, out of all people, should know how bad it hurts for a parent to die, let alone have someone hide it from you.”

He jerks back, my words hitting him like a punch in the gut. “If there was a way for me to erase the hurt of losing my parents from my fucked-up brain, absolutely, I’d want that. No questions asked. It’s a never-ending pain.”

“You shouldn’t get to make that choice for me.”

“You’re right,” he says, his voice mellow. “I’m sorry.”

My heart shatters with sadness.

It’s also searing with anger.

Flip-flopping with which emotion is the strongest.

“I can’t do this anymore,” I whisper.

This isn’t what I want.

But it’s what needs to be done.

“Don’t say something you’ll regret,” he bites out, sitting on the edge of the bed next to me.

I choke back tears. “We need to end this.”

Turning, he snatches my pillow and tosses it back into the same spot. “Go to bed. We’ll talk about this in the morning when our emotions aren’t so high.”

He’s being calm with me, something not of his usual nature.

“I’m serious,” I say, holding my ground.

“Go to bed,” he finally roars, his patience dwindling. “We’ll talk in the morning.” He sprawls out his legs, hanging his head between them, and lowers his voice. “Everything I do is to shield you from pain. Everything. You said it yourself. You thought your father was gone for good.”

“Gone for good but still alive.”

He shakes his head.

“Do you love me, Damien?”

He raises his head. “You know I do.”

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