Page 325 of Master of My Life

to. What had he done? What sort of person had he become?

Someone knocked on Damian’s hotel room door.

“Lia!” He pulled her in for a hard hug. She returned it, but she didn’t look at him. “What’s

wrong?”

She pressed her lips together and blinked several times. “I have to give you something.” She

reached into her purse and handed him a small box.

He lifted the lid and revealed a man’s ring with a large, glowing diamond. He blinked as the

darkness clawed at his mind once more, and he shut the lid and held it out. “I don’t want it.”

She looked up, teary eyes. “I don’t want to give it to you. But I have to.”

He tossed the box onto the table and pulled her into a hug. “I won’t use it.”

“They’ll hurt me if you don’t.”

“I won’t let them. I’m the dark lord, after all.” He chuckled, trying to lighten her mood.

She pulled away and cupped his cheek. “I’ve enjoyed having the real you back.” Tears filled her

eyes. “But we knew it wouldn’t last.” Her voice broke.

“Lia, I—”

She shook her head. “You have to.”

“I don’t want to. I want to be myself.”

“You put your plans into place before you left. They won’t disobey you.”

“I’ll command them to stop.”

“It won’t work. They obey Vamar, not Damian.” She hung her head. “This has been the best time

I’ve had in a long time.”

Damian pulled Lia back into his arms, holding her close and blinking back tears. “I don’t want to

go.”

Another knock at the door. Damian frowned and went to answer it. “Neil.”

The other man pushed past him. “You haven’t returned my phone calls.”

“I’ve been busy,” Damian snapped.

Neil looked between Damian and his sister and lifted his chin. “Vamar really is gone, isn’t he?”

He chuckled. “Well, I’m sure everyone believes you to be a good guy now.”

Damian frowned and pushed Lia gently to the side. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want—”

Neil stepped forward, a menacing look on his face. “You don’t get to change your mind,” he

---