“Yeah, you do,” Leah says with a grin. “And honestly? You should go over there. Remind that girl who Damien really belongs with.”
A surge of possessiveness flares up again, stronger this time. I know Leah’s just teasing me, but there’s something about the way that woman is looking at Damien that makes me want to prove a point. A point I’m not even sure I’m ready to admit to myself yet, but still…
Leah’s right.
I push back my chair, standing abruptly. “I’m not going to rip her head off.”
“No, of course not,” Leah says innocently. “You’ll just be interrupting their little moment.”
I ignore her teasing and start making my way through the crowd, and my heart pounds harder with every step. The knot in my stomach tightens as I close the distance between us, and I keep my eyes locked on the way she’s standing way too close to him.
When I finally reach them, I don’t hesitate.
“Damien.”
Both of them turn to look at me. The blonde’s eyes widen, and she takes a small step back, as if she wasn’t expecting me to show up.
“Am I interrupting something?” I ask.
Chapter 21 - Damien
Jealousy looks good on Jade.
It’s the first thought that hits me when she interrupts the conversation between me and the blonde from Starfire Hollow. I catch the flash of irritation in her eyes. The second I see that fire, everything else—my stress, the lingering tension in my shoulders from the demon threat, the suffocating pressure of leadership—it all fades into the background.
“Am I interrupting something?” Jade’s voice cuts through the air, sharp and tense.
The blonde—Nina, I think her name is—glances between us, eyes widening as she senses the change in atmosphere. She takes a step back, clearly uncertain. Honestly, it’s the smartest thing she’s done all night.
“Actually, yeah,” I say, fighting back a grin. “You kind of are.”
Jade’s brown eyes narrow, and for a second, I wonder if she’s about to deck me. I can practically see the thoughts spinning in her head—everything from annoyance at the situation to her stubborn refusal to admit that she’s jealous. It’s all written across her face, plain as day.
And it fucking lights me up.
I’ve always loved that look. Even when she’s mad, Jade’s fierce. And right now? Yeah, it’s definitely working for me.
“Damien,” she snaps. Her voice is dangerously low, and I know I’m treading on thin ice here. But honestly? I like the heat.
“Walk with me,” I tell her, ignoring her tone as I nod toward the edge of the clearing where the party’s still raging. I don’t wait for her to agree; I just take her hand and start leadingher away from the crowd toward the cottage at the edge of the forest.
I use this cottage when I stay in town, and I don’t bring women there.
Ever.
But it’s the only place I can think of where we can have a conversation without an audience.
I glance at her out of the corner of my eye. She’s not pulling away. That’s a good sign. She doesn’t protest, but I can tell she’s still fuming. Her hand is stiff in mine, and her steps are quick, almost like she’s trying to prove she’s not following me, that this is somehow still her choice. That fire, that defiance—it’s part of why I’ve always been drawn to her. Jade’s never been the type to follow anyone’s lead. Not without a fight.
We reach the old cottage, and I push the door open and gesture for her to go inside. She pauses to take a second to glare at me, but eventually, she steps through the doorway.
Once inside, I shut the door behind us, and the click of the latch echoes in the silence. The only light comes from the moon filtering through the cracks in the walls, and while there’s a switch to my right, I love how she looks in this lighting, so I don’t bother turning it on.
Jade turns to face me with her arms crossed and that fiery look still in her eyes. “So? What the hell was that about?”
I lean back against the door, crossing my arms to mirror her stance, and raise an eyebrow. “What do you think it was about?”
She huffs, clearly annoyed, and runs a hand through her hair. “Don’t play games with me, Damien. I saw you with her.”