Page 33 of Ravage

Avery sighs and starts pacing the library. We watch her in silence, waiting for her to speak. When she does, her voice is stronger than I expected.

"They tortured me. Decided to play God and treated me like an experiment."

Theo's fists curl next to his legs while Damon nods to himself quietly. We knew this already—just never the extent. People rarely come back from downstairs, but the few stories we've heard have all been the same.

We should have told Avery weeks ago when we knew things were on the rise again. I wanted to protect her, but by doing so, I let her down. In my mind, she was always going to be safe because we would protect her. I didn't want to scare her with tales of the monsters lurking below. But in doing that, she went in blind, unable to prepare and fight against the evil. And I hate myself for that.

"You knew this already."

Her voice is softer, gaze directed at Damon. It's not an angry accusation, just a general statement. She's a smart girl—putting together the dots and small clues along the way.

"It's not new," he answers gently, surprising me with his tone. "I was going to tell you but then you were taken."

She stops pacing, body sagging slightly. "It's the secrets you warned me about."

"Yes."

Avery's glance shifts to me and Theo briefly before returning to Damon. "Is that why your father visited me when I was arrested?"

At the mention of his sperm-donor, Damon stiffens. "My family are the owners of Lilydale, Avery."

If she's surprised by this revelation, she doesn't show it. If anything, a moment of sympathy passes across her face.

"That's why you're untouchable," she remarks.

"I'm untouchable because I made myself that way," he answers, emotionlessly. "I was their biggest target at the beginning."

Her brows furrow. "What changed?"

"I changed. I wasn't giving that asshole any power despite their best efforts. So, to keep money flowing, they entered into an agreement to use the facility formedical research. But I've done my best to cease those attempts. But it wasn't enough—I'm sorry."

The library falls silent again, this time with disbelief. I've never heard Damon apologize to anyone, despite knowing he carries this heavy burden personally.

Theo even looks a little shocked, shoving his hands into his pockets as he glances at the floor. Yet, in true Avery fashion, she doesn't seem astonished at all.

Like she always knew this side of him existed.

"It's not your fault," she says gently. "You were fighting a battle without resources. If anything, it says a lot about you that you tried to stop it. You could have just kept yourself safe and turned a blind eye—but you didn't. You did your best to protect everyone."

"I couldn't protect you though. I failed."

Avery slowly walks over to him, arms by her sides. "Damon," she starts, pausing in front of him. "You saved me." Her gaze flutters over to us, smiling sadly. "You all did. If it wasn't for your efforts, I'd still be down there."

Damon tilts his chin up. "We should have gotten to you faster."

It's a different knot in my stomach now—one full of pity. He knows as well as I do that we had to time it right. The reason I'm still standing here is because he held me back, calming me down from the brink of madness when I was ready to rush in without thinking. On the other side of things now that it's over, we can all agree that timing was everything. It was his level-headedness that got her out of there.

"No," Avery answers, shaking her head. "None of that matters. What's important is that I'm here now, and that they know we know the truth."

"They will keep trying. If not us, then another patient."

"We'll protect them," she murmurs, stepping closer to him.

Next to me, Theo shifts his attention to me, sensing the change of atmosphere. His feet turn toward me slightly, but for the first time, I don't want to punch Damon in the face for being near her.

It feels…

Almost wrong to stay here and witness this moment between them.

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