Page 8 of The Aether

“Did you ever truly love me?” he asked dully when she returned.

“How can you ever doubt it?”

And for the first time in months, she appeared as tortured as he felt.

“That’s not an answer. Did you ever truly love me, Vivian? Or was it simply a challenge to win the famously reclusive Aether?”

Frowning, she hugged herself against the cold permeating the air. “Pull your anger back, Damian.”

“It’s not anger. It’shurt! And maybe you should experience what it’s like, hmm?” He lifted his hand, palm up, and met her suddenly fearful eyes. “Should I crush your heart like you’re doing mine, my love?” he taunted.

“Think about Sabrina. Think what it would do to her to not have a mother.”

The tremble in her voice was telling.

She was terrified of him.

Him, the man who adored her and who had given her absolutely no reason to be afraid before that moment. Weary to his ancient soul, Damian let the fight drain from him. There would be no winning this war for her love. Even if she stayed, she’d forever fear him. He dropped his arm and turned away.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

Meeting her gaze in the wall mirror, he blanked his expression except for the chilly disdain he reserved for those who thought to cross him.

“We are at an impasse, my dear. Should you leave this house, I’ll hunt you down. You’ll not take my daughter away.” There was no pleasure when she paled, just an ache in his chest that she could ever think he’d be so monstrous as to hurt her.

Her chin came up, like the day they’d first met, and she faced him down with more courage than a person in her position should possess.

“I won’t be a prisoner, Damian.”

No. Butterfly that she was, her wings would droop and her sparkling beauty would dim with the blow to her spirit.

After a long minute of internal torture and debate, he nodded slowly.

“You can go out and flit about to become the social butterfly you so long to be, but Sabrina stays hidden here.With me.Do I make myself clear?”

“I’m not leaving my child alone with you.

“I didn’t say you had to. Since you hate me so fucking much, we’ll maintain separate bedrooms, and you may do whatever your heart desires. Leave the confines of the estate if you choose. However, when it comes to Sabrina, she stays.” He returned to stand before her, staring down at her and putting up a false front. One of dominance and power. Of uncaring. “And you’ll pop back here to tuck her in and kiss her goodnight before you resume your evening activities or chase sleep.”

“I want her away from you. That’s the point of our leaving,” she protested.

Desperation rolled off her in waves.

He ruthlessly ignored it.

“She’ll stay where I can protect her, Vivian. That’s nonnegotiable.”

“Damian, please.”

Her whispered plea was agonizing, cutting him to the quick. If it was within his power, he’d grant her anything. Anything but taking Beastie away from him.

“You fear the monster, Viv? That child is the only thing keeping it at bay right now.” He stalked to the door and, without looking back, said, “Remember that.”

Vivian sagged down on the bed and buried her face in her hands. Her sister Josie had warned her Damian had the potential to go mad. She’d said she heard from those in charge that the almighty Aether hated to be crossed and that he tended to take another’s power on a whim.

When Vivian initially asked him about it, he’d chuckled and told her she’d nothing to fear. Almost condescendingly. She hated that he’d avoided answering, and she’d been left to wonder if the rumors about him were true. After all, his mother had gone insane and amassed power at an alarming rate. What was to stop him from doing the same?

One of the very last things Sebastian had said to her was framed as a warning. “Be careful, Viv. You’ve fallen hard and fast for an extremely dangerous man.”

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