Page 89 of Fall into Savagery

“Catalina,” Damien said. I shook my head but didn’t look back at them. Nikolay and Mikhail had been quiet during this entire exchange, but I knew they agreed with him.

“I hate this,” I said, keeping my gaze on the wall. “I hate feeling like there will always be times when it's you guys against me, and I won’t win. It’s impossible.”

“Princess, you know it’s not like that. We’re just trying to protect you.”

I shook my head. “Not like this. I spent thirteen years without a voice. You guys gave me the confidence to find it, but it’s times like this when it feels like my voice doesn’t even matter.”

I didn’t bother looking for any clothes.

I walked toward the door.

My hand touched the doorknob when Damien spoke again. “Catalina.”

I shook my head.

He firmed his voice. “Catalina, stop.”

“Why?” I asked. There was no disguising the tears in my voice. We didn’t say anything for a moment. Then—

“You’re right,” he said softly.

I let out a small breath. That was the last thing I expected him to say.

“I don’t want you to feel like you don’t have a voice in this relationship. You always have a voice. We let our need to protect you overshadow that, but believe me, it’s the last thing I ever wanted you to feel. Come back here, baby.”

I turned around and looked at them.

Damien opened his arms.

I didn’t think or wait. I walked over to him quickly and was soon engulfed in his warm embrace. I closed my eyes and buried my face in the crook of his neck.

“I’ll go start the bath,” Mikhail said quietly. He came over to me. He leaned down and kissed the side of my head, his lips lingering before walking away.

I knew that was his way of saying sorry.

“I’ll go get the clothes for after your bath,” Nikolay said. And like Mikhail, he placed a kiss on the side of my head.

And then it was just Damien and me on the bed.

I pulled back and looked at him.

His dark eyes were unreadable.

He cupped my jaw, his thumb coming up and glided across my bottom lip.

They trembled from the move, and he let out a small groan.

“Baby, don’t cry. I’m sorry.”

I closed my eyes, trying to will away the tears.

“I know they hurt you,” I said softly. “I know it wasn’t pleasant, and I know your body is broken and bruised. I know all of that. You don’t have to protect me from that. You can let me take care of you.”

He smiled a little. “I know. Of course, you can. I just—I want to be the one to take care of you.”

“It doesn’t always have to be on you. On all of you. I can help carry some of the weight. I’m strong.”

He shot me an indulgent smile. “Of course you are. You were able to bring three monsters to their knees.”

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