Page 66 of Undeniable

“I wish we could have gotten to know each other better, sister. I’m not always an ass, you know.”

“You could have fooled me,” I joke, earning a half-laugh from my half-brother.

The ship trembles.

“I think we’re landing,” Jack says, knowing more about such things than we do.

Moments later, a wary Damon enters the ship. When he sees us, his expression turns to one of relief.

“Thank the heavens you’re all right,” he says. He walks directly to me. The light of happiness in his eyes flickers out when he sees my tear swollen face. “What’s wrong? What happened? Are you hurt?”

I fling myself in his arms as fresh tears overtake me, making it impossible for me to speak.

“Will someone tell me what’s going on?” Damon asks urgently. “Why is she like this? What happened?”

I’m vaguely aware of Oliver, Nahla, and Alek joining us in the room while Boris tells everyone what happened with Agatha.

“That’s insane,” Damon says after hearing everything. “Where is this Agatha? Maybe I can talk some sense into her.”

“Son,” Margaret says, “it won’t help. We’ve already tried everything. She won’t change her mind.”

“No.” Damon shakes his head. “I refuse to believe nothing can be done. There’s always a solution.”

“Not this time,” Margaret says gently. “Not if we all want to live.”

“Then let her destroy everything.” Damon’s anger is making him blind to what needs to be done. “I can’t live in a world where I don’t know Ivy.”

“You will know her,” Boris says, “but as our queen. Not our loved one. Do you think I didn’t try everything I could to change that things mind? She won’t budge, boy. Enjoy what time you have left with those you care about most. That’s what I plan to do.”

“Boris is right,” Simon says. “We need to make the most of what time we have left.”

“Don’t talk to me,” Damon turns his back to Simon. “You failed us. You failed Ivy.”

“Damon,” Margaret says reproachfully. “You can’t blame Simon for this. He did what was right. Could you have given up your son?”

Damon remains quiet. He kisses the top of my head and holds me close. He doesn’t answer because he knows Simon did the right thing by his son.

A few minutes later when my crying finally stops, Damon pulls me off to the side as far away from people as we can get.

“I won’t lose you,” he says. “Do you hear me? I refuse to forget who you are to me. I don’t care what Agatha claims. My heart, my soul will never forget you. Our love will triumph over this small blip in the road. You are mine and I am yours. That will never change.”

All I can do is nod. Words escape me. Tears do not.

I’ve never been much of a crier. It’s almost like a lifetime of tears have suddenly chosen this moment to erupt.

“I love the fact you think that,” I say, my voice hoarse from all the crying I’ve done, “but I don’t think you’ll remember us. You won’t even remember who you are.” I grab his soot-stained shirt. “But I will find you. I will find you so we can fall in love all over again.”

Damon cradles my face between his hands and kisses me softly.

“Why do you smell like you just crawled out of a fire?” I ask when he pulls away.

With a melancholy smile, he starts to tell me about his adventures in the mountain with the giant spider and their confrontation with the giants. I shiver at his description of the spider and marvel at a man who would risk his life to save a few spiderlings.

“That was your trial,” I tell him. “Agatha says you demonstrated courage and compassion.”

“I guess that’s good to know, but it doesn’t change the outcome of this nightmare.”

“Look at me,” I order. He stares at me with his one blue eye and one brown. The scar that his father made on his face looks deeper today than before. “I will find you. I don’t care how long I have to look or where I have to go. I will find you and love you for the rest of my life.”

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