Page 145 of Filthy Royal

“I’m fine.” He was an Alpha and had three older battle-ax brothers. He knew enough to keep the pain to himself. Plus, the bruises across her ribs that she kept saying didn’t hurt at all were way worse.

But this feeling in his chest? The way his skin suddenly felt too tight for what was inside? He honestly wasn’t sure what to do with that.

He’d been in a thousand fights, split his knuckles raw a million times, and never felt more victorious than he did kicking that monitor’s ass.

Because the shadows in Scarlett’s eyes had diminished. Even better, now her focus was on him.

Her breath whispered across his skin, as soft as a caress. “You sure it doesn’t hurt?”

Damien stifled a groan. His hand was fine. His dick, however? Aching like hells. “I’m sure.”

He reined it in by thinking about ripping off the balls of a certain undeserving, disloyal bastard named Kadon Stormhart. “He should not be—”

“Don’t.” Gaze focused on his cuts, she tightened her hand around his. “I don’t want to discuss it.”

As if she set the rules. “Too bad. He’s a selfish knotbag.”

“He’s not. He’s just in love with someone else.”

“You’re missing. Kidnapped by one of the most feared Enforcers in the galaxy. He should be tracking you down, doing whatever it takes. Not off fucking someone else.”

“You heard him. He thinks I’m safe with you.”

He grasped her chin, dragging her gaze to his. “There’s nothing safe about what’s between us.”

“Damien…” She swallowed hard.

“I don’t get it.” He studied her. “You really don’t care that he’s off banging someone else.”

Her gaze sharpened. “I do care. I’m actually happy for him. I don’t love Kadon like that. I never have.”

He rocked back on his heels, her words striking with the force of an uppercut.

She’d never loved Kadon like that. She’d never loved Kadon like that.

Damien tightened his hold on her chin. “So why the fuck did you do it, Scarlett? Why betray me? Did you think the money would make up for it, or was it just the security you were after? Or does Darvish really have something on you?”

She shook her head, her eyes glittering with unshed tears.

“Tell me.”

“I can’t.” She pressed her lips together.

“You won’t. There’s a difference.”

“It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. All we’re left with now are the consequences.”

“Bullshit.” That wasn’t enough for him anymore.

There may no longer be fated-mate marks on his wrists or hers, but the pull toward each other remained. Relentless, all-consuming, immutable. Even after all the ways they’d fucked each other over.

And it was true they couldn’t change the past.

But he was beginning to see thatwhythose events happened might make a hells of a difference to their present and their future.

“Did you think I wouldn’t be able to take care of you? Is that what broke us in the end?” The suspicion had eaten away at him.

Ever since he was a useless youngling, hiding in that ice cave, unable to do shit while his older brothers hustled and sacrificed, all he’d wanted was to prove that one rotation, they’d be able to rely on him too.

---