Page 157 of Filthy Royal

Yes, a part of him still wanted to rage and stomp and shout. To demand the rest of the answers here and now.

But he was no longer a kid. He was a damned grown-ass Alpha, and ensuring Scarlett collected no more bruises on that delicate skin or endured more pain was priority number one.

She’d spent too long without anyone to take care of her, and that’s what he intended to do from here on out.

“Keep taking deep breaths.” He injected a subtle command into his tone, an Alpha guiding his omega for her own good. “It’s going to be okay.”

“It’s not.” The shadows flickered along the walls, cracks spreading across the ceiling. “I can still feel your rage.” She dragged her palm over her breastbone. “And my own.”

She was right.

He gave her what he could. “I’m not saying this situation isn’t fucked up or that all the messiness and pain will disappear in an instant.” He kept his voice low and coaxing. The same tone he used with Alexi’s pet flufarian when no one else was listening. “We’re not the same as we used to be, and uncovering the truths of the past won’t magically fix the present. But I understand now, and…” He swallowed hard. “I don’t hate you. I hated what you did to me, to us, but despite what I said in anger, I could never hate you.Never.”

“Y-you couldn’t?” Chest rising and falling, she eyed him warily.

“I couldn’t.” He ran his palms up and down her upper arms, the skin at his torn knuckles pulling tight, the silk of her flesh centering him like nothing else could. “And even though I deserve it, I hope to gods you don’t hate me either. The rage you feel from me is for Darvish.” His voice shook, and he didn’t even care. “No more bruises for either of us, okay?”

Damien drew her closer.

Thankfully, she let him, her arms wrapping around him, and then, she was sobbing, her body shaking against his. “I missed you so much.”

Hells. Throat tight, he blinked fast.

He wanted to cry as well. For the time they’d lost. For all the wasted guilt and hate. For the time and energy spent mourning Crex, a bastard who clearly didn’t deserve it. For Scarlett, whom he’d unwittingly left to suffer at the hands of his half brother. For his own foolish pride and ego and his refusal to return sooner and take back what was his.

“I missed you so fucking much too.” It felt good to admit it out loud. “But I’m here now.”

He repeated the words over and over, rocking her until her sobs quieted.

The broken pieces inside him clicked back into place as her body molded to his, and he pressed his cheek to the top of her head, her warmth seeping into his skin.

Almost as good, the shadows on the wall grew muted. Pebbles stopped plinking to the floor. He could only hope that meant her gift wasn’t pummeling at her too.

Nuzzling his jaw along the silk of her hair, he drew her into his lungs. “This is better, right?”

It was all so fucked up. He’d loved her. Cursed her. Ached for her. And he still did, all of it churning inside him in one messy tumult of blame, need, and absolution. But something new pulsed within as well.

It terrified him to name it, but it almost felt like… hope.

He’d thought there was nothing left for him and Scarlett but hate and lust, but now, everything was different.

“I really am sorry.” She clutched him closer, calmer, but still worked up. “I wouldn’t blame you if you did hate me. Everything’s such a mess. I honestly thought that I could fix it. That if I bided my time, Darvish would drop his guard, and I could finally stop fighting the darkness inside and let it take over, let it swallow me, Darvish, Crex, and all those disgusting vids in one explosion, and everyone would finally be free—”

“Wait. What?” Damien stiffened. “You were planning to sacrifice yourself to take out Darvish?”

Her gaze snapped to his, her eyes going wide. “It was the only way.”

“No.” Legs suddenly too weak to support him, he sank to his knees, then his ass, taking her with him, cradling her so tight that he was close to crushing her. “No!”

“Damien!” Startled, she seized hold of his shoulders.

Still, she wasn’t close enough.

“Don’t you ever fucking think like that again!” His heart hammered against his ribs as if wanting to crash right through and burrow into hers. “That is never the plan. You hear me? You have to be in this galaxy, Scarlett. You have to be alive.” His voice was a desperate growl. “I can handle anything as long as I know you’re out there breathing the same galactic air, smiling that sweet smile, looking up at the same stars.”

She drew in a halting breath.

“Promise me.”

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