Page 79 of Fairy Tales are Forever

Both Ella and Leo turn to glance at me, and I turn around to look behind me too.When I don’t see anyone else he could be talking to, I glance back at the man claiming that I belong to him.He’s three times my size and looks like he’s about to break something.

“Did you do that to her?”Ella accuses Damien as she points at my head.

“She’s my wife.”

Wife?Did he say I’m his wife?His eyes stay trained on me while I process his words.They’re a bright blue, which is in contrast to the rest of him.There is a darkness that shimmers around his body, and it’s like I can almostfeelit.

“That didn’t answer the question, Damien,” Leo clips.

“Annabelle.”Damien softens his voice.“Come here.”For half a second, my body begins to move toward him, but Ella cuts in.

“She doesn’t know her own name.”She moves to the side to block me again, and Damien takes a few steps closer.

I have to crane my neck all the way back to stare up at him.My mind searches for a memory of him because how could I forget someone I was married to?

“Belle.”He reaches out to cup my cheek, but I step back before he can make contact.

I’m not scared of him, but there’s something making me cautious.Damien’s whole body goes rigid, and I realize I’ve made him angry.For some reason, I don’t think that’s hard to do.

“Everything is okay,” the nurse says as she rushes over.“Damien Shadow is responsible for Annabelle’s care.”

His last name is Shadow, which is fitting.Wait, does that mean my last name is Shadow too?

“Come on, gorgeous.”Leo guides a reluctant Ella back into her room.

“Where is Dr.Moore?”Damien's tone is firm and straight to the point.

“She’s on her way up now,” the nurse responds quickly.

“Are you in pain?”Damien asks me.Again, his tone is different when he speaks to me.I wouldn’t call it gentle, but it’s not as harsh.

“Only when I touch it.”I reach up, but Damien grabs my wrist to stop me from making contact.

“Then don’t touch it.”

“Don’t tell me what to do,” I snip back.The words pop out of my mouth before I have a chance to think about what I’m saying, and it makes the nurse's eyes widen.

“I want to be sure you don’t hurt yourself any more than you already have.”

“Are you saying I did this to myself?”

“Why are you still standing here?”Damien asks the nurse.

“Sorry, sir,” she mumbles before hurrying off.

“You’re rude.”I pull my arm back, but he doesn’t release my wrist.

“You’ve told me that a few times.”

“Oh lovely.I have a husband who’s rude to me.Perfect.”

“I’m not rude toyou.”He turns my hand over in his, and to my shock, he brings it to his mouth and kisses my palm.

The second his lips touch my skin, a flash of something comes to mind.It’s him and me standing in the snow with his mouth close to mine.I can almost feel his warm breath against me.It’s only a second of a memory, but it makes my knees weak.

“You’re my husband?”Why do the words come out like I’ve been running?

“Yes.”He lets go of my wrist and holds up his hand to show me the gold band on his finger.I feel for my own, but nothing’s there, and when I lift my hand to look, I don’t see a trace of a ring.Not even a small indention.

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