Page 29 of Scorned Queen

His finely chiseled jaw flexes.“It was a message to me, Alana.”

Unease sizzles through me.“What message?”

“He’s close to you.He can get to you.And he’ll use you to hurt me.”

There’s an ominous quality to his tone, but relief is fast and hard.I dismiss it with a wave of my hand.“But he can’t, Damion.I told you.Nothing he can say—”

“You’re wrong Alana, and we have to talk about how wrong, but not now, not in a public place.At home.Ourhome.And it has to be tonight.I’m only bringing this up now because we need to talk about protection.”

My brows dip.“Protection?What does that even mean?”

“He’ll try to drive you away from me, Alana, and if that doesn’t work—”

“Itwon’twork,” I assure him.

“Desperate people do desperate things.If he fails to turn you against me, he’ll do whatever it takes to break me, and the only way he does that is by hurting you.He knows that.That’s why he stayed connected to your family.”

I draw a hard-earned breath and try to digest what he’s just told me.This is the pin in the happy balloon I’d been floating on when I’d walked into work this morning.“I’m your weakness.That’s what you’re telling me.”My fingers curl on my lap.“Let me guess.”My throat is tight, the words tight, my belly tighter.“You don’t want me to move in with you.Is that what this is?”

He is on the floor on a knee beside me in an instant, tugging my chair around to face him, his expression as earnest as his words.“No.No.That is not what I am saying, woman.You’re moving in with me, where you belong, if I have to hand pack your bags for you myself and throw you over my damn shoulder.You belong with me, Alana.”

His reaction soothes the raw nerves the conversation has created, and I press my hand to his face.“I want so very much to be with you and to live with you, but you just told me I’m the blade that cuts you.I don’t want to be that blade, Damion.”

“He thinks you’re a weakness, baby, but he’s wrong.You’re my reason to fight for right over wrong.”He captures my hand and brings it to his lips.“You’re moving in with me.Say it.”

The words are a command, but there is trepidation in his eyes.He’s fearful I will reject him, and it is not what he wants.This pleases me, it does.It is not what I want either, but I am worried beyond belief at all the ways he’s placing himself in harm’s way.“Answer honestly.Does me living with you make things harder on you?Does it make you more of a target?”

“You’re already a target.You’ve always been a target.Strength in numbers.”

“I didn’t ask about me.I asked about you.”

“I’m one of the few people safe from his wrath, at least for now.I’m the heir he wants to conform, not make go away.”

“For now?”

“You’re moving in with me.Say it,” he repeats.

“Damion—”

“Nothing else divides, Alana.”

“Right.You’re right.Yes.I want to move in with you.I’ve been excited about it all morning long.”

“Good.One more thing, though.”

“Do I want to know?”

“Probably not, so I’ll just tear off the band-aid.The minute he knows you stand by me and can’t be swayed to step away, he’ll act quickly and swiftly.I need to know you’re protected.You need a bodyguard.”

“What?No.Wait.”I blink and will my thundering heart to calm.“I’m just putting this all together.You think…he’ll try to kill me?”

Chapter twenty-six

You think…he’ll try to kill me?

“Not yet,” Damion replies.

“Not yet?”I gasp and pop to my feet, Damion following me.“Not yet?”I repeat.“Are youserious?”

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