Chapter 46: Shirtless

Although Hazel's tone was light, it was guarded.

She felt glad that she had slept off before his arrival, but she did not believe he would be so kind as not to wake her and force her to perform her so-called duties.

To her, he probably had another plan in motion and she hated to admit that it scares her.

Damien did not speak immediately, he leaned back against the chair and stretched casually.

Even though they were both sitting, Hazel still felt his presence looming over her, commanding and strong. It was as though no matter what position he was in, he would always be in control.

The thought had her frowning in displeasure.

“You were burning with fever and would not wake up.” He merely replied and Hazel was surprised.

“Fever? I seem…okay.” She replied doubtfully, wondering if Damien was only lying to her.

“Albert came, you can find him and ask if you don’t believe me. The fever will be intermittent, so it will flare up anytime and it will be as intense as the one you had earlier.” Damien explained calmly.

Hazel scoffed, “How considerate.”

“It’s not about consideration. I was afraid you would die in my untainted chamber, that is where the problem lied.” Damien replied, replying with the same sarcasm.

She rolled her eyes, “Even if I died, I would rather do so Indole unknown wilderness than in your so-called untainted chamber.”

Damien ignored that and said, “You will no longer take wolfsbane.”

That quickly got her attention.

She raised her brow and asked, “Why? Afraid it wouldn’t stop me from growing stronger?”

Damien gave her a sidelong glance and said, “Afraid you will die before you even knew it.”

Hazel could not smile anymore.

Was it that serious?

“What exactly happened?” She asked.

“You don’t need to know the specifics. Just know that you won’t be taking a wolfsbane pill anymore and that it’s uncertain when the fever will stop.” He replied in the same calm tone that made Hazel annoyed.

“It is my body, I have all the rights to know what is going on with me? Is it the wolfsbane? Is that why you want to stop me from using it?” Hazel asked again, intent on getting an answer.

“To remind you, since you’ve forgotten, your body belongs to me and I have all the rights to make the decision. You have no say here, so it’s either you obey or nothing.” Came his curt, annoying reply that made Hazel's blood boil.

“In addition,” He continued before she even had the chance to open her mouth. “You will no longer see that guard from earlier or any other guard, and that is final.”

Sure enough, he wouldn’t be so kind as to stay with her for the duration of her fever, he just wanted to prove something and exert his dominance as soon as she woke up.

“Why can’t I?” She retorted coldly, sitting up while glaring at him.

“Because I said so.”

Hazel was on the verge of flaring up, but she forcefully managed to suppress her anger after a few seconds.

“If I die, wouldn’t that solve many of your problems?” She asked coldly and Damien surprisingly fell silent.

“Try dying and we will see.” He finally said before standing to his feet.

Hazel shifted, flung the covers away and attempted to stand up as well. She did not want to look up to Damien as she spoke.

But as her feet made contact with the floor and she tried standing, a bout of dizziness struck her and her body swayed, her body falling back to the soft bed.

“Stay back in bed.” Damien commanded with a frown seeing her state, but Hazel was unwilling to listen to him.

“I don’t want to. I want to get fresh air, breathing the same air as you makes me sick.” She said, rubbing her throbbing temple with her fingers.

In reply to her jeering words, Damien said nothing, catching her by surprise. She raised her head to see him staring at her calmly, his expression unchanged.

“You should stay here, you need to rest.”

“I said I don’t want to. I want to go out.” Hazel repeated.

“Stand properly then.” He said, folding his arms.

Hazel fell silent.

She could feel her weak legs when she tried to stand earlier, she would just be making a fool of herself if she tried to stand again.

“I can stand.” She insisted and he hummed.

“Clearly. I wonder who was the person who swayed earlier like she was blown by the wind.” He said and Hazel just scoffed.

She could not be bothered replying to him.

She pushed herself up again, this time slower and even though her legs trembled, she still managed to stand. She did not notice Damien’s extended arm as he got ready to catch her if she really did fall.

The dizziness still lingered and feeling her parched throat, Hazel poured herself some water.

“I told you to stay in bed.” Damien’s voice rang out and she rolled her eyes.

“I heard you.”

She lifted the cup to her lips and was about to take a sip when Damien suddenly stepped forward.

Startled, her hands jerked and the water tipped forward, draining on Damien’s body.

Both parties froze.

Water dripped slowly on the floor and she slowly lifted her gaze.

She swallowed, moisturizing her dry throat, “Well, perhaps you should not sneak up on sick people.” She said, suppressing her fear at Damien’s grim face.

Damien exhaled slowly and just when Hazel thought he would explode, he reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it off, revealing the muscular torso beneath.

Hazel completely froze, taken aback.

Defined chest, with faint scars of old and recent wounds.

His skin was tanned and water glistened, falling to the ground in drops.

She did not mean to, but her eyes still lingered.

“Like what you see?” Damien felt her gaze and asked coolly.

Hazel finally reacted, and heat flared on her cheeks.

Feeling that she had lost her momentum, she scoffed awkwardly and turned to leave, her pace fast as though she was running away.

“Hazel.” He called, but she did not answer.

She pulled open the door, only to see a figure at the entrance.

When Mireya saw Hazel, the smile on her face froze.

“What are you doing here?”