Chapter 52: A SHARED MEMORY

Shadows. Cold. As if my ears were ringing.

My lungs burned as I struggled to open my eyes and gasped. I felt heavy, and my head pounded as if I had been struck by a truck.

I was where?

Victoria was the last thing that sprang to mind. The firearm made contact with my temple. The raw, urgent voice of Damian calling my name. Next—

* The shot.*

I sprang to my feet, gasping for air as panic clawed up my throat.

I was grabbed by strong hands before I could fall.

**“Simple.”**

Damian.

My vision flickered, then cleared, and there he was, crouched next to me, the faint glow of a fireplace casting shadows across his face. I couldn't identify the thing that filled his normally icy, impenetrable gaze.

I was in a cabin, right? The wooden walls were illuminated by the warm glow of the softly crackling fire. I found myself resting on a couch with a thick blanket covering me, my body encased in warmth.

**"Where—?"** My voice sounded raspy.

"Safehouse," Damian replied. The midst of nowhere. Nobody can locate us here." **

My heart continued to race as I swallowed. "Victoria—?" **

His mouth clenched. ** "Gone. for the time being." **

Right now. That is, she could come back. Indicating that she was still waiting outside.

Damian saw that I was getting a chill. His fingertips briefly touched my flesh as he went for the blanket and pulled it up over my shoulders without saying anything.

The contact was brief. However, it was torched.

He paused and then remarked, "You took a hit," **. ** "Passed out from the shock." **

I scowled, attempting to recall. ** "But… I wasn't shot?" **

** "No. It was Liam who shot first. We left as soon as Victoria became sidetracked. **

With a sigh of relief, I let go.

Damian, however, wasn't relieved. He had overly tight shoulders and a too rigid posture. He seemed to be struggling to keep himself together.

I looked at him. **"You're hurt." **

A little smile brushed his lips. ** "Takes more than a few bruises to break me, sweetheart." **

I wincingly sat up. "Damian—"**

** "You should rest." ** Although he spoke firmly, there was a hint of something else in his tone.

It was a guilt-like feeling.

My eyes narrowed. ** "You're blaming yourself." **

I could tell everything in his stillness.

Before I could stop myself, I extended my hand and wrapped my fingers around his wrist. I touched his warm flesh and felt his steady pulse.

I muttered, "This wasn't your fault."

He clenched his teeth and his eyes darkened. ** "I should have killed her when I had the chance." **

I held on tighter. ** "No. We ought to have survived thanks to you. You did, too. **

He opened his mouth slightly, as though he were about to dispute. He shook his head, however, and exhaled slowly.

He mumbled, "You're impossible,"

My smile came. **"So are you." **

We sat there for a while, the only sound between us being the fire's crackling. While the wind howled outside, causing the cabin walls to tremble, everything was peaceful within. Secure.

Abruptly, I grew weary of the quiet.

Saying, "Tell me something," I moved closer. **"There's something genuine. Something that you keep private." **

He regarded me as though I had just made an impossible request.

**"Lyra—" **

**"Please." **

He took a long look at me and then let out a breath. Then his fingers threaded together as he slumped back on the couch.

**"I used to have nightmares,"** he said under his breath. **"When I was younger. following the death of my father." **

I blinking. "Nightmares?" **

His head nodded. **"Every evening. I would wake up yelling. My mother despised it. Claimed that it made me weak. **

I scowled as my chest constricted. ** "What were they about?" **

He glanced at the flames. ** "I'm stuck. Having no power. observing the disappearance of those I cared about, and despite my best efforts, I was powerless to stop it." **

My throat started to get lumpy.

**"Damian"**

He laughed without a sense of humor. The statement, "It was stupid."

** "No, it wasn’t." ** I shook my head. "You were a kid."

His fingers twitched. ** "I stopped having them after a while." **

I hesitated. ** "Because you stopped caring?" **

Behind them, something primal flashed as his eyes met mine. ** "Because I stopped feeling." **

I wasn't prepared for the impact of the words.

Damian had erected himself inside this impregnable wall, this fortress that no one was allowed to enter. There was still a boy below it all who had once woken up in the middle of the night screaming. The youngster was left to fend for himself after being abandoned.

A boy who had learned to prevent himself from being harmed to survive.

Unthinking, I reached for his hand. He tensed up, but he didn't back off.

My voice lower now, I ran my fingers over the scars on his knuckles. ** "You’re still feeling, Damian." **

He remained silent. However, his fingers twitched a little, as if he wanted to hang on.

His face was shadowed as the flames flickered.

"Your turn," he whispered.

I gulped. "My turn?" **

** "Tell me something real." **

After a moment of hesitation, I inhaled deeply.

"I used to dance," I confessed.

His brows went up a little. "Dance?" **

I took a nod. ** "Ballet. I was also proficient at it. Mom urged me to pursue a career, but my dad... ** I took a deep swallow. ** "He said it was a waste of time." **

Damian stiffened his jaw. ** "Your father is an idiot." **

I chuckled a little. ** "Yes. He is. **

Between us, there was silence.

Next—

Damian inquired, "Do you still dance?"

I shook my head. **"After all was lost, I stopped. It seemed... futile." **

Something flickered in his eyes that could not be read as his gaze softened.

**"Dance for me." **

I blinking. **"What?" **

**"Show me." **

My heart was pounding as I hesitated. However, there was a certain aspect of his gaze that made me nod, as if he *wanted* to see me and comprehend this aspect of me.

I stood slowly, still wobbly on my feet, but I chose to ignore it. There was ample space despite the cabin's small size.

My eyes were closed. Breathed.

And then I made a move.

At first, it moved slowly and hesitantly. My body had become accustomed to it. But after a moment, I was *there* once more as muscle memory took control.

Rotating. Taking a breath. Sensing.

When I did stop, my heart was pounding and I was out of breath.

Damian only gazed at me.

Then he stood.

His fingers extended upward to sweep a stray strand of hair away from my face as he drew closer. His hand was tender and respectful.

I stayed put. I couldn't.

He fixed his fierce, dark eyes on mine. ** "You’re beautiful." **

Heat shot up my cheeks, but he leaned in before I could respond.

Next—

He put his lips to mine.

It was different from before. Neither was it angry or desperate.

The pace was slow. *Very.* Soft

As if he already knew me by heart. As though he was *picking* me.

With my fingers clutching his shirt, I melted into him and returned his kiss.

His breath was warm against my lips and his forehead leaned against mine as we eventually parted ways.

His voice was hushed, "I'm not letting you go, Lyra." ** "Not right now. Not ever. **

I felt my heart race. **"Then don't." **

His hand grew tighter.

However, before he kissed me once more—

The door to the cabin exploded.

A firearm was cocked.

And the moment was shattered by a harsh, vicious voice.

**"Ah, Damian. By now, you ought to be aware. Good things don't last forever. **

Victoria.

And this time—

She was not by herself.