Chapter 28
Damon's POV.
As Emelia and I were crowded by people showering us with praises and congratulations, Travis came running and whispered in my ear, "There's been a problem." I could see the pure terror on his face as he delivered his words. Something wasn't right.
I faked a smile as I excused myself from everyone, hiding my displeasure of leaving Emelia's side. A sin on its own, I breathed in deeply, centering myself around Emelia. Emelia's hand in mine. Her scent in every cell of my body. My heart in her fragile hands. I let calm seep into my veins as I stared into Emelia's concerned eyes. "Everything's fine Darling, don't worry. I'll be back in no time," I assured her. She nodded, lips pressed together, a beautiful sight. I felt the warmth leave my body as I separated myself from Emelia, like skin peeling off.
As we made our way out and once Travis made sure no one was around, he spoke, "David's gone. We've been trying to find him, but he's nowhere to be seen," he said cautiously. I knew this was going to happen, and if I'm being honest, I was waiting for it to happen.
"He must have known about the secret exit," I replied, trying my best not to sound too unbothered by the event.
"Maybe. Brandon told me some maid came in with the food. She took a long while inside but eventually came out from the front passage. If she helped David escape from the secret exit, then she must have known the consequences and should have left with him instead of returning," Travis shared the whole story.
"Find him. I don't want him to hurt Emelia," I ordered, knowing very well where he'd be hiding.
"I'll find the maid, she must know something. Damon, I'll make sure we find him," Travis exclaimed. I gave him a slight nod. He left me in the hallway as he went to search for David, and the beast within me stirred. I made my way toward my room, most certain to find David there.
I opened the door to my room, taking a quick glance and finding no one inside. I knew David was hiding behind the door, waiting for me to step in so he could attack from behind, taking advantage of me. I knew he wasn't going to kill me; he had other plans, so I let him take advantage as I stepped inside. Satisfaction pooled inside my stomach.
"Don't move," he growled, holding a knife in his hand and poking its sharp edge into my back. I could feel the sharp, cold metal against my clothed covered skin. I let David press the knife to my back.
“Hey there, Damon. Wasn't expecting me, huh? You wouldn't mind if I come inside.”
False bravado. David was nervous, I could have sensed it even from miles apart. He'd seen the beast, not the whole, but a glimpse of it inside my eyes. He knew. That's the reason he was so nervous even to be in my presence.
I grinned, “Of course.”
We walked inside: with David poking the knife behind me. The knife never left my back. I held up my hand, splaying all five fingers, and asked, “Would you prefer to lock the door, or may I do it myself?”
David hesitated. He wasn’t sure which would give me more power. The answer was both. He didn’t know how to handle the geniality. In the end, he said, “You close them. Slowly.”
I did. I held doors with my hands, letting him see that they were all I'd grabbed, then locked them. “For future kidnapping endeavors…," I turned to face him “I recommend setting the stage prior to your victim’s arrival.”
Once they were safely ensconced, David smirked, hiding the distaste behind it, “You're in no position to say anything, Damon. One word and I'll stab you until no one's able to recognize you.”
The pressure on my back increased, guiding him toward the bed. I obliged, but not without a glance backward, at the closed doors. Then my eyes falter toward his feet, covered with fresh mud.
Without pausing, as that could give David the wrong impression, I asked, “You know it would have been best for you if you just escaped.”
David looked to his feet yet another moment where I could easily kill him and scrunched his brows. “Shut up, I have nothing to lose now. Sit.”
I obeyed and sat on the bed. David pulled out the sofa to face the bed and sat facing me directly. He came into my full view, knife first. His arms and torso were bruised from all the beatings he'd received.
I tilted my head, curious. “May I ask why you didn't obey the orders? You must have been told to escape from this place, instead you came back. What changed your mind?”
Surprise flushed David's cheeks, “I thought about what happened back at my place, I saw you. And I’m going to talk to Emelia, I want her to see what resides behind these charming eyes.”
“I see. And you believe the best way to do that is to hold me hostage with a knife?”
“No. But I do think it’s the best way to make him listen.” David licked his lips. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “To make her see.”
“So you don’t intend to kill me.”
“Not now, not before Emelia's seen the real you.”
I crossed my legs, ankle over the knee, and steepled my fingers over the gap in his thighs. Unfortunately for David, after being betrayed by her wife, his obsession remained with Emelia. He wasn't here for me, he was here for Emelia.
After half a minute of staring, David said, “I don't care about anything else but I'm certainly going to save Emelia from you. I don't care if you're her mate, she's mine. Only mine.”
Satisfaction flourished in me at his acknowledgment. Emelia was my mate, and has always belonged to me.
I decided to continue to play David's game, if only because I, too, wanted to see Emelia's reaction. On our last encounter, the darling thing nearly kissed me as I saved her. When Emelia would see me being held like this, there's no telling what she would do.
The ideal answer being, ‘Kill David, then spend the rest of the night protectively guarding and coddling.’ To see Emelia overcompensating for letting me go, constantly asking if I was okay and what she could do to help, would be something straight from a dream.
I uncrossed and recrossed my legs, again ankle over knee. I withheld a yawn, and the clock ticked on as we waited for Emelia to show up. And I knew she would, it wouldn't take her long to notice my absence.