HAUNTING LOVE

Maya wasn't there.

The words chilled me to my very core as they replayed in my mind like a terrible insult.

With his phone held firmly against his ear, Damian walked the darkened safe home. His jaw was clinched so tightly that I felt it may break, and his body was coiled with stress. His entire body begged for restraint as if he were preventing himself from breaking something.

As I sat motionless on the bed, my thoughts were racing.

Maya. My closest companion. My only remaining real family. Lost.

No. Not gone. *Acquired.*

I was ill. My breathing was erratic as my fists gripped the blankets.

After growling into the phone, Damian said, "Find her," and hung up.

There was a heavy silence in the room.

I took a deep breath. **"Who took her?"** I hardly managed to speak.

Damian's movements were precise as he ran a hand over his hair. **"The people of Gideon. They are taking revenge. **

My stomach turned over. The phrase "Because of me?"

He looked directly into my eyes. **"No. due to me." ** His tone was firm and piercing. **"Lyra, this is my war. She is being used by them to reach me. **

I gave a headshake. **"However, she is innocent! None of this has anything to do with her—"**

** "And that’s exactly why they took her." ** His fingers clenched into fists as his tone escalated. **"To send a message." **

A shiver raced through me.

This planet. This life.

I was aware of the hazard. It was personal now, though.

Somewhere, my best friend was alone and scared. due to *me*.

Even before Damian touched me, I sensed his presence. His big hands found my quivering ones as he knelt before me. I should have been calmed by his power and heat.

However, it simply made me realize how much I had lost.

What I *may* forfeit.

His pledge was, **"I will find her,"**. He spoke in a firm, low voice. ** "And I will bring her back." **

I wanted to think he was real.

I *needed* to believe him.

However, I was also aware that promises were as brittle as glass in this world.

And too many cuts had already been given to me.

\### ***After a few hours.***

The night dragged on, oppressive and oppressive. Damian had been on calls, issuing commands, and threatening people. Silent but on the verge of bursting, his presence enveloped the room like a hurricane.

I tried to breathe through the panic that was tearing at my chest as I sat by the fireplace and stared at the flames.

Maya.

What if she was gone from my life? But what if she was—

I closed my eyes tightly.

No. That is not how I would think.

But the fear was there. The helpless, gnawing fear that I couldn’t force away.

**"Lyra."**

The voice of Damian drew me back.

I pivoted. With his sleeves rolled up and his shirt undone, revealing the injuries from our previous struggle for survival, he was observing me from the doorway. I knew him well enough now, but his eyes were unreadable.

He was concerned.

Not only Maya.

About *me*.

**"Come here."** His tone had softened, almost to a whisper.

My body moved before my mind could stop it, even though I hesitated.

He reached for me as soon as I got close enough after I crossed the room. He took hold of my waist and drew me to his chest. He surrounded me with a steady, grounding warmth.

** "I can’t lose anyone else, Damian." ** My voice broke. **"I can't—"**

He placed his lips on my hair. **"You won't."**

I wanted to think he was real.

However, how could I?

Before the words came out, I had no idea how much I had been suppressing.

** "This is all because of my father." **

Damian tensed.

I stepped back just enough to give him a look. ** "If he hadn’t made those deals, if he hadn’t been so selfish—" ** My voice broke with anger. **"I would be absent. Maya wouldn’t be in danger. All of this would not have occurred. **

Damian's mouth tightened. He remained silent.

I shook my head and laughed bitterly. **"And what's the worst? He doesn’t even care. He gave me away as if I didn't exist. Similar to a pawn in his scheme. **

I was unable to control my emotions as the rage, treachery, and *hurt* all erupted.

My voice trembled as I murmured, "I hate him,"**.

Damian let out a long sigh. **"No, you don’t."**

With my eyes flaming, I jerked back. ** "Don’t tell me what I feel, Damian—" **

**"You don’t hate him,"** he reiterated in a forceful yet composed tone. **"You detest his actions. He betrayed your trust, which you detest. However, you secretly still wish that he had been the father you needed him to be. **

My eyes were scorched by tears.

Since he was correct.

A part of me still yearned for an apology, despite my repeated assurances that I was done with my father. For any evidence that he had *something* to think about me.

Damian's fingers brushed mine as he extended his hand.

He whispered, **"I know what that feels like,"**.

I took a deep breath. **"Do you?"**

His face grew serious.

"My mother," he remarked in a chilly tone. **"I tried to be what she wanted for years. Furthermore, it was never sufficient. She desired authority. Command. Not a son. Not a kid who desired affection. **

His voice pierced me with sorrow.

I whispered, "Did you ever tell her?"

His lips formed a sour grin. ** "She never cared to listen." **

Between us, silence descended.

A common pain.

A common injury.

And I sensed a change between us for the first time, something more profound than the fire, the attraction, or the struggle of wills.

This was *understanding.*

This was an actual thing.

The distance between us vanished.

His rough yet respectful hands encircled my face. His lips slammed into mine before I could even catch my breath.

This time, there was no battle.

Control wasn't the issue.

It was desperate.

It was necessary.

As though he needed to *feel* me to know I was real, he drew me in closer, his fingers entwined in my hair. With my hands clutching his shoulders, I melted against him.

And in that moment, nothing else existed.

Not my father.

Not the disappearance of Maya.

Not the threat that lies beyond these gates.

Just *this.*

Just *us.*

Lost in the fire that neither of us could fight any longer, we staggered back against the couch, entangled in one another.

I required him.

I *needed* him.

He needed me just as much, and I could tell by the way his lips brushed my skin and his body pressed against mine.

However, as his hands moved beneath my shirt—

**Everything broke when there was a knock on the door.**

We both froze.

Damian’s body tightened instantaneously, his hand racing to his revolver.

There was another knock. More volume. More pressing.

A voice came next.

** "Damian, open the door." **

Liam.

With a sudden exhale, Damian withdrew.

I sat up, my skin heated, my breathing erratic.

Damian's control snapped back into place as he wiped his face.

Then—he turned to me, his expression dark, serious.

**"This isn’t over, Lyra."** He said without hesitation. A caution.

I shuddered.

Since I was aware that he was correct.

And I wasn't sure if I was afraid of that. Or whether that was what I desired.

\### *** But when the door was opened by Damian—***

Liam had a serious expression.

And the next thing he said chilled me to the bone.

The phrase "We found Maya."

A pause.

** "But we’re too late." **