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“Both of you need to get out of here,” Damian commands, his baritone voice strained but steady. “I’ll hold them off.”
“Damian…” I start, but he cuts me off with a sharp shake of his head.
“Go, Cassius. You’ve done enough. Now let me do my part.”
With one last nod, I gather what little strength remains in me and pull Annalise close, our hearts beating wildly as one. Together, we stumble toward the door, the weight of our love for each other propelling us forward through the darkness that surrounds us.
Blood seeps through my fingers as I point toward Annalise, my eyes locked on Damian’s. The concern etched in his chiseled features is a balm for the fear gnawing at me. His piercing blue eyes, identical to mine, speak volumes more than any words could.
“Take care of her,” I rasp, the pain nearly overwhelming me. My chest feels like it’s being crushed under the weight of my sacrifice. “Please.”
Damian nods once, a steely determination overtaking him. “I will, Cassius. You have my word.” He moves with swift purpose, scooping up Annalise’s battered form and cradling her like the most precious treasure.
“Thank you,” she whispers, her emerald eyes brimming with unshed tears. Those eyes, so full of love and strength, are the last thing I see before my vision wavers.
“You two need to get out of here,” I manage, gritting my teeth against the pain. Every word is a struggle, but I can’t falter now. Not when their lives depend on it.
“Our mother would be proud of you,” Damian says softly, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re a true protector, just like her.”
The memory of our mother’s fierce spirit courses through me, giving me one last surge of strength. I reach out, grasping Damian’s arm. “Promise me, brother…protect her…no matter what.”
“Always,” he vows, his jaw set with unwavering fortitude.
As they begin to move away, I feel the weight of my choices settle upon me. The knowledge that I failed to save our mother floods my thoughts, drowning out everything else. But this time, I will not be helpless. I refuse to let history repeat itself—not while there’s still breath left in me.
With that singular resolve, I collapse to the ground, my chest aflame with pain and love. The darkness edges closer, but I cling to the belief that I’ve done enough—that Damian will keep Annalise safe, no matter the cost.
“Goodbye,” I whisper, my voice barely audible as the shadows consume me. In this moment of surrender, I finally understand what it means to be a true protector—to lay down my life for the ones I love, just like my mother did before me.
42
ANNALISE
My eyelids flutter open, and I’m immediately assaulted by a sharp, throbbing pain in my head. I wince as I try to take a deep breath, but it feels like an iron band is wrapped around my chest, making it nearly impossible to breathe. My body feels sore and heavy, as if I’ve been hit by a truck.
“Annalise, you’re awake,” a familiar voice murmurs soothingly. I blink away the haze in my vision and find Nikhil’s piercing blue eyes staring at me, filled with relief and concern. His dark hair is neatly styled, but there’s an uncharacteristic tension etched on his handsome face.
“Wh-what happened?” I rasp out through the tightness in my throat. Memories begin to flood back—my daughters, the danger we were in…and then nothing.
“You were drugged, Annalise,” Nikhil explains gently, his tone protective. “We found you just in time.”
“Who found me?” I ask, confusion clouding my mind as I struggle to piece together the events that led me to this place.
“Damian,” he replies, a hint of unease in his voice. Hearing his name sends a shudder down my spine, and I can’t help the disbelief that colors my thoughts. Damian, the man whose presence alone has always unnerved me, was the one who saved me?
“Damian?” I echo, my voice gaining strength as I frown, trying to process this unexpected information. “But why? He…he doesn’t care about me.”
Nikhil hesitates before meeting my gaze again, his expression unreadable. “You might be surprised, Annalise. People can change.”
I’m not sure what to make of Nikhil’s words, but something nags at the back of my mind, urging me to dig deeper. The complexity of my relationship with Damian is a tangled web I’ve yet to fully unravel, and his involvement in my rescue only adds another layer of confusion.
“Perhaps,” I murmur, but the doubt lingers. I can’t help but wonder what truly drove Damian to find me, and what it means for my future—and the future of my daughters.
My heart races as the lingering doubt consumes me, but before I can voice my concerns, Nikhil’s words slice through the tension. “Annalise, we all care about you,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine. “More than you might think.”
“Really?” I whisper, hesitant to believe him. The sincerity in his gaze stirs something within me, a glimmer of hope that maybe they truly do care, but the fear of vulnerability holds me back.
“Truly.” His voice is adamant, leaving no room for doubt. Any further questions die on my lips as the door flies open, revealing Damian in all his imposing glory.
