Page 58 of Deathless & Divided

“When you were younger, you mean?”

“Yeah.”

Damian chuckled, caught her wrist with his other hand, and pulled Lily a step closer to him so that her nose grazed his when he looked down at her. Her eyes widened as her hand splayed out against his chest. She didn’t push him away, though. Damian took that as a good sign.

“When I hung around with Theo, you were young and your parents had just died. I was moved around a lot, so there was only a brief time when Theo and I had been close as kids. For you, that particular time was traumatic. Your parents being killed, moving in with your uncle, and Dino leaving the home. You were so focused on Theo and being stuck at his side because everybody else around you had left.”

Lily sniffed but the tears didn’t come that time. “You remember a lot.”

“Seems where your memories are a blank because of bad feelings, mine are coming back because of good ones. A lot of my childhood was spent listening to screaming, keeping out of everyone’s way, and trying to be invisible.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, so I don’t care to remember it all that much. But you seem to be a sweet spot.”

Lily’s lips curved into a small smile. “Huh. Imagine that.”

“Back then isn’t all that important anyway, Lily.”

“No?” she asked.

“No. Now is. Today. Tomorrow. Whatever you want to do or wherever you plan on going. Those are the important things; those are the things that matter to me. I told you we’ll work out all the details as we go along. I wasn’t lying.”

“I want to trust you,” she whispered.

“You will.”

That kind of thing came with time. Damian certainly wasn’t trying to get this girl to fall in love with him, but he wouldn’t pretend like he didn’t have some residual feelings for her; something inside that clenched around his lungs and heart with a vise-like grip to keep him steady and clear. He wanted her safe and happy, but it wasn’t all because of her brother and his debt.

“Your dress is a mess,” Damian noted, angry over the wine stains soaking the side of her black dress.

“The wine got me, too.” Lily reached up and pressed the pads of her fingertips along his cut. “It’s not so bad, really. I don’t know why it bled so much.”

“Flesh wound on the face.”

“Hmm.”

“I should get you home and then you can maybe salvage this dress,” Damian said.

Lily shrugged like it didn’t make a difference. She had yet to take her gaze off his cheek and she continued touching him with a tenderness that said she was concerned. Damian caught her hand with his own, wanting to ward off whatever nonsense she had going on in her head.

“I’m fine, Lily.”

“She really doesn’t like me.”

Damian laughed. “Do you care?”

“No.”

“Good.”

“Why is that good? Shouldn’t I want your family to like me?”

“I don’t give a damn if Serena approves of my choices or not. They’re not hers to make. There’s only three people with the Rossi surname I consider family and my aunt and uncle aren’t them.”

“But—”

“And soon enough, I’ll be adding a fourth person to that list as well,” Damian said, giving her a slow smile.