Damien’s P.O.V
“What the hell?” Felix hissed, stepping back, his face twisted in confusion.
I could feel the tension crackling in the air, heavy and electric. Felix was staring at Castiel as if he had just grown two heads. He had just thrown a punch—one of those brutal, bone-crushing punches that should have broken anyone in half. But Castiel was standing there, barely even moving, his hand gripping Felix’s fist with such ease it was almost laughable.
Felix’s breath hitched as he took a step back, his confusion growing. “What the hell?” he muttered, glancing between his hand and Castiel’s unyielding grip. “That punch should’ve shattered your ribs. You shouldn’t be standing right now.”
I didn’t know what had just happened, but I could see the shift in Castiel. He was different—no longer the scared boy who had stumbled into this world. He was standing
Damien’s P.O.V I carried Castiel into my room, his limp body weighing heavier on my arms than it should. His pale face, usually so composed, was marred by bruises that twisted my stomach in knots. I tried to ignore the blood that streaked his temple and the small cuts on his hands. Anger simmered low in my chest, threatening to boil over.I should’ve intervened sooner. It was partially my fault that Felix had managed to go this far.Gently, I laid him down on the black comforter of my bed, its soft fabric a stark contrast to the violence that had been done to him. His breaths were shallow, but they were steady, and that gave me a sliver of hope.“Dr. Andrea,” I called, my voice clipped and commanding as I grabbed the intercom on my desk. “Get to my room. Now.”Her response came immediately, calm and professional. “On my way.”I sat down on a chair by the bed, my eyes fixed on
Castiel’s P.O.V I woke up with a gasp, my chest rising sharply as I clawed my way out of sleep. For a split second, I braced myself for the pain I knew should’ve been there—the sharp, gnawing ache that had burrowed into my ribs and spread through my entire body before I’d passed out. But it wasn’t. The pain wasn’t there. I blinked, sitting up gingerly, half expecting my body to rebel at the movement. Nothing.There was a faint soreness in my side, a tightness that felt more like the memory of pain than the real thing, but otherwise… nothing. I glanced down, pulling at the hem of my shirt to see the bruises I knew should’ve still been there. But they were almost completely gone, reduced to faint shadows on my skin. What the hell? How…?I swung my legs off the bed, my feet hitting the floor softly. It was only then that I noticed the room. This wasn’t my room. The furniture was too refined, the sheets too crisp, and the scent in the air—clean, with a hint of cedar—was all too famil
Castiel’s P.O.V Did I…did I just hear him right?‘But your room…doesn’t have me.’Fuck!I swallowed my saliva audibly, my eyes wide and still fixated on Damien’s perfect form. I couldn’t help the way my body reacted to that statement…to him.“Dam—”He tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “You’re injured. You still need to rest.”I frowned, the confusion warring with something deeper, something I didn’t want to name. “And since when do you care about whether I rest or not?”Damien’s jaw tightened, but instead of snapping at me like I expected, he stepped closer. The heat of his presence was almost tangible now, and it took everything in me not to retreat, or worse…reach out to touch him.“Since you pushed yourself to the brink,” he said, his voice low, almost a growl. “You mastered your power, Castiel. That wasn’t easy, but you made it through. But it took a lot from you.”The words caught me off guard, stealing the air from my lungs. Praise? From Damien? It was rare, l
Castiel's P.O.VI stepped out of my room, feeling refreshed after a warm shower. I had changed into comfortable clothes, and my bruises seemed to have faded significantly. I was about to head downstairs when I saw Stephen standing outside my door, his hand raised to knock.Stephen's eyes widened in surprise as he took in my appearance. "Uhh...I thought you got hurt pretty badly," he said, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What happened? You look...healed. Fresh. Like you didn't just get beat up."I chuckled, amused by Stephen's reaction. "It's Damien," I explained, leaning against the doorframe. "He called Andrea to help fix me up. She's got some...unusual skills when it comes to healing."Stephen's eyes narrowed. "Unusual skills?" He took a step closer, his curiosity getting the better of him.I shrugged, a small smile playing on my lips. "Let's just say that Andrea has a way of making injuries disappear. Fast." I straightened up, pushing away from the doorframe. "Want to grab some fo
Castiel’s P.O.VThe morning sunlight streamed through the large windows, painting the dining table in shades of gold. It was the kind of quiet morning I cherished—rare and fleeting in Damien’s world.The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries was inviting, a small semblance of normalcy I hadn’t realized I missed. Damien sat at the head of the table, calm and unreadable as always, sipping his coffee in silence.Stephan and I had thought that Damien joining us would create a tense atmosphere, but surprisingly, it didn’t. Damien seemed to read through the morning news on his phone while the three of us enjoyed the peaceful environment, wondering what to do next for the day.But, of course, peace never lasted long in this house.The moment Dominic strolled into the room; I could feel the shift in the air. He had that kind of energy, like a storm brewing just below the surface. His sharp blue eyes found me immediately, and his lips curved into a smirk that I already didn’t trust.
Damien’s P.O.V I could feel the rage building in me like a storm just waiting to break. Castiel’s shocked expression did little to dissipate the anger, and I choose to leave before it got the better of me.I stood up from the dining table abruptly, pushing my chair back with a sharp scrape against the floor. The anger inside me was blinding—stupid, unnecessary anger that I didn’t know how to control. But it was there, and it had to go somewhere, and I’d rather not directly it at someone who was going to help me in my endgame.Turning on my heels, I walked out of the dining room and stepped into the hallways, hoping to burn some steam in the training area.But it wasn’t long before I heard Castiel’s footsteps behind me, soft and hesitant, but they were getting closer. I didn’t stop. I needed to put some distance between us, give myself space to think—think about everything that had just happened, about what Castiel had said, about what I had told him.This sudden anger wasn’t like me
Castiel’s P.O.V The cold air inside the warehouse prickled against my skin, a harsh contrast to the stuffy warmth outside. I leaned against one of the steel support beams, trying to steady my nerves as the sound of muffled voices echoed off the concrete walls.People scurried around under Stephan’s watchful eye, moving crates, arranging tables, and setting up the stage. The faint hum of machinery buzzed in the background, blending with the clatter of footsteps and clipped orders.This place reeked of tension, of money, of power—of the kind of danger that came with men like Damien. And now, me.Stephan clipped orders to one of the staff caught my attention. “Keep the west entrance locked. I don’t care if you double the guards—triple them if you have to. I don’t want a single soul getting in or out without clearance.”I watched him as he moved, his sharp tone slicing through the air li
Castiel's P.O.VThe grand ballroom was abuzz with activity, the sound of chatter and laughter filling the air. The auction event had officially begun, and guests were streaming in, dressed to the nines in their finest attire. I stood off to the side, surveying the scene before me. Stephen was by my side, and together we were tasked with ensuring that everything ran smoothly.We made our way through the crowds, nodding and smiling at the guests as we passed. The atmosphere was lively, with everyone eager to get a glimpse of the goods that would be up for auction. I spotted a few familiar faces, famous people I’d heard about in the news, including some of the other servants and a handful of other guards. But there were also many new faces, people I had never seen before.At the back of the room, I could see the staff scurrying about, getting everything ready for the main event. The goods that would be up f
Castiel’s P.O.V The water rippled softly around my toes as I let my feet dangle in the pool. The evening air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the garden behind me. Overhead, the stars were beginning to dot the sky, their quiet brilliance a stark contrast to the unease swirling in my mind. Stephan had told me earlier that we were heading to a casino opening this weekend—a party hosted by someone dangerous. The word “dangerous” hung over me like a storm cloud, especially after how the auction involving Reed had went down. I’d asked him why Damien would even consider going to an event hosted by an enemy, but Stephan, true to form, had only offered a vague, “I’ll explain later.”So now, I was here, waiting for him by the pool, trying to enjoy the view and push down the uneasy questions clawing at my thoughts. The mansion looked breathtaking at night, its grand arches illuminated by soft golden lights. The gardens behind me were alive with the gentle hum of crickets an
Damien’s P.O.V I sat on the examination table, the sterile smell of the clinic mixing with the faint scent of Andrea’s lavender hand sanitizer. The room was painfully quiet except for the rhythmic tap of her pen against her clipboard. She’d been running her tests for the last hour and a half, and while I had no doubts about my physical recovery, I knew Andrea well enough to realize she wasn’t only concerned with my body.“How am I doing, doc?” I asked, forcing a smirk. “Can I go save the world, or should I start drafting my will?”Andrea glanced up from her clipboard, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “Physically? You’re fine. The bullet wound has healed beautifully. Your reflexes and strength are back to where they should be. But—” She paused, and I could already feel the weight of what was coming. “I’m not so sure about you mentally.”I exhaled slowly, leaning back against the chair. “You think I can’t handle seeing Gabriel again.”Andrea’s brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms.
Castiel’s P.O.V As we made our way back to my room, the adrenaline from the confrontation with Dominic started to wear off, leaving me feeling like I had just run a marathon. My legs were still a little shaky, but the worst part was the nagging feeling of unease that wouldn't leave me.Stephan walked beside me, his usual calm demeanor in place, but there was a small smirk tugging at his lips. I could tell he was impressed by how I’d handled Dominic, even though I knew deep down that I wasn’t as confident as I’d let on.“That was impressive,” Stephan said, breaking the silence as we reached the door. “I didn’t think you had it in you to stand up to him like that.”I gave a small chuckle, shaking my head as I opened the door to my room. “Don’t be fooled, Stephan. I was scared as hell. Dominic’s a damn Special Alpha, and he can control water. The guy’s dangerous,
Castiel’s P.O.V I could feel the tension in the air before Dominic even moved, but when he slid into the pool with that damn smirk still plastered on his face and still fully clothed, I knew things were about to get complicated. He was the kind of person who thrived on making everything a game. And right now? I wasn’t in the mood to play.I exchanged a glance with Stephan, his face tightening as he noticed the same thing I did.“We should get out of here now,” I muttered, my voice low but urgent. I began to push myself up out of the water, my muscles stiff from the training earlier.But as I moved to pull my leg out of the pool, something strange happened. It felt like the water was… resisting me. Not in a natural way, like the usual drag of the water, but like something was *holding* me down. I froze, trying again, but no matter how hard I pulled, my leg wouldn’t budge.“Stephan,”
Castiel’s P.O.V The sun beat down relentlessly as I made my way to the pool with Stephan by my side. My muscles were aching from the morning’s brutal training session. Damien had been particularly relentless, barking orders like he had something to prove. Not that it was unusual for him, but today it felt like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.I didn’t know what kind of conversation Damien had had with Stephan last night, but it had definitely put him in a bad mood.I glanced at Stephan, who looked just as worn out, though he carried it with his usual nonchalance. He stretched his arms over his head, his tank top damp with sweat. “Pool’s gonna feel amazing right about now,” he muttered, tugging at the strap of his bag.“Yeah,” I agreed, wiping the back of my neck. My mind, however, was elsewhere. Specifically, it was stuck on the conversation I’d walked out of
Damien’s P.O.VFor a moment, the world around me felt muted. The invitation in my hand seemed heavier than it had any right to be, the weight pressing into my palm as if it carried all the ghosts I’d tried to bury. Elijah. Gabriel. Their names might as well have been written in blood.I stared at the card, my vision tunneling on the elegant, mocking script. *The Black Mirage. Grand Opening.* The words were etched in gold, but all I could see was red.“Damien?” Stephan’s voice cut through the fog, tentative, cautious.The sound jolted me, and I threw the card onto my desk as though it had burned me. The motion was sharp, almost violent, and the card fluttered for a moment before landing flat against the polished wood. I turned my back to Stephan, needing to hide the storm I knew was written all over my face.I felt his hesitation behind me before he spoke. “Should I decline the invitation?”
Damien’s P.O.V The warmth of Castiel’s body left mine as he stepped away, and I immediately felt its absence like a cold draft seeping into the room. My arms hung awkwardly at my sides, and disappointment flickered through me. Castiel avoided my eyes, his posture tense.I forced myself to focus on Stephan, who stood frozen in the doorway, a nervous energy radiating off him like heat from a flame. His gaze darted to Castiel and back to me, clearly realizing he’d walked in at the worst possible time.“There better be a good reason for this interruption,” I said, my voice cold and steady, though irritation laced every word.Stephan shifted uncomfortably, his usual confidence noticeably absent. “I… uh… it’s important,” he stammered, glancing at Castiel again like he was debating whether to speak in front of him.I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Castiel,&rdqu
Damien’s P.O.V I’ve seen Castiel put on a brave face for as long as I’ve known him. Always composed, always in control, like he carried the world on his shoulders but never let it crush him. But tonight, as I stood there holding him, I realized just how much weight he’d been carrying.“Hey,” I whispered, tightening my arms around him. His body was warm but trembling against mine. “What’s wrong? Castiel, talk to me.”At first, he didn’t say anything. His head was pressed against my chest, and I could feel the uneven rhythm of his breathing. His fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt like he was anchoring himself, like if he let go, he might drift away.“It’s nothing,” he muttered, his voice barely audible. “I’m fine.”I didn’t buy that for a second. “You’re not fine.” I pulled back just enough to tilt his chin
Castiel’s P.O.V The emerald on the ring caught the faint light of the room as I turned my hand again, watching how the gem gleamed like it was alive. I couldn’t stop staring. My finger felt strange, heavy with the weight of something so valuable. My throat tightened every time I remembered the price the auctioneer had mentioned to me. Two million dollars.Two. Million.“You’re going to bore a hole through that thing with how hard you’re staring at it.” Damien’s voice was calm and teasing as he stepped out of the closet, already dressed in a casual attire. “It’s just a ring, Cas.”“Just a ring?” I blurted, finally tearing my gaze away to glare at him. “This is two million dollars sitting on my finger, Damien. Do you have any idea how ridiculous that is? Who spends that kind of money on a ring?”“You’re acting like I handed you a Faberg&e