Danger

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CHAPTER 29

~Arianna’s POV~

The distant howling grew louder, each mournful cry slicing through the heavy silence of the estate. 

Damon stood frozen for a moment, his body taut like a predator ready to strike. The tension was suffocating, and my thoughts raced as I replayed the attack on the road.

“What’s happening?” My voice trembled despite my attempt to sound composed.

Damon turned his piercing gaze toward me. “You need to go to your room. Now.”

“I’m not a child, Damon,” I snapped, crossing my arms. “If something’s going on, I have a right to know—”

“Arianna,” he interrupted in a low but cold voice. “This isn’t a debate. You need to be out of sight. Immediately.”

I wanted to argue, but the intensity in his eyes made me hesitate. Whatever was coming, it wasn’t something I could fight. Reluctantly, I turned and headed upstairs, my steps heavy with frustration and fear.

Once inside my room, I locked the door and leaned against it, my mind spinning. The glow in Damon’s eyes, the claws that had extended from his fingers—it all felt like something out of a nightmare or some fairytale.

But it wasn’t a nightmare. It was real. And I had no idea what that meant for me.

Just as I rounded the corner, I heard Damon mutter something like he was on a call but when I looked closely he had no phone in hand. 

“District A, what’s your report? Delta B, report, any sightings of the enemy?”

My heart leapt in my chest. Before he could turn in my direction, I pulled away from sight and hurried to my room with one thought in mind… “What the fuck is going on?”

************

~Martha’s POV~

The late morning sunlight streamed through my kitchen window, bathing the room as I hummed softly to myself, sweeping the floor. 

Last night’s events still played in my mind. Seeing Arianna in that dishevelled dress, the fear in her eyes as she spoke about the man who claimed she belonged to him—it was all too much.

I hadn’t slept well, but at least Arianna seemed safe now, back with Damon Dark. Still, something about him unsettled me.

The sharp sound of a knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I set the broom aside and made my way to the door, wiping my hands on my apron.

When I opened it, I was surprised to see Henry standing there. His usually warm eyes were shadowed with concern, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets.

“Henry?” I stepped aside to let him in. “What are you doing here so early?”

He entered, his movements stiff. “Martha, I need to know what’s going on with Arianna.”

I blinked, caught off guard by his urgency. “She was here last night. Why? Did something happen?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “She hasn’t answered my calls in days. Then you tell me she showed up out of nowhere, looking like she’d been through hell. I need to know what’s going on so I can help her.”

I frowned, leaning against the counter. “Henry, I don’t know all the details. She showed up late last night, wearing this… let’s just call it an outfit she wouldn’t normally wear. She was angry, and refused to tell me much.”

His jaw tightened. “Did she mention who she was with?”

I hesitated, unsure if I should tell him. But the worry etched into his face made my decision for me.

“She didn’t have to,” I said finally. “The man who came to get her made it very clear.”

Henry’s brows furrowed. “What man?”

I took a deep breath. “Damon Dark.”

The name felt like lead weight. Henry’s expression shifted from confusion to alarm. “Damon Dark?” he repeated. “The Damon Dark? The one with ties to—”

“Yes,” I interrupted quickly, not wanting to say it out loud. “That Damon Dark.”

Henry’s face paled, and he took a step back, leaning against the wall for support. “What the hell is Arianna doing with him?”

“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” I said, crossing my arms. “She wouldn’t say much, but from what little I gathered, he's... possessive. He called her ‘his,’ and let me tell you, Henry, the way he looked at her… it was terrifying like he owned her and... I don’t know about your relationship with her anymore.”

Henry’s hands curled into fists at his sides, his expression darkening. “I need to get her out of this. Whatever hold he has on her, I’ll break it.”

“Be careful, Henry,” I warned, my voice trembling slightly. “Damon Dark isn’t someone you can just go up against. He’s dangerous.”

“I don’t care how dangerous he is,” Henry said firmly. “If Arianna’s in trouble, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.”

His determination was admirable, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was walking into something far bigger than either of us could comprehend. 

And for the love of God, I did not want that for him.

“Just… promise me you’ll be careful,” I said quietly.

Henry nodded, though the fire in his eyes didn’t waver which was something I loved about him. “I will. And I’ll get a straight answer out of her. Why she went to him when I was here.”

**************

~Arianna’s POV~

I sat by the window, staring out at the sprawling forest that surrounded Damon’s estate. The events of today played in my mind on a loop, each memory raising more questions than answers.

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called, though my voice lacked any real enthusiasm.

The door opened, and Damon stepped inside. He looked tired, his usually sharp features softer, but his presence still commanded attention.

“We need to talk,” he said simply.

I crossed my arms, leaning back in my chair. “Now you want to talk? After everything that happened last night?”

Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know you’re angry—”

“Angry?” I interrupted, my voice rising. “Damon, I don’t even know what to feel right now. You’ve been keeping me in the dark about everything, and then last night, I saw... whatever that was.”

His eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of vulnerability.

“You’re right,” he said quietly. “I’ve kept things from you. But it’s not because I don’t trust you—it’s because I don’t want to scare you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Too late for that.”

He gave a small, humourless smile. “Fair enough.”

Before he could say more, the sound of a phone vibrating interrupted us. Damon pulled it from his pocket, his expression darkening as he read the message.

“What is it?” I asked, my curiosity outweighing my frustration.

“Luca’s men,” he said, his voice tight. “They’ve been spotted near the estate again.”

A chill ran down my spine. “What do they want?”

“Probably you,” Damon admitted, his gaze steady. “But they won’t get close. Not while I’m here.”

His words should’ve reassured me, but instead, they only heightened my anxiety.

“What if they do get close?” I whispered.

Damon’s jaw tightened, and his eyes gleamed with that strange red light I’d seen the night before and I bet he did not notice.

“Then I’ll show them what happens when they threaten what’s mine,” he said darkly.

His words sent a shiver down my spine, and for the first time, I wondered if Damon Dark was the only thing standing between me and a much darker fate.