Failed Escape

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CHAPTER 12

~Damon’s POV~

The moment I heard the gasp, Mars stirred in my mind, his low growl vibrating with urgency. “Our mate is here,” he alerted me, his voice sharp and clear.

I spun, my eyes catching sight of Arianna at the cracked door before she disappeared, her shadow slipping back up the stairs. 

I barely heard the guards behind me—Mars was seething, pushing forward with a fury that made my skin tingle. 

After a cold nod to my men, instructing them to continue, I left the room, taking slow, steady steps towards the entrance of the underground house.

When I reached Arianna’s room, I saw Xander standing far too close to her, his hand tilted under her chin, his smirk too easy, too familiar. 

Mars growled in my mind, ready to devour our friend for daring to touch what was ours. 

A flash of possessiveness surged through me, and before I knew it, I’d crossed the space between us.

“What the hell are you doing with my m—” I caught myself, clenching my jaw before the words could slip. I took another step forward, gripping Xander’s shoulder and pulling him back. The thud of his body hitting the door was satisfying as I kept my glare locked on him.

Xander held up his hands, the amusement in his gaze not wavering. “Relax, Damon,” he said, his tone all far too casual for what he was doing just a second ago. The fucking grave sin. 

I pushed Mars back because I knew letting him lose meant a heated battle between Xander and me, with him coming out dead. “I was just having a bit of fun.”

“Fun ends now.” My voice was low and dangerous, and I didn’t look away until Xander left the room, finally giving us privacy.

I turned back to Arianna, taking a deliberate step forward. She stood rooted to the spot, her chest rising and falling quickly, though she did her best to keep her composure. The faint tremor in her jaw betrayed her fear.

“Explain why you disobeyed a simple order to go to your room,” I said, my gaze narrowing as I took in her expression.

She swallowed hard, trying to put on a brave face, but I could hear her heart racing, pounding so erratically that it was impossible to ignore. A smirk tugged at my lips.

“Your heart’s beating like a trapped animal’s,” I murmured, letting my voice drop. “It’s quite the tell.”

Her chin lifted, defiance flaring in her eyes. Tsk. It annoyed me that she didn’t do that with Xander when he was here. “I’m not scared of you,” Arianna shot back, though her voice shook slightly.

“Is that so?” I asked with a lazy smirk but Arianna didn’t respond. “You answer when I question you.”

“I thought that was rhetorical,” she shot back, crossing her arms in front of her chest. 

It was that defiance that thrilled and annoyed Mars. Eager because he wanted to put her in her place and annoyed because no one in all of Thania disobeyed me, us.

I chuckled. “Arianna Draco, I wasn’t finished with you yet.” My gaze flickered over her, taking in her rising and falling chest and the simple clothes she wore—a big white top and a pair of shorts. “Go change into something from that collection I bought for you and give me a dance show.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, anger flashing across her face. 

I knew she hated it, but that did not matter. Anything to break and anger her, whatever it took to push her wolf out, I welcomed it. 

“What makes you think I’d dance for you here? I didn’t sign up for that in your club, and I’m certainly not about to start here.”

The corner of my mouth lifted, amused by her defiance. “You forget, Arianna,” I said, my tone both soft and dangerous, “you belong to me now. You’ll do as I ask.”

She scoffed, her chin jutting forward as she held her ground. “Maybe you should check again because I don’t recall agreeing to any of this.”

I took a slow step forward, savouring the way her expression shifted as I closed the distance between us.

“I own everything in this place, including you,” I stated in a dangerous voice. “Or do you need a reminder of that?”

Her eyes narrowed, fighting a reaction that I could see just below the surface. She was furious, cornered, but not ready to back down just yet. “You can tell yourself that all you want,” she replied coldly, “but I’m not here to follow your orders.”

“Then you’re more stubborn than I thought.” I leaned in, my gaze darkening as I studied her expression. “And here I was under the impression you understood what ‘ownership’ meant. Are you that daft, or is it that common sense doesn’t run in your family?”

A dangerous glint flashed in her eyes. “Ah,” I said with no smile on my face, “I believe the latter, seeing how your uncle could sell such a beauty.”

My fingers reached for her chin, but Arianna’s  slap prevented it. Without giving my action a thought, my fingers clamped around her neck and my burning gaze bore into her eyes. 

Arianna’s breathing ragged, clearly not expecting my action. I held her slightly frightened eyes, hoping to see her fall but still nothing changed.

Tsk.

Mars surged in my mind. "Damon, I hope you do not want to kill our mate to prove a point.”

I blocked his voice in my head and after what felt like forever, I let her go. 

Her jaw clenched, her defiance bright in her gaze even as she finally, reluctantly, lowered her eyes. 

I straightened, giving her one last cool look. “You have fifteen minutes to change and come out here,” I instructed, moving to sit on the couch, my eyes fixed on her.

She hesitated, but then turned, disappearing into her dressing room without another word. 

Five minutes ticked by in silence, and then another five. Mars growled in irritation, restless with the delay.

“You think she’s coming out?” he prodded.

“She will,” I replied confidently. “Or she’ll face the consequences.”

Another five minutes passed, and still, there was no sign of her. Mars huffed, his impatience seeping into my own, his voice biting. “She’s not coming out. Stop fooling yourself.”

I ignored him, though my irritation was rising. “Arianna,” I called, my voice echoing through the room. “What’s taking so long?”

Silence.

After a tense moment, I heard her muffled response, “I’m coming.”

Another few minutes passed, and there was still no sign of her. My patience frayed and Mars pushed forward with a growl. 

“Go check on her, Damon. She’s either playing games or scheming something.”

Not wanting to deal with my wolf any longer, I stood, my senses sharpening. Something wasn’t right. 

Crossing the room, I moved to the dressing area and entered her closet, but as soon as I did, my hand paused at the open door. 

Empty. 

The window leading to the balcony was wide open, and realization dawned in a flash.

Arianna had bolted.

My heart skipped more than a beat as I dashed for the window.

In a few swift steps, I was at the window, my gaze sweeping the balcony until I spotted her figure, teetering near the edge. She was gripping the railing, one foot already on it, her other leg lifting to balance herself.

I didn’t think. I acted not caring about the consequences.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” My voice sliced through the air.

She jolted, her foot slipping from the rail. A brief flash of panic flickered in her eyes as she lost her balance, falling backwards. 

“DAMON!” Mars hollered in my head.

I reacted instinctively, moving faster than any human could, my hand shooting out to grab her wrist just before she plunged over the edge.

She hung there for a heartbeat, her shocked gaze locking onto mine. I held her effortlessly, my grip firm, as the fear in her eyes intensified when she glanced down.

I pulled her up, easing her back onto the balcony, but I didn’t release her. My hand lingered on her wrist as I searched her face. 

“Why?” I demanded, my gaze piercing as I held her in place. “What were you thinking, trying to run?”

She didn’t answer, her lips pressed into a tight line, though her eyes held a defiant spark.

Mars growled in my mind, his irritation mirroring my own as he suggested, “You should punish her for this.”