Damien's POV
"How can I hurt the person I love?"
Adrian's voice trembled. His eyes glistened like shards of glass, heavy with tears he could no longer hold back. And then he said it, words that ripped through my chest and silenced every thought in my head.
"I love you, Damien. I always have."
For a heartbeat, I couldn't breathe. The sword in my hand felt weightless, like it had vanished along with my rage. My chest tightened, and a deep ache settled where fury had burned only seconds ago.
What did he just say?
I stared at him, his pale skin streaked with tears, his lip trembling, his blood soaking through his sleeve. The sight of him should have ignited my anger again. He was supposed to be my enemy. He was supposed to pay. But instead, all I could feel was confusion and something dangerously close to pity.
My thoughts twisted into knots.
He said he loves me. He can't mean that. He's just desperate, trying to survive.
