Flame Inside ✿ Damien and Matthew

Chapter 26

Sam knocks on the door before shouting, "OI! Time to wake up! We got grub!"

"Can you not call it that?" Mika groans. Thalia bit her lip anxiously while she waited to be allowed in. Thalia really wanted to give Emma a hug after that horrid dream she had. She heard Matthew scream in surprise before hearing a thump and a shout of pain. She snorted in amusement and she heard a giggle through the door.

"Is everything alright in there?" James asks.

"I'm sure everything is fine." Thalia reassured him with an amused smile on her face.

"We're fine! We're fine...!" Matthew shouts through the door.

"Come in!" Emma calls.

James opens the door and Thalia rushes through the door. She placed the plates on the table beside the bed before launching herself into Emma's arms, hugging her tightly. Emma sits there in surprise for a moment before hugging her back. She looked over her shoulder to see Matthew giving her a confused look. Thalia pulls away from Emma and she thanks her friend.

Thalia watches as her fiancé hands his extra plate to Matthew before glancing at Simon on the mantle. He smiles and shakes his head at the mischievous doll. "Thanks, bro."

"You're welcome, Matthew."

Thalia gasps remembering the food, "Oh right!" She picked up one of the plates and passed it to Emma, "Here you go!" Emma smiles at her before thanking her again. Thalia stood up from where she was kneeling on the bed before picking up her plate and walking over to an empty space with Damien and eating. James and Sam, however, were the only ones who didn't start indulging in the food.

"So, we have less than a week to prepare for the Demon Lord." James states.

"You know, fuck me, but I'm excited as shit to finally get to kick his ass into the ground." Thalia rolled her eyes at Sam's statement.

"Why am I not surprised you think that, Sam?" She turns to Mika, "How do you deal with him?" Mika just shrugs in reply. Sam rolls his eyes at Thalia and sticks his tongue out at her childishly. She smirked at him. Mika and Damien make eye contact and sigh at their antics.

Thalia glanced over at Emma to see her rub her neck as if she could feel the collar from the dream around it. Iridessa notices as well and asks her, "Hey, what's wrong? Did you hurt your neck?"

Thalia tensed up at her bringing Emma's actions to everyone's attention. Emma instantly looked up, looking to Thalia for help before shaking her head violently, "I'm fine! I'm fine!" She reassures them. The wives looked to the ginger for an explanation but she just shook her head in reply. They let it go and move on from worrying about Emma to the battle ahead of them.

"So, do we plan on training like we usually do?" asks Erik.

"That seems to be the best plan. It's been a long time since we've actually fought in a battle." replies James.

"Have you fought one before?" Thalia inquired.

The boys, despite the shame in their eyes, nodded slowly in unison. "Part of us living in our father's castle involved receiving the occasional unexpected... 'visitor.'" Erik explains.

"Holy crap man," Sam exclaims excitedly, "I remember one time there was this group that just stormed in and tried to take on the old man but he sent James to take care of 'em. I'd never seen James so pissed off before."

James clears his throat, "That's because they threatened to burn the castle down if I didn't surrender. Obviously, that was out of the question."

"Well, Sam," Erik began, "What about you when you got into those fights with the army generals? They weren't too happy about you being so testy with them."