Unexpected: Forever His (Book 1)

Chapter 13: The Truth Won't Set You Free

*****Damen pictured above*****

"Okay, Damen. Spare me no details. I need to know everything you know. I can't be a good queen to Dante unless I know who I really am."

He groaned and pushed his fingers roughly through his hair before he spun around and pulled me against him. "Ever since you told me you chose me I've wanted to do this. May I have just this one kiss, Kayla? Before you are Dante's and I can no longer touch you, hold you, feel your power." I breathed in and leaned against him and nodded my head. "Yes, Damen."

His eyes swirled with hints of black as he leaned down and hungrily captured my lips with his own. I breathed in as I let him pull me deeper into the kiss. It felt nothing like it did when Alexander kissed me, but it was a welcomed feeling and it made my body relax considerably.

After a few moments of allowing him to hold me in his arms, I pulled away and took a deep breath. "Please Damen. Tell me what I need to know."

"I will, Kayla, but first, I...I just..." He seemed to talk breathlessly. "Come with me!" It was a plea and it seemed so unlike him that it took me aback. "Damen, I..."

"I'm not interested in any throne Donovan Kovington has to offer me. I have created one of my own. My people serve me because I have fought by their side in battle. I have proven my loyalty to them, and so they give me theirs without hesitation. I will stand by my brother in peace as I have already told you. I want nothing more than to have you as my queen. Dante won't make you happy. Maybe I can't make you as happy as Alexander could. He's your beloved. I am no one but another man, but I am one who will love you as I would have loved my beloved."

I looked down at the ground as I turned and stepped away from him. "I believe you would, Damen." I took a deep breath. "We just can't right now. Right now all I can think about is figuring out who the hell I am."

"You already know who you are. Hearing what I have to tell you will not change that, Kayla. It won't change the fact that Alexander has not chosen you. It won't change the fact that he is about to marry her right now."

As if on cue, the bell above the castle rung out and above the village, the doors opened to the small balcony. Alexander stepped out first, followed by Kathiana. I stepped forward and grasped Damen's arm in my hand to hold myself upright as my breathing became labored almost instantly as I watched in sickening disgust as he lifted a crown above her and placed it down on her head. He then lifted her face up towards his with his finger under her chin and touched his lips to hers. The kiss was brief and seemed unwanted by both parties, but the people below cheered then and celebrated Kathiana as their queen.

"It won't change...," I repeated Damen's words. "You're right." I stole one more glance up at the balcony and saw Alexander's piercing blue eyes as he caught sight of me with his brother still. "I wonder if his hatred will consume him." I laughed as I looked back at Damen. "I almost hope it does."

Damen smiled, but pulled me into him in a hug. It was meant to help me relax, but it didn't. I sighed and looked up into his eyes. "Please, Damen..."

He dropped his arms from around me and looked up at the balcony. "He's trying to influence me. He doesn't want me to tell you. He thinks it will cause more harm than good."

"He doesn't have that control. It's my life. My past. Damen, you've never let him influence you before, so please don't start now because you're scared of what I am going to do."

He laughed slightly. "Being scared of what you will do is one of the least likely things, Kayla. I am not scared of what you will do. I'm scared of what you won't do. I know you won't choose to follow your...Donovan's path. You're too good. You'll choose the Alpha King because it is the most logical choice. Alexander was right in that sense. It is a wise choice. But he won't be able to protect you from Donovan if he chooses to fight for you to be on his side." He shook his head. He grabbed my hand in his and glanced back up at the balcony. I followed his gaze and did my best to glare at Alexander. I wasn't sure if it was because of me, but he turned his head towards Kathiana then and whispered into her ear. She then looked down at me and Damen.