Reborn Deceit

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Damian

"What the hell was that?" Damian roared a second after the door slammed.

"You're welcome." Krea rolled her eyes at him, then stood and began to drag the arm chair back to its initial starting place.

"You call that helping? You know what happened to her! Goddamn it, Krea, you can't get her worked up like that."

Krea spun around, hands on her hips, and sent a hard glare back at Damian. "In case you forgot, I just helped her. Blocking out someone else's mind control is the hardest, and most important, part of learning to control it."

Damian grabbed a book from the shelf beside him and chucked it across the room. It slammed into the opposite wall with a loud thud, and Krea jumped in response. When it didn't help to diminish any of the rage inside him, Damian kicked one of the white chairs, sending it flying into the other one.

Damian took a deep breath, then raked a hand through his hair. "What did you say to her?" He wasn't shouting anymore, but his voice still held a cold undertone, and he saw Krea shrink back just a bit in fear.

"I voiced her deepest fears." Kreas gaze locked on his, and Damian probably didn't need to ask her to elaborate, because he was sure he knew what she was hinting at, but he did anyway.

Krea sighed. "She's crazy about you. I used that to my advantage."

"Krea," Damian growled. He wanted to throw something else, but knew it wouldn't help, and destroying Kreas place was not what he had in mind. "What happened between us-"

"Was a mistake," Krea cut him off, her hard tone accompanied by an eye roll. "and it will never happen again. I know, trust me. But she didn't know that."

"She is in a vulnerable state right now. All I wanted was for you to help her, not freaking torment her."

This time it was Krea who threw her hands up in agitation, and it was her voice who took on a bit of a crazy tone. "Do you realize who you're talking about? That girl went through hell and back, literally, and she's alive to tell the tale. She may not remember it, but she will, eventually. She's not as fragile as you think, Damian. She is actually the strongest woman I've ever met. That's saying a lot, coming from me."

If there was one thing Damian could agree with Krea on, it was what she just said. He knew better than anyone how strong Rose was.

"Just tell me how I can help her."

Krea gave him a small smile. "She just needs to practice. Be her test dummy."

Damian let out a harsh laugh. If only Krea knew just how much he was Roses dummy.

~ ~ ~ ~

When Damian stepped out of Kreas townhouse and into the busy streets of London, Rose was already sitting in the passenger side of their rental car. When he got in the drivers side and started the car, she said nothing; just stared out the window, faking an interest in the passing pedestrians.

Unlike the drive this morning headed to Kreas, Rose didn't say a single word, and never mentioned how terrified she was of his ability to drive on the wrong side of the road, which he knew was a bad sign because she always had a sarcastic comment for everything.

Damian would have sold his soul to the devil if it meant he could have any clue as to what Rose was thinking. His quick glances in her direction showed nothing; no furrowed brow, no creases at the edges of her eyes, no compressed lips. She was completely emotionless. The only thing scarier than a crying woman was not knowing what the hell a woman was feeling.