Hell and Back

Chapter Eighteen

There's something off about Damien. I can't quite put my finger on what it is, but something about Damien's character is irksome.

I can see how different his temper alone is. He doesn't get as angry at me like he used to. He's more patient, but I still feel like something I do will tick him off to no end and it'll be like my first experience after being kidnapped by him.

as he trots on his horse beside me. He and I picked 2 similar horses with silky brown coats. I didn't think horseback riding would turn out to be this easy, but my horse, Charlie, is extremely chill. Frieda, on the other hand, ensured Damien had a hard time taking her. "Women," He says.

"Or maybe just you." I respond just as Frieda decides to start galloping off to God knows where.

"Slow down, girl!" I hear Damien faintly shout but she still isn't complying to his wishes. I laugh at the two of them in the distance. Although I can feel all of the anger and frustration inside of him, he still manages to keep his cool.

Frieda suddenly stops, and after a moment of Damien probably cussing under his breath in relief, she finally turns around and trots back over to us. By the time he reaches me, he looks less annoyed and more concerned. "You okay?" He asks.

"I'm fine," I respond smoothly. "What gave you the idea to go horseback riding?" I question.

"I haven't been in so long. I figured why not go with you," he shrugs.

I repeat, "with me?"

His expression becomes a little tense as his grips on the reigns becomes visibly tighter and he clenches his jaw. "Is that so hard to believe?"

"Yes," I honestly respond. "I'm surprised you haven't tried to kill me."

He exhales, "the idea is to make sure you're comfortable here if we are to share a life together." Damien's explanation doesn't make me feel any better, and I hope he picks up on that. He continues, "perhaps you would accompany me for dinner tonight."

I consider his offer skeptically. "Sure," I grin at him. He looks somewhat taken aback that I'm not putting up a fight. "Would you let me go back home if I really wanted to go?"

"No." Damien firmly states. He hardly gives me the time to finish my sentence.

"No? But you told me --"

"I know what I told you and I meant what I said... at the time." He cracks the reign and Freida starts to trot a bit faster, but I pick up on his avoidance.

"Why can't I go home now?" I pressure Damien even more to answer the question. It was his idea in the first place for us to do this whole 'honesty is a virtue,' thing.

"For your safety. If you're out there, anything can happen to you. I'm King now, Lena. What don't you understand?" I inhale deeply and let out a short sigh. Understanding Damien is like a huge puzzle. I start to weigh my options in my head, and the decision is pretty daunting.

"Maybe it would be easier for everyone if I were just dead," I groan.

Damien abruptly stops the ride, and I feel a sudden drop in my heart and it feels like an old, rotten fruit. "Do not ever say that, Alena." his voice is low, yet stern. I'm not sure what part of him I just triggered, but it doesn't feel good.

"Aye aye, cap'n," I crack the reign and Charlie goes shooting off. I turn back around and see a grin on Damien as Frieda starts sprinting as well.

---

Dinner with Damien sounds like a hoax. It's difficult for me to enjoy my experience in the palace considering my circumstances, but I can't deny that I enjoy moments like horseback riding with Damien, even dinner with him. I know that he does care about me and he's had a hard time showing it in the past, but now he's open but I still feel the secrets he holds within him. I'm not sure how to crack it out of him or if I should.