Frowning at her, Damien shook his head. "No. Even with the collar, the fall could have broken your wee neck." And his forefinger danced across her neck as he said it, sending shivers down her spine.
"I could have," Adira said. "But did not."
His eyes were piercing, as if he sought to see inside her mind, to the truth hidden there.
"There was no life in you when I held you in my arms," he whispered. "You were not pretending that," Damien said.
"No," Adira whispered, half afraid he would see right through the lie. "I fainted. Perhaps from the fall, or the fear, I cannot say. But I woke in..." she shuddered at the memory. "In a horrible place."
His face softened then. Slowly he lowered his head. "Yeah, I know about that," he said softly. Then meeting her gaze, he asked, "And your mother? Did she wear this trick collar as well?" Damien asked her.
Adira closed her eyes, her pain all too real. "Someone saw my friend and he had to run away, or be caught. There was no time for him to help her as he did me. When I woke among the dead, she was beside me... and..." Tears choked her throat, and she could not go on.
His hand came to her, stroking her cheek. Adira wanted to clasp it in her own and press a kiss to his palm. But she only stood still, closing her eyes at the feelings his touch evoked. Weak with relief that she was feeling this man's touch again, as she had so often dreamed of doing. Weak, too, with the remembered pain of finding her precious mother, dead.
where they took you. But you were not
through
not save you, girl. I thought... at least I might give you a proper
him, and he
man, Damien Walter," Adira
softly, eyes going harder. "Not so kind, not when I am
as well. Dangerous to
girl. What happened when you woke?" he
would have
have been pleased," he said, "to know that you
and impatiently dashed the tears from her face. "If you tell them what you know of me,
not tell them,"
only
will not betray your secret, Adira. I swear it on all that I am. But you must tell me the truth. All of the
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