CHAPTER 123: 123 - JUST TEMPORARY

123

~Damon’s POV

I let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of my neck. "I don’t want to provoke you any further," I said, my voice low. "So... I’ll give you space."

She didn’t look up at me. Her fingers kept folding the shirt, pressing it flat like her whole focus was on that little piece of fabric and not on me.

I lingered at the doorway. Something in me didn’t want to leave just yet. I wanted her to at least know that I cared. "But... before I go," I added, "one of the maids will bring you breakfast. You shouldn’t skip it."

Her head turned just slightly then, just enough for me to catch the little smile tugging at her lips. Not a warm smile, more like a sharp, bitter one.

"I don’t need that," she said, her voice calm but cutting. "I’ll resume my work in the kitchen. I know when to get my breakfast, and I know where to get it. You don’t have to send anyone."

I froze. The way she said it, it wasn’t just about breakfast. It was her way of telling me she didn’t need me. Not my kindness, not my help, not anything.

I swallowed hard. "Lisa..."

She finally looked up at me, her eyes steady, guarded. "Damon, you don’t have to pretend. You and your brothers, you always do what you want. You don’t need my permission for that. But don’t act like you care about whether I eat or not. I can take care of myself."

Her words stung. I didn’t even know why it hurt so much. Maybe because I really wasn’t pretending. Maybe because I wanted, for once, to prove her wrong about me.

I stepped a little closer, careful not to move too fast, not to make her flinch. "I’m not pretending," I said quietly. "I do care. You may not believe that right now, but it’s the truth."

She scoffed, shaking her head, and went back to folding her clothes. "If you really cared, Damon, you wouldn’t keep me here. You’d let me go."

Her words sliced right through me. I clenched my fists at my sides, fighting the urge to argue, to explain why letting her go wasn’t an option. But what good would it do? She already hated me enough.

So instead, I forced myself to nod. "Alright," I said softly. "I’ll leave you to it. But... don’t push yourself too hard, okay?"

She didn’t answer. She didn’t even look at me again.

I stood there a moment longer, hoping for... I don’t even know what. A glance, a word, anything. But she kept her eyes down, her hands busy, as if I wasn’t even in the room anymore.

Finally, I turned and walked out, closing the door gently behind me.

I opened the door to my room and stopped halfway when I saw Rowan and Kael sitting inside, waiting like hunters waiting for prey.

Rowan crossed his arms, his sharp eyes pinning me. "So, you went to Lisa’s room?"

I frowned, trying to hold back my irritation. "I don’t have to report every move I make to you two," I said flatly, walking past them and sitting on the edge of my bed.

Rowan scoffed loudly, shaking his head. "Since when did you start caring about Lisa? Hmm? Since when did she become so important that you storm out of the hall like a wounded wolf just to go sit at her side?"

I clenched my fists. I could feel my blood rising. "I don’t like her, Rowan! Don’t twist my actions. I only care about her well-being. There’s a difference."

Kael suddenly burst into laughter. Not a small laugh, but a full, mocking one that made my skin crawl. He slapped his knee, still laughing. "You don’t like her? Damon, you can’t even recognize your own feelings! You’re the worst liar among us." He leaned forward, smirking. "If it’s not liking, then why the room decoration? Why the constant visits? Why the fire in your eyes whenever her name is mentioned?"

"Shut up, Kael!" I snapped, standing up so fast my chair nearly fell over. "Don’t provoke me."

Kael’s smirk didn’t fade. His eyes glinted with something dangerous. "Provoke you? Damon, you should know me better. I don’t need to provoke you. I can do worse. Don’t forget..." He paused, leaning back, folding his arms lazily. "...Lisa is here because we allow her to be here. If you keep testing me, I can send her away from this palace. In fact, I only need to snap my fingers and she’ll be gone."

My heart raced at those words. Heat shot through me like lightning, and I stepped closer to him, my voice trembling with fury. "You dare not, Kael. You dare not touch her or make any move to drive her out. If you try it...." I jabbed a finger at his chest. "...you’ll regret it."

Rowan’s laughter came next, low and sharp. "Oh, Damon... you forget something. As long as we have Belinda, our Luna, we can do whatever we want. Including sending Lisa away. She’s nothing but a servant here, remember? A fragile guest at best. Don’t act like you own her."

I turned to him, my chest rising and falling fast. "I don’t own her! But I won’t stand by and let you treat her like she’s disposable."

Rowan tilted his head, a sly smile curling his lips. "You sound just like a man in love, Damon. Only a man in love fights this hard."

"I said I’m not in love with her!" I yelled, my voice cracking with frustration.

Kael snorted. "Keep lying to yourself. We see it clearer than you do."

For a moment, the room fell silent, except for the sound of my breathing. My anger was a storm inside me, threatening to spill. But then, I felt a heavy weight press on me. A realization.

They were two against one. Always two against one. And no matter how hard I shouted, no matter how strong I felt, I couldn’t win like this.

I lowered my hands slowly and took a step back. My voice came out quieter, steadier. "Fine. Maybe you think I’m blind to my feelings. And I want you to know this..." I looked between them. "...give me some time to think about Belinda. Don’t force me. Don’t corner me. Just give me time."

Rowan raised a brow. "Time for what? To betray your brothers for a servant girl?"

I shook my head. "No. To figure out where I stand. To figure out what’s right and wrong in all of this. I’m not ready to give you an answer now."

Kael smirked again, tilting his head like he was amused. "Look at you, Damon. Always so careful with your words. Always so cautious. But let me remind you, time or no time, Belinda is our Luna. I don’t even understand why you are doing this. You know that the Luna position belongs to Belinda. And Lisa..." He sneered. "...Lisa is just temporary. Don’t forget that."

I swallowed hard, my chest aching. I wanted to scream. I wanted to punch something. But instead, I stayed quiet, forcing myself to hold everything in.