Description: From Endure Damian's hand was clenched so tightly around the locket that his knuckles were white. "Why do they want you? Why would Armando want your blood?"Something deep inside of my belly clenched, sending a rolling wave of nausea through me. "I don't know." Damian stared down at his fist. "Please don't do this. Please don't go. If you do ... they'll take you from me. Forever this time." He closed his eyes. "I can feel it. If you go, I will lose you." I crossed to where he stood and put my hand over his. When he looked into my face, his expression was bleak. "Together we can do anything, remember?" "But we aren't doing this together. You're going alone." With my free hand, I reached up to cup his face and gently pulled his mouth toward mine, until our lips met. He trembled beneath my touch, threatening to break apart. He'd let me past the careful wall he had built around himself for so many years, giving me the power to hurt him more deeply than I could probably imagine, and that knowledge made me want to scream and cry and never let him go. His arms came around me, his hands clutching at my tunic as he pressed my body against his. The desperation we battled seeped into our kiss, evidenced by the bitter taste of salt on my tongue from tears. I wanted to lose myself in the heat of his touch, in the need that pounded through my blood, coalescing in my limbs and belly. But I couldn't do that to him. I couldn't love him completely and then leave him alone. With a gasp, I tore myself away and he let me go. We stood motionless, breathing heavily, and then I said, "I'll come back. I promise." He just stared at me, silent and resigned. Summoning every ounce of strength I had, I turned and strode away, toward the curtain that hid the door to the passageway. Just when I lifted the fabric to pull it back Damian spoke. "I love you, Alexa." I didn't dare turn around and look at him, afraid it would be my undoing. "I love you, too." And then I stepped out of his sight and into the darkness.

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