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Chapter 11 Boundaries And Battles

  • (Ivy’s POV)
  • The drive back to Damien’s estate was silent.
  • I could still feel the weight of his words lingering in the air.
  • "You’re a part of this world now."
  • I hated how true it was.
  • No matter how much I tried to convince myself that I had some semblance of control, I knew Damien was always one step ahead. He made it clear today.
  • And worse?
  • A small, traitorous part of me found it intoxicating.
  • I shook the thought away as we pulled up to the grand estate. The gates closed behind us, trapping me once again in his world.
  • A Nightly Visitor
  • I barely made it to my room before a knock echoed against the door.
  • I exhaled sharply. "What now?"
  • Opening the door, I found Elias standing there, his usual calm expression in place.
  • "Mr. Blackwood wants you in his study," he said.
  • Of course, he does.
  • I crossed my arms. "And if I don’t feel like going?"
  • Elias didn’t even blink. "That’s not an option."
  • A mix of frustration and curiosity swirled inside me. I wanted to refuse, to draw a line somewhere.
  • But I also knew that denying Damien wouldn’t end well.
  • With a resigned sigh, I followed Elias down the dimly lit hallway, my heels clicking against the polished floor.
  • The study doors were already open when I arrived.
  • Damien stood by the window, hands tucked into his pockets, staring out at the vast estate.
  • He didn’t turn when I stepped inside.
  • "Close the door, Little Lamb."
  • I did.
  • Then I waited.
  • Finally, he turned to face me, his piercing eyes locking onto mine.
  • "You’re upset."
  • I scoffed. "Upset? No. Just re-evaluating my life choices."
  • His lips twitched, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes. "Good. You should."
  • I frowned. "What do you want, Damien?"
  • He studied me for a long moment before finally speaking.
  • "I want to know how long you plan to fight me."
  • The question sent a shiver down my spine.
  • I straightened, meeting his gaze without hesitation. "As long as it takes."
  • His eyes darkened.
  • The tension between us thickened, an unspoken battle of wills crackling in the air.
  • Then, in a single step, he closed the distance between us.
  • "You think you still have a choice in this, Ivy?" he murmured, his voice dangerously soft.
  • My breath hitched as he reached out, his fingers brushing against my chin.
  • "I think you like this more than you admit," he continued, tilting my head up slightly.
  • I wanted to deny it.
  • To shove him away and prove him wrong.
  • But my traitorous body refused to move.
  • Damien’s smirk deepened. "You’re starting to understand, aren’t you?"
  • A war raged inside me.
  • Because the terrifying truth was… maybe I was.
  • Maybe I was getting used to this—used to him.
  • And that was more dangerous than anything else.
  • Unfinished Business
  • Before I could respond, a knock interrupted the moment.
  • Elias stepped in, his expression neutral.
  • "Sir, there’s an urgent call for you."
  • Damien exhaled sharply, his hand dropping from my chin.
  • His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he turned away, his mask of indifference sliding back into place.
  • "Stay here," he ordered before stepping out of the study.
  • I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.
  • The moment he left, I took a step back, trying to gather my thoughts.
  • I needed to regain control—of myself, of this situation.
  • But how could I when Damien Blackwood was making sure I had none?
  • ******
  • I glanced around the study, my curiosity getting the best of me.
  • Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with leather-bound books and documents. The large mahogany desk in the center held neatly stacked papers, a few pens, and a glass of half-finished whiskey.
  • Something caught my eye.
  • A file, slightly askew, sitting at the edge of the desk.
  • I hesitated.
  • Then, before I could second-guess myself, I stepped forward, fingers brushing against the folder.
  • A single name was typed on the cover.
  • Ivy Monroe.
  • My heart stopped.
  • Why the hell did Damien have a file on me?
  • I swallowed hard, quickly flipping it open.
  • But before I could read anything—
  • "I wouldn’t do that if I were you."
  • His voice sent a jolt through my body.
  • I spun around, finding Damien leaning against the doorway, arms crossed.
  • His expression was unreadable, but there was something dangerous in his eyes.
  • Something that sent a chill down my spine.
  • I shut the file quickly.
  • Damien pushed off the door, walking toward me with slow, deliberate steps.
  • "Curiosity is a dangerous thing, Little Lamb."
  • I forced myself to meet his gaze. "Then why leave it out in the open?"
  • His smirk returned. "Maybe I wanted to see if you’d take the bait."
  • My stomach twisted.
  • He was toying with me.
  • Testing me.
  • Again.
  • I clenched my fists. "What’s in there, Damien?"
  • He reached out, plucking the file from my hands.
  • "Nothing you need to worry about."
  • I narrowed my eyes. "I think I should be the one to decide that."
  • His jaw ticked slightly. "You don’t need to know everything, Ivy."
  • My frustration boiled over. "That’s not your decision to make!"
  • Silence.
  • A charged, suffocating silence.
  • Then, suddenly, he laughed.
  • A low, dark chuckle that sent shivers down my spine.
  • "You’re playing a dangerous game, Little Lamb."
  • I lifted my chin. "I’m not afraid of you, Damien."
  • His smirk faded.
  • And in that moment, I realiied something.
  • He wasn’t amused anymore.
  • He was… intrigued.
  • Interested.
  • And that was far more dangerous than his anger.
  • Because Damien Blackwood didn’t like losing.
  • And I had just challenged him.
  • (END OF POV)