Chapter 72 Ashes Don't Bleed

• Hailey
• "Damien... listen—" I tried to push him away, but my body betrayed me. Again. No strength. No resistance. Just surrender to the heavenly hold of the devil—the scent of his skin, the heat of his body, the touch I swore had ruined me.
• "That's all I do, Hailey," he murmured, tightening his grip, his face nuzzling against my cheek, eyes clenched shut. "That's all I fucking do—listen and watch. Over and over. There's nothing else I can do, even though it kills me. I'm tearing out of my own chains, and it's terrifying. My world is collapsing and deep down I know—I destroyed it myself. I smashed it to pieces and I can't even fucking grieve." His voice cracked. "And still... I watch you. I hear your voice in my head, on loop. Every goddamn day."