Chapter 40 - What’s Wrong?

Damon felt Echo nod her head, as he kept his hand on the back of her head, pulling her closer. She leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling a sense of warmth she hadn't felt in a long time. She just wanted to hold on to that feeling… hold onto him, and never let it go.

Neither of the two pulled away from the hug. He wanted to hold her close to him and protect her, and she felt safe in his arms.

Damon gently laid his head on hers, "I'm glad the commander forgot to handcuff us together." He raised his head, and noticed the commander walking towards them. Immediately making his eyes turn black, he watched the commander stop in his tracks. Damon felt angry, and protective of Echo at the same time. She was in a vulnerable state, and he didn't want anyone to see her like that, or manipulate her.

The commander watched from afar, once his patience wore down, he casually walked towards the two. He saw a younger version of him and Jasmine in Damon and Echo. Smiling, he spoke to them.

"You guys done? I still have to handcuff…" the commander paused.

Echo stepped away from Damon, and turned her gaze to the commander in confusion. His facial expressions changed into a full smile. Echo glanced at Damon, who was just as confused as her. Once she looked back at the commander, she realised that he was looking at someone behind them. She couldn't help but wonder who would put such a large and genuine smile on such a cold person.

The commander knelt down, seeing his youngest child, Ryder, running towards him. He picked his son up, and smiled at him. "How was your day?" he asked, in the softest voice he had.

Echo glanced at Damon with raised eyebrows. It was like the commander was a totally different person when he was with his children. She wondered if Damon would be like that. The thought of Damon with their child made her start blushing.

Damon was expressionless, his eyes were back to normal when he glanced at Echo. Her cheeks were flushed as she stared at the commander with his son. Damon put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him, clearing his throat. He glared at the commander, who glanced at him in confusion until he turned his gaze to Echo.

The commander smirked at Damon's possessiveness. There was no doubt that he saw some of his own traits in the demon, and then again, no one would want their girl gushing over another man. The commander was positive that the flushed look on Echo's face had nothing to do with him, but more with Damon. It was a pity Damon was too young to realise that.

Ryder leaned his head on his father's shoulder, while staring at Echo and Damon. He waved once Echo made eye contact with him.

Echo smiled sweetly. He was such a cute child, she began wondering how many children the commander and Jasmine might have.

Ryder shyly buried his head in his father's chest, and turned back to the commander, "Daddy, I heard uncle Sebastian got hurt!"

Echo's eyes widened, and smile faded at the child's question. She sighed, feeling a tightness in her chest.

"He'll be fine," the commander replied, noticing the change in Echo's expression, "Aunt Jane will take great care of him."

Ryder leaned closer to the commander, and whispered in a loud voice that even Echo and Damon could make out what he was saying, "Does that mean Aunt Jane's plan worked? Will Uncle Sebastian marry her?"

The commander smiled, "Who told you that?"

"Aunt Jane!"

The commander sighed, slightly shaking his head in disbelief. He then turned his gaze to Echo, "Was this part of her plan too?"

Echo smiled, how was she going to answer his question? Yes, Jane did tell her about the plan to hurt Sebastian, but at the same time this fight had nothing to do with her.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, commander," Echo replied, earning a chuckle from the commander. She glanced at Damon, who was curiously staring back and forth.

"Seb and I heard the conversation you had in the library. We know Jane's plan," the commander confessed.

Echo sighed, scratching the back of her neck, "Well… I can assure you this had nothing to do with that "plan"."

The commander nodded, "Then let's hope she takes this opportunity." He glanced over Echo's shoulder, and continued, "I should probably go check on him, you guys coming?"

"Sure," Echo replied with a smile, turning around to follow the commander, but Damon stopped her by grabbing her hand.

The commander smirked, and continued on without saying a word.

Echo turned her gaze to Damon. "What's wrong?" she asked innocently.

Damon stepped closer to her, and wrapped in hands around her waist, pulling her closer to him. He had an expressionless look on his face.

"What are you…" she was interrupted by a short passionate kiss. She saw a smirk appear on his face, once he silenced her like a little puppy.

He was satisfied by the results he was getting, "That's much better." He stroked her cheek, and pushed hair off her face. The innocent, confused look on her face was drawing him more towards her, that he almost forgot how to speak. He forgot everything that he wanted to say to her, and aimlessly stared deeply into her eyes.

Echo was lost in his eyes too. They were like an opening to his soul, and she could see how much he wanted to be with her. Staring at his eyes made her feel like he had put a spell on her, and she was just in a trance. All of a sudden, Damon took his hands away from her and stepped back, leaving her confused. What was going on in his mind?

Damon knew that dragging her closer to him like that was not getting anywhere. He was just falling deeper into her arms, which he loved, but right now he wanted to ask her about what had happened earlier. He mustered up his strength to not fall for her tricks again, and made eye contact with her.