Plan.

Damien~

Something inside me constricted. My grip on the door tightened as the thought of Damon being close to her flashed through my mind.

Damn him. He knew exactly how to get under my skin.

I turned back to him. He wore his usual smug, knowing smile—the kind that made me want to wipe it off his face using my sword.

"If she were my wife," he continued, "I would have followed my own advice. But unfortunately, I ain't the one she is stuck with."

My fists clenched my patience already on edge. "So, what do you suggest, consigliere?" My voice dripped off with sarcasm which he ignored completely.

"Be the husband of her dreams. Make her so tangled in your world that she wouldn't want to escape...even if she could."

His words sank in my mind, as I took a moment before giving him a reply. I pushed back my hair in frustration. "Is there no other way?" I glanced in his direction when he bit back, "Do you have a better idea?."

I huffed in reply, pacing back and forth, when a knock echoed in the room. The situation, already distressed, got more tense.

I was not in the right mind to answer when Damon responded instead, "Who's there?" 

"Me...Selene," 

It was her. My eyes closed as I took a deep breath. "Come in," I tried to make my voice less intimidating. The door slowly swayed open, as her little head came in my view. She looked like a tiny rabbit who was walking into the den of a wolf. Her hands kept fidgeting as her body got rigid since the time the door behind her closed. 

She remained silent. I threw a glance in Damon's direction when he shrugged leaving it all to me. I clenched my jaws. My focus went back to her, "What is it?" 

My voice alone made her almost jump at her position. She stared at me with widened eyes, "Huh? What?"

She clearly did not pay any attention to my words. "Why did you come here?" I repeated which I did not like. She scratched her neck as her eyes kept going back and forth. "I...um..I just," She kept trying to find the right words. My patience was thinning. I drew a sharp breath trying not to leash on her. Again. 

I think she is hesitating. Damon spoke through the mind link.

I glared back at him as I replied. I know it. What do you want me to do about it?

Damon shook his head in disappointment urging me to throw a punch. 

"I may leave you two alone, " This time, he spoke up. He walked up to the door. Silence fell in the environment as he left the room. I inhaled some air, trying to calm myself.

"Sit here," I signaled to the couch between us. She hesitated but after a brief moment, she stepped ahead. As she sat in front of me, I also got settled. I moved forward intertwining my hands. I let my eyes scan her from head to toe. 

She wore a blue gown with somewhat matched the color of her eyes. The dress was loose almost hanging on her yet her beauty did not flattered. A bit. She bit her lips as her gaze flickered up to meet mine. But the moment our gazes met she again directed her gaze down. Her hands clutched the fabric of the gown as if she couldn't let go of it.

Her expressions reminded me of Damon's words. 

'She's too weak and scared.'

She definitely was weak and scared.

'If luxury could make her happy, she wouldn't have been so miserable before.' 

Did she act this way before, or is it something new with her?

All these questions started to pound in my head when her voice fell into my ears. I got back into reality not moving my gaze upon her. 

"I heard the conversation," She finally revealed. I froze at her words. My body went rigid, and my gaze hardened. "What part?" My voice came sharper. 

I needed to know how much she heard when she replied, "When you..and the doctor were talking about me," Her voice trailed off till the last part. Realization struck me as the doctor's words repeated in my mind. 

Her shoulders were square, they were not moving as if she stopped breathing. She was waiting for me to react. 

Was she expecting me to be angry with her?

Curiosity ignited in me, as the thought crept in. I was still trying to decipher the changes happening in her when her voice again pierced through the silence, "I know..I am weak but give me a chance, " this time her voice came steadier. 

"The reason for which you married me," She took a brief pause before she continued, "I will complete it." 

"Will you?" My tone was flat but she snapped as if I accused her. Her gaze steady on me. Her body shivered yet her eyes held the determination. 

"Yes." The word escaped from her mouth, "I will give an heir to you." It was not a statement but a promise. Her voice contained determination, I knew it would not be an easy task. 

She barely even reached my shoulders, then how..? My thoughts faltered as my gaze bore into her. The tension grew between us as her whole body shivered under my gaze.

If my mere presence unsettles her, how will she withstand the process of getting an heir? 

I knew that if I wanted to get ahead in our plan, I had to make her accustomed to my proximity. "Do you mean it?" 

I studied her intently, searching for even the slightest flicker of a lie.

"I mean every word I said." Her voice held steady—no hesitation, no stutter. This time, she met my gaze and did not waver. Fear flickered in her eyes, but she did not back off.

I nodded my head and took a few moments before giving any reaction back.

The tension grew heavier when I rose to my feet, taking a delibrate step in her direction. Her eyes widened, as her lips quivered to say something. She also stood up.

"What.. happened?" Her voice was laced with fear. Silence was my reply, as I was one hand away from her.

"You say, you mean your every word..."

My voice dropped to a low whisper as I added, "Then it should not trouble you to prove it—with a kiss."