Adrian

Chapter 22: She's Playing With Fire

(Adrian's POV)

Amber wanted to push me.

She wanted to see how far I'd go.

How much I'd take before I snapped.

And the worst part?

She was enjoying it.

—

I walked away before I did something reckless.

Before I grabbed her. Before I reminded her that she was mine, whether she knew it yet or not.

But every step away from her—

From them—

Made my blood boil.

She had done that on purpose.

I saw it the second she leaned against Damien's locker.

The way she tilted her head. The way she let her voice drop just slightly.

The way she knew I was watching.

She wanted a reaction.

She wanted to hurt me.

And it worked.

—

I reached the end of the hall and stopped, gripping the edge of the nearest desk so hard it nearly cracked.

I forced my breathing to steady.

Because if I didn't, I was going back in there.

And if I went back in there, I wasn't leaving without reminding Damien Vale exactly who Amber belonged to.

I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair.

"She's playing with you."

The words weren't mine.

I turned my head slowly.

And of course—there he was.

Damien.

Smirking. Amused.

Like this was all just a game.

—

"Didn't think you'd leave so soon," he mused, crossing his arms.

I clenched my jaw. "Shouldn't you be somewhere else?"

He chuckled. "You mean away from Amber?"

I stilled.

That was on purpose.

He wanted to see if I'd crack.

He wanted to see if I'd react.

And I wouldn't.

Not yet.

—

Damien sighed, shaking his head. "It's funny, really."

I raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

"The way you pretend." His red eyes flickered with something sharp. "Like you have control over this."

I clenched my fists. "I do."

He laughed. "Sure you do."

I exhaled sharply. "Amber's not a game, Damien."

Damien hummed. "No? Because from where I'm standing, she's the prize. And you?" His smirk widened. "You're losing."

I clenched my jaw. "Stay away from her."

Damien smirked. "Why? Because you said so?"

I exhaled slowly. "Because I won't ask again."

Silence.

Then—

He tilted his head, studying me.

Like he was figuring something out.

And suddenly, his smirk shifted.

Turned cold. Calculating.

"You like her," he murmured.

I didn't react.

Because that was the mistake.

Reacting meant admitting it.

And I couldn't.

Because Amber wasn't something I could have.

She was something I needed to protect.

Even if it meant protecting her from myself.

—

Damien chuckled. "That's cute, Blackwood."

I exhaled sharply. "Stay away from her."

He smirked. "Or what?"

I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping.

"Or I'll rip your throat out."

His smile widened.

Like he had been waiting for that.

Like he had won something.

—

Before I did something I'd regret, I turned away.

Because I knew.

If I stayed, if I let this continue—

I was going to snap.

And the next time Amber tested me?

The next time she thought she could play with fire?

I wasn't going to walk away.

I was going to burn her with me.

—