Chapter 177: 177 - stay close
177
~Lisa’s POV
Finally, the doctor came to checked up on me. I sat on the edge of the bed, my heart pounding, waiting for the doctor’s words as if they would decide my entire future. Damon stood near the window, tall and sharp, his arms folded across his chest but his eyes fixed on me in quiet worry. The doctor finished checking my pulse, shining a small light into my eyes, then stepped back with a nod.
"She’s fine now," he said, his tone calm and steady. "Her body is just tired from the stress and lack of proper rest. She should take it easy for a while, but she can leave the clinic today."
Relief washed over me, but before I could exhale, Damon moved to my side in an instant, like he had been holding his breath the whole time too. His hand rested lightly on my shoulder, protective but firm, like he was making a silent promise to keep me safe.
"You heard him," Damon said softly, his gaze flicking down to mine.
I nodded, not trusting my voice. Somehow, it felt like if I spoke, the knot of emotions swelling in my chest would spill out in front of both of them. Damon helped me stand, one arm gently around me like he was afraid I might fall again. We walked back through the palace hallways together, his stride strong and steady while mine was slow, but he never rushed me. He adjusted himself to my pace, guiding me as if I were the most fragile thing in his world.
By the time we entered my room, the weight in my body demanded I sit again. He helped me onto the chair near the wardrobe. His hand lingered a second too long before he pulled away, and I tried not to think too hard about how much comfort I found in that touch.
I stood after a moment, deciding I needed to change out of the clothes I had worn to the clinic. My skin still felt clammy, and I wanted to feel clean again. I pulled out a simple dress, something soft and comfortable, then hesitated. Damon was still there, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed, watching me.
"I’ll... I’ll just change quickly," I said, my voice quieter than I intended.
He raised an eyebrow, almost like he wanted to tease me, but instead he gave a small nod and didn’t move. His presence filled the room, his steady eyes tracing every movement I made. I tried to act natural, but the truth was, my pulse was racing.
I turned slightly, pulling down the zipper at the back of my dress. My fingers were shaky, not because of the zipper, but because of the heavy silence between us. The fabric slid down my shoulders, and just as I was about to step out of it, I felt Damon move closer.
Before I could turn, his hand brushed lightly against my bare back. I froze, my breath catching in my throat. His touch wasn’t rushed or careless, it was deliberate, almost reverent. His fingers traced the crescent-shaped birthmark that sat at the center of my back, just below my shoulder blade.
I stiffened, instinctively wanting to pull away, but then he leaned closer. His lips pressed softly against the mark, and the warmth of his kiss sent a shiver rushing through me.
"It’s beautiful," Damon murmured against my skin. His voice was low, rough, as if he wasn’t speaking to me but to himself. "What’s it all about?"
I swallowed hard, gripping the edge of my dress in my fists to keep steady. "I...I don’t know," I whispered, my voice trembling. "It’s just... just a birthmark. Nothing special."
He didn’t move right away. He lingered there, his breath warm against my back, before finally straightening. "Nothing special?" He almost scoffed, though not unkindly. "Lisa, marks like this don’t just happen by chance."
I turned to face him then, pulling the fresh dress against my chest, needing to create space between us or else I would drown in the intensity of his gaze. "It’s nothing, Damon," I said, a little too firmly this time. I had to look away, pretending to focus on fixing my dress. "Please... don’t think too much about it."
He studied me for a long moment, like he wanted to push, to demand the truth out of me, but then he exhaled slowly and let it go.
Once I finished changing, I turned back to him with a small smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. "I want to go outside," I said softly. "Just... fresh air. Away from all this. Away from the walls of this palace. Even just for a little while."
His brow furrowed instantly, his jaw tightening. "Outside?"
I drew in a shaky breath, my fingers twisting together as I tried to explain. "It’s just... every corner of this palace feels heavy. The walls are closing in on me, Damon. Every time I close my eyes, I feel like I’m suffocating."
His face softened, though his jaw was still set hard. He hated seeing me like this, I could tell. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touch gentle but steady.
"Lisa," he murmured, "you don’t have to be afraid here. You’re safe with me."
I let out a bitter laugh that came out more like a sob. "Safe? I know you mean well, but my mind won’t let me rest. I need to feel it, Damon. I need to step outside and remind myself that the world is bigger than these walls. That I’m not trapped."
His eyes searched mine, deep and intense, and I could see the battle raging inside him. He wanted to say no, I knew it. The thought of me outside, unprotected, probably terrified him. But at the same time, he could see how much I was breaking apart inside.
The silence stretched, heavy between us, until finally, he exhaled slowly. His grip on my arm tightened, not rough, but grounding.
"Fine," he said at last, his voice low and commanding. "But I’m coming with you."
My heart leapt at the words, relief washing through me so strongly that tears blurred my vision. "Thank you," I whispered, almost choking on the words.
He studied me for another long moment, then cupped my cheek with his hand. "Don’t thank me, Lisa. Just... promise me you’ll stay close."
I nodded quickly, pressing my hand over his. "I promise. I just... I just want to breathe again."