Damned by Him

Rosaline was peacefully asleep.

For the first time since everything had fallen apart, there was no crease between her brows, no tension in her fingers, and no restless movement beneath the blankets. Her silver-white hair was scattered softly across the pillow, framing a face that appeared almost untouched by the chaos that had surrounded her for the past several days. Her breathing was slow and even, her chest rising and falling beneath the covers while the late afternoon light filtered weakly through the curtains and painted faint streaks across the chamber.

Xandros sat several feet away from the bed.

He had not moved much since bringing her back.

His red eyes remained fixed upon her sleeping form, and although the corruption had been ripped from him, leaving his mind considerably clearer than it had been at the motel, the memory of what had happened still refused to leave him. Saline had taken something from him that he had never believed anyone could touch, and when she had collapsed, Rosaline had returned.

He still didn’t understand how.

He still didn’t understand why.

But for now, he was simply grateful that Rosaline was breathing peacefully. A soft knock suddenly sounded against the chamber door.

Xandros’ gaze shifted toward it.

"Come in," he called quietly, careful not to raise his voice enough to disturb Rosaline.

The door opened.

Lily stepped inside.

Or rather, the woman wearing Lily’s body entered with a confidence that made it immediately obvious that she was no longer pretending to be the timid maid everyone believed her to be.

Xandros did not turn toward her immediately. His eyes remained on Rosaline for another moment before he finally asked, "What are you doing here?"

Christophine’s lips curved upward as she closed the door behind herself, and she leaned against it with her arms folded loosely across her chest. There was something different about her presence now, something heavier and more vibrant, as though the power inside her had finally stopped straining against invisible chains.

"I thought you might appreciate a demonstration," she replied, her voice carrying an unmistakable note of satisfaction as she lifted one hand.

A faint shimmer of magic immediately gathered around her fingers.

Xandros’ eyes narrowed.

The energy was unmistakable.

It was far stronger than anything Christophine had possessed while confined within Lily’s body.

He slowly turned his head toward her.

"Where did you get that?"

Christophine’s smile widened.

"Isn’t it obvious?"

She flicked her wrist, and a small burst of magical energy spiralled around her palm before disappearing into the air. Her expression became almost childish with pride as she admired her own hand.

"Sarah."

Xandros’ expression hardened.

"Sarah?"

Christophine nodded enthusiastically, apparently enjoying the opportunity to show off. "The little witch was quite clever, actually. Sneaky, dishonest, selfish..." She paused, her smile becoming wicked. "Exactly the sort of person I expected her to be, so it made her abilities much delectable."

Xandros pushed himself slowly to his feet.

Christophine noticed the movement but did not appear concerned.

"Why did you go to Sarah ?" Xandros asked, his voice quiet as he watched her carefully.

Christophine gave a delighted little laugh and stepped farther into the room.

"Because Saline found out what she had done."

"She created a companion bond instead of the bond Saline instructed her to establish with Rosaline." She spread her hands as though presenting a magnificent achievement.

"Sarah had been feeding from Rosaline’s spiritual energy for quite some time. She thought she could hide it, but she underestimated Saline."

Xandros’ expression became colder.

"And you?"

Christophine’s eyes gleamed.

"I took it."

She said it with such pride that Xandros’ jaw tightened.

"She was very generous."

"Christophine."

"What?" she asked innocently, though the amusement in her eyes betrayed her.

Xandros’ gaze travelled briefly toward Rosaline before returning to her.

"You were told to stay in the mansion quietly."

"I did."

"You were also told not to make noise."

Christophine opened her mouth, but Xandros raised one finger.

"Rosaline is asleep."

Christophine glanced toward the bed and then lowered her voice dramatically.

"Right."

A mischievous smile appeared on her lips.

"I almost forgot."

Xandros gave her a flat look.

Christophine’s smile returned immediately.

"Besides, you should be happy for me. Look."

She lifted her hand again, and a faint pulse of magical energy moved through her fingers.

"I have twice the power now."

Her grin widened.

"Isn’t it amazing?"

Xandros stared at her.

Then he sighed.

"Shush."

Christophine blinked.

"What?"

"Shush," he repeated, this time more firmly as he glanced toward Rosaline. "You’re going to wake her."

Christophine looked toward the bed again.

Unfortunately for Xandros, it was already too late.

Rosaline stirred beneath the blankets.

Her brows drew together as she slowly awakened, her breathing changing before her eyelids fluttered open. For several seconds, she stared blankly at the ceiling, still caught between sleep and consciousness.

Then she turned her head.

Her gaze landed on Xandros.

And then on Lily.

Her entire body stiffened.

The remnants of sleep vanished from her expression.

Rosaline slowly pushed herself upright, the blankets falling slightly around her waist as she leaned against the headboard. Her eyes moved between the two figures standing across the chamber, and something uncomfortable settled inside her chest.

Of all the people she wanted to see after waking up, neither of them had been on the list.

Xandros immediately noticed the change in her expression.

"You’re awake," he murmured, his voice softening.

Rosaline said nothing.

Her gaze remained fixed on Christophine.

Christophine, however, seemed almost delighted to see her awake.

"Good morning this evening, darling."

Rosaline’s expression became even more guarded.

Xandros glanced at Christophine.

"Leave us."

Christophine looked at him.

Then at Rosaline.

For a moment, she appeared as though she might argue.

Instead, she smiled.

"Of course."

She walked toward the door, but before leaving, she paused beside the bed and looked directly at Rosaline.

"Don’t worry," Christophine said softly, her voice carrying an almost affectionate undertone that immediately made Rosaline suspicious. "You have my heart now. I’ll take care of you."

Rosaline’s brows knitted together.

Before she could ask what that meant, Christophine had already turned and walked out of the chamber.

The door closed behind her.

Silence settled over the room.

Rosaline continued staring at the door for several seconds, trying to understand what Christophine had meant, before slowly turning her attention back toward Xandros.

He had not approached her.

Instead, he moved toward the edge of the bed and sat down, deliberately leaving a considerable distance between them.

He knew she was still uncomfortable around him.

He knew she was still trying to make sense of everything.

Most importantly, he knew that forcing himself closer would only make matters worse.

Rosaline watched him quietly.

Xandros rested his forearms against his thighs and lowered his gaze for a moment before speaking.

"We need to talk."

Rosaline hesitated.

Then she gave a small nod.

"All right."

Xandros inhaled slowly.

"I owe you an apology."

Rosaline remained silent.

He turned his head toward her.

"For what happened before you lost consciousness... I was wrong."

His voice was quiet, but there was no hesitation in it.

"I was angry. I was afraid. And I allowed that fear to become something it should never have become."

His fingers tightened together.

"But none of that excuses the way I spoke to you or the way I treated you."

Rosaline looked down at her hands.

Xandros continued, his expression becoming more solemn.

"You had every right to be angry with me."

She swallowed.

"And frightened."

His eyes lowered.

"Especially after I told you what I am."

Rosaline’s gaze returned to him.

Xandros remained still.

"I should have explained everything to you differently. I should never have allowed you to discover everything through fear."

A quiet breath escaped Rosaline.

"So you really are a vampire."

Xandros nodded.

"Yes."

She studied his face.

There was no darkness in his eyes now.

No blackness.

No wild hunger.

Only the familiar crimson that she still hadn’t learned how to interpret.

"And Lily?" she asked.

Xandros’ expression changed slightly.

"Lily is not Christophine."

Rosaline frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Christophine has been possessing Lily’s body."

He spoke carefully, watching Rosaline’s reaction.

"But she isn’t going to harm Lily."

"Why?"

"Because harming Lily would mean harming herself."

Rosaline remained quiet.

Xandros continued, "Christophine has been connected to that body for too long. Whatever happens to Lily affects her as well. She has no intention of destroying the body she is using."

Rosaline nodded slowly, though she still looked troubled.

"And you knew all this?"

"Yes."

"And you kept it from me."

"I did."

The admission came without resistance.

Rosaline looked away.

Xandros didn’t attempt to defend himself.

He knew he had no defense that would make the deception disappear.

"I thought I was protecting you," he said eventually. "I know now that keeping you ignorant was not protection."

Rosaline’s fingers tightened around the blanket.

"And the vampire thing?"

Xandros looked at her.

"I have been one for a very long time."

She stared at him.

"How long?"

"Long enough that I stopped counting."

A faint silence followed.

Rosaline’s thoughts returned to the motel.

The dim room.

The scent of blood.

His black eyes.

The woman.

She hesitated before asking, "What happened at that place?"

Xandros’ expression became serious.

"I went there because I was losing control."

Rosaline’s eyes lowered.

"I needed blood."

She didn’t respond.

"I didn’t go there because I wanted another woman," he continued, his voice firm but gentle. "I wasn’t with her in the way you might have thought."

Rosaline’s heart gave an uncomfortable little twist.

"I fed from her."

Xandros watched her carefully.

"That’s all."

Rosaline nodded slowly.

He continued, "I have never needed to feed from someone because I desired them. Blood is simply...necessary."

There was a pause.

Then Rosaline’s mind supplied a question she immediately wished it hadn’t.

Then why couldn’t he drink mine?

Her eyes flickered toward him before she quickly looked away.

She didn’t ask.

Xandros noticed the brief change in her expression but chose not to press her.

"I would never hurt you," he said instead, his voice becoming quieter. "Not intentionally. Not because of hunger. Not because of anything."

Rosaline looked at him again.

"You said that before."

"I know."

"And then you told me you wanted to drink my blood."

Pain briefly crossed his expression.

"I know."

The silence that followed was heavy.

Xandros lowered his gaze.

"That wasn’t something I should have said to you."

Rosaline studied him.

"But it was true."

His eyes lifted.

"For that moment," he admitted. "Yes."

He did not lie.

"The corruption twisted everything inside me. My fear of losing you became anger. My hunger became stronger. My instincts became louder."

He paused.

"But the man sitting here now is still me."

Rosaline stared at him for a long moment.

"And you really won’t hurt me?"

"Never."

The answer came immediately.

She searched his face for deception.

There was none.

Eventually, Rosaline gave a small nod.

"Okay."

Xandros’ brows lifted slightly.

"Okay?"

She gave a faint, tired smile.

"Yes."

He remained silent.

Rosaline leaned her head against the headboard.

"I was confused."

"I understand."

"I woke up and suddenly my husband was telling me he was a vampire, Lily was possessed by a witch, and apparently another version of me had been walking around doing things I don’t remember."

Xandros’ lips twitched faintly.

"When you put it that way..."

Rosaline gave him a tired look.

"Don’t."

He immediately suppressed the smile.

"Sorry."

She sighed.

"But it’s not really a big deal."

Xandros stared at her.

"You’ve accepted it?"

Rosaline shrugged slightly.

"I don’t know."

Her gaze dropped to her lap.

"I’m still trying to understand everything."

She paused, and something uncertain crossed her face.

"Besides..."

Her fingers slowly curled into the blanket.

"I’m not exactly sure who I am either."

Xandros’ expression changed.

Rosaline looked toward the window.

"Everyone seems to know something about me that I don’t know about myself."

She swallowed.

"So I suppose finding out that you’re a vampire isn’t even the strangest thing anymore."

Xandros watched her in silence.

There was something painful about the way she said it.

Something that made him realize that beneath all the questions about vampires, witches, and possession was another question neither of them had yet dared to answer.

Who was Rosaline?

And why was there another woman named Saline living somewhere inside her?

For now, however, Xandros simply remained seated beside her, giving her the distance she needed while silently promising himself that this time, he would tell her everything.

No more secrets.

No more half-truths.

At least, that was what he intended.

But then, moving on to the pending task...

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