Chapter 258: Chapter 258 Alive
(Damon POV)
After being engulfed in an abyss, the sound of water falling filled my consciousness.
Then the smell of fresh air mixed with the scent of jasmine, lavender, and Rosemary flooded my nostrils.
’Ember’
Her name rang in my head, the memories of her falling off the cliff and the bone witch gripping her neck with fingers piercing her skin flashed through my head.
I remembered the disapproving gaze of Theo and Alaric, but I chose to give myself to her. They must be very disappointed in me.
At first, I thought I had given my heart because of the guilt of failing her before... but I was wrong. I gave my heart selflessly because... I love her.
The very same emotions I have refused to accept, I love her, and I was a fool for failing to admit it.
I had no regret for my decision, if she could live in my stead, I would be very satisfied.
My thoughts cut off, as the realization of a soft weight pressing against me.
I moved my hand, my fingers brushed against soft fabrics, before brushing strands of silky hair.
’Why can I feel? Why am I even able to smell? Am I not supposed to be dead?’
Numerous questions bombarded my mind. Slowly, my eyes fluttered open.
The vast night sky came into view, and the moon shone brightly, with stars scattered in the sky like diamonds.
My breath caught, it was... beautiful.
"Am I alive?" I muttered, I touched my chest, but my fingers brushed against a hand placed on my chest.
Hot breath brushed against my neck. Someone was with me... ’Ember’
I turned slowly, as if I was scared she would disappear if I moved too fast.
Tears ran down my cheeks, the moment my eyes fell on her sleeping face. My fingers tightened around her hand on my chest.
I pushed myself up, afraid of waking her up, and I turned to face her.
Her clothes were stained in blood, and her long lashes rested slowly below her eyes. Her lips were smeared with blood.
A deep pool of blood formed around her chest, even her clothes were torn, revealing her skin which was also covered in blood.
My chest constricted with fear, how did she get so much blood on her? But the rising of her chest was the only thing that made me calm. I wondered how she got so much blood on her.
Strangely, the aura oozing from her was different, it was commanding and powerful. She looked like a goddess basking in the moonlight.
Her silver-white hair had become whiter than before, each strand catching the silver light of the moon, becoming translucent and ethereal.
My hand trembled as I reached to brush it off her face. Emotions I never knew existed washed over me... I was grateful for the second time in my life that I was given another chance to feel her warmth and see her again.
The first time was when I found out that she was alive.
More tears flowed uncontrollably from my eyes.
"Mate," Beowulf growled in my head as a way of announcing his presence.
"Yes, mate," I muttered under my breath. For the first time, I readily accepted her as my mate.
Life was too short to dwell on my own prejudice.
I caressed her cheeks, running my finger along her sharp line.
My hand halted midway the moment she snapped her eyes at me.
Her gaze flickered with relief but was soon replaced by an emotion I couldn’t quite name... was it hatred, disappointment, or anger?
"You are awake." She pulled away from my reach, even her hand that was on my chest was gone.
Her warmth was replaced by cold.
"How... How am I here?" I asked, my brows furrowed slightly.
She looked at me with mixed emotions, and I felt my heart constrict with pain, as waves of foreign emotions rushed through me.
I looked down at the bracelet on my hand, I could still feel her emotions.
"Aeris, can you tell me how I’m here? I had taken my heart out for..."
"How can you be so dumb?" Her harsh words cut me off.
Her eyes blaze. "Did I ask you to take your heart for me? Why would you give your life away for me? The almighty Lycan King died because of a girl he barely knew." She spat out.
The way she said it left my chest aching worse than when I had torn my heart out.
"I didn’t do it out of pity," I forced out, my throat raw. "I gave it because..."
Her glare silenced me. Her hand shot out, trembling, glowing faintly gold. "Don’t you dare finish that sentence."
I was stunned, my eyes narrowed on her hand... ’She had awakened her powers?’
Her voice shook, but her anger blazed stronger. "You think it’s so easy, Damon? You think dying for me makes everything right? That it makes me forget how much pain you’ve caused? How much blood has been spilled just because of you?"
I swallowed hard, my words faltering under her fury. "Aeris, I..."
"No." Her voice cracked, the word heavy with something I couldn’t name. "You don’t get to act like some hero when all you did was leave me to pick up the pieces."
Her chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, her fists clenched at her sides. The golden glow around her fingers glowed. She looked like she might break... or break me.
I stepped closer anyway, unable to stop myself. "If I were given another chance I would still give my heart for..."
"You can’t," she cut in, her eyes glistened with tears and her hands clenched tightly by her side. She turned her face away.
Her words struck like a blade, but what tore me apart wasn’t the anger. It was the way her voice wavered, the way her body trembled as though she carried something heavier than what she was saying.
"Aeris," my gaze hardened. "Did I do wrong by saving you? You didn’t even show the smallest form of gratitude."
I couldn’t understand it. I only asked a simple question, why was she lashing out at me? I did it for her.