When Amara entered Damien's chambers, she was exhausted. 

He swallowed the bile that rose up against his throat at the striking colour that she wore. No matter how pleasing she looked in the gown, he couldn't shake it off. However, it was satisfying to know that she had observed his reaction before and had draped a black shawl over her shoulders.

He had been expecting her.

'Why do you look so tired?' He asked. The members of the War Council were selected by him. They were all no-nonsense people who genuinely cared about the Kingdom. He was certain that she would be envigorated after the meeting. 'Were the men difficult?'

As she walked, the swishing of the red gown forced him to look the other way. He was agitated by the effect it had on him. 

The mattress dipped. He felt Amara raise the blanket and slip her legs under it.

Her actions eased him. He smiled as he turned to face her. At first, he was startled at how close she was to him. She had never been this close to him before. He raised his hands to flatten the worry lines on her face but when his fingers touched her skin, he was overwhelmed by how soft she was.

She sighed deeply and grasped his wrist. She raised his free hand to her other cheek so that he was cradling her face.

She cracked a smile. Her green eyes twinkled despite the fatigue.

He laughed softly.

Then he withdrew his hands, much to her displeasure, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders pulling her closer. He planted a kissed on her hair and breathed into it as he asked, 'Will you tell me what's on your mind?'

She leaned into him and pressed her face against his chest. 'The meeting went well. I have found a perfect plan of attack.'

He felt as though she had more to say.

'And what else?'

'I gave Felicia the permission to go to the castle... with Alistair.' She admitted, guiltily.

He pursed his lips. Knowing the overall situation, it was not the best move.

'I know what you're thinking, Damien.'

He looked at her.

She met his gaze. 'I know I was wrong but Felicia was a mess and I thought she deserved closure.'

He waited.

'And then she has her baby who's all alone in the castle without his mother to care for him. I blame myself. If I had only stayed in the castle, things around her wouldn't have been so chaotic. But if I had, you wouldn't be with me.' The conflict in her eyes was apparent. 'I sent a messenger with her, commending her. I vouched for her. I addressed a letter to the King and Queen explaining how much she had helped us. Other than that I don't know how to help her.'

He sighed knowing that she had done enough to help Felicia. Of course, it would have been better if Damien had returned to the castle with her but he was in no condition to do so. The physicians treating him had been strict on bed rest. If he were to mount a horse now, he would only be a drag.

'Rowan allowed the Demon Queen into the castle, do you know that?' He asked.

She bobbed her head mutely.

'And Jeremiah knew about it. He didn't say a word because he didn't want to hurt Felicia.'

'And look what happened. I like Felicia. She's a friend... and family too. Curse them both for doing this to her.'

'Mother will be crestfallen. She loved Rowan dearly.'

Amara shifted and looked at him. 'You did too.' Her voice was a whisper.

'I respected him. I wanted to be like him. I thought he was wise and capable. Despite his blindness, he carried himself well.' He brushed the back of her hand with his thumb. 'But because of him I almost lost you.' His beautiful blue eyes betrayed his vulnerability.

Her heart skipped a beat. 

There was only one moment in her life where she had doubted Damien's love for her and it had nearly cost her everything. Somewhere in that trying period, she had made a silent vow to herself that she would never again be dubious about their love. 

Looking into his misty eyes, her insides flared up. The need to put a smile on his face was overwhelming. 'I am not weak anymore, Damien.' She grasped his hand tightly.

'You were never weak, Amara.' He exhaled and leaned back. 'When I was cursed, you were the only one who would approach me. Somehow, you were a lot stronger than the lot of us.'

He meant the Royals.

'What do you mean?' She frowned, 'When you were cursed?'

He pressed his lips together realizing that he hadn't told her yet. 'I'm not cursed anymore.'

There was a brief moment of silence before she gasped, 'And this is how you tell me?'

'It slipped my mind,' he said, truthfully.

It crossed her mind to throw a pillow at him. 'Slipped your mind!' she asked, incredulously. 'How can something important just-' she stopped herself when she realised that she wasn't asking the right questions. 'How? What was the curse?'

He shrugged. 'My curse was rooted in the hatred I felt toward the demons. As long as I hated them, I would, for a period, become one of them.'

She breathed. 'When did you realise this?'

'Just before the explosion.'

'In the Demon Castle? But everyone else told me you knew.'

'No, I was just pretending.'

She pinched her nose. 'You're impossible!'

He shrugged. 

'So Raphael broke the curse?'

Damien thought about it. 'He helped. If it hadn't been for him, you wouldn't know where I am and I would be suffering.' His eyes darkened at the memory.

'We should do something for him.'

He snapped out of his trance and smiled at her. 'You don't have to worry about that, love.'

She understood that Damien had thought about it and had already organized a plan to repay the debt he owed. 

So she decided to mess with him.

'You know, when you were cursed, you were the one who came to me,' she grinned. 'The first time, you played with my hair. You scared me half to death.'

He laughed again and she relished the sound.

'Now you know my secret.' The tips of his ears turned red. 'I've liked you ever since.'

'I do hope it's more than like because I did put in a lot of effort to woo you. I had to learn etiquette, history, politics, magic and warcraft. Not to mention I ran away from the castle just to look for my beloved prince. Do you know what a great honour that is for you?' She teased him.

'It is an honour, indeed. And when I recognised you, I was elated. I don't think that feeling will leave me. I don't want it to. I love you, Amara.'

It was her turn to blush.

'I also love you when your cheeks bear the shade of cherries,' he teased her.

She was flustered. 

She was so happy that she wanted to run around like a kid and announce to the world that Damien was hers but the other part of her wanted to keep it a secret. Her little secret. 

'Stop,' she muttered half-heartedly.

'Do you not want to hear how much love I have to offer?'

She blushed deeper. 'Damien.'

'Flustered, are we, love?'

She shot him a glare.

'You scorch my soul with the heat of your gaze.'

She couldn't contain the loud laughter that burst out of her. She laughed so hard that she found herself crying.

Damien joined her.

When she caught hold of herself, she embraced him and whispered, 'I love you, Damien.'

He rested his head on her head and wrapped her arms around her. 'I know, love.'

'And I'll never doubt us again.'

'I know that too.'

'That's not the response I was expecting.'

'Then what were you expecting?'

'You'll never do that again.'

He understood. 'I will never think that I'm alone again. You are strong and are capable of shouldering my burden and because I hold you dear, I will never deceive you with harsh words to play the hero.' He looked at her, 'Satisfied?'

She smiled and buried herself deeper into his chest. 'Yes.'