Chapter 28

Damien stretched as he tried to keep himself awake, the sun was just dropping down behind the trees now, casting the sky in a beautiful pinkish light, he glanced over to see Reyna and Hazel creating a fire and beginning to cook some more of their rations.

As he looked at Reyna's profile he felt a tug at his chest once more, he didn't know what it meant but it only seemed to happen when she was around, maybe guilt… he exhaled and leant back against the rock. No matter what he did he always seemed to hurt the one he cared so much for, he left her a long time ago and broke her heart according to Hazel, not to mention what pain he had caused her by speaking so passionately about Elena earlier to Hyacinth, yes he would always love Elena, but he also knew that she was gone and he couldn't keep denying the way he felt about Reyna.

He stared at the sky as it gradually grew darker, wondering if he could ever find a way to make it up to the Praetor, Hazel had said be there for her even when she tried to push him away and he was trying to be, he would do anything for her.

"Damien?"

The son of Letus sat up at the familiar voice, his eyes instantly finding the gorgeous brown of Reyna

"Hey" he said attempting a smile

She held out a tin plate with some greasy looking food on it "Thought you might be hungry"

He reached up and took it, their fingers touching for a moment, sending a tingling sensation down Damien's arm

"Thank you"

She hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to ask something important

"What's wrong" Damien asked, concern creasing his brow

"I.. I was" she closed her eyes making up her mind "I was wondering how you were feeling after diving off of the building and tackling a gunman?"

Damien knew that that wasn't the question she wanted to ask but he also didn't want to push her

"I'm fine, just aching a little" he answered truthfully

She nodded and was about to turn away when Damien spoke, wanting her company for a little while longer

"How are you feeling?"

She looked back down at him "I'm fine" she said but he didn't believe her for a second

He reached up and took her hand, feeling her freeze beneath his touch

"Reyna… I'm sorry" he took a deep breath, standing so he could look her in the eyes properly "For everything I have put upon you, it is never my intention to hurt you and I want you to know that…" he gently ran his thumb over the back of her hand

Reyna broke eye contact, choosing instead to look at her feet "There is no reason to apologise, you don't owe me anything"

"But I do Reyna" he countered "You saved my life and you gave me purpose, you don't realise how much you have helped me over the past 2 years, kept me sane when all else fell away"

"Damien-

"Don't, please don't say my name like that" he begged, knowing the tone in her voice "I need you to know this and I need you to believe me when I say I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you and no matter what lies ahead for me I am glad that I found my way back to you"

Reyna looked back up at him and he could see the slight glistening in her eyes "I can't" she whispered "I need to protect my legion first and foremost, I put their needs before mine and that is what makes me a good Praetor and leader"

"Even if it makes you unhappy?" he asked

"Victoria petit sacrificium" she said simply "Victory demands sacrifice"

"Amor omnia vincit" he countered

Silence hung heavy in the air as his words sank in, Reyna lost for words as she looked up into the glowing golden brown eyes of Damien Blake, the son of Letus, the man who constantly plagued her mind… the man who still spoke of his lost love with so much passion

Reyna closed her eyes and stepped back out of his reach "It is my choice to be the Praetor that I am, my choice to live the way I do" she looked back up at him, the water that was in her eyes now gone, replaced by the regal mask of the Praetor

"That's your answer?" Damien asked, he could feel the pulling at his chest intensify

"It is my life Damien" she said quietly

She could see his jaw tighten but he nodded, but she saw the light dim in his eyes. Reyna returned the nod and turned returning to her place by Hazel and the fire, her back to Damien

Damien watched her for a moment longer before Hazel looked over to him, a confused look in her eyes, Damien shook his head slowly as realisation crossed the smaller woman's features, her eyes growing sad.

The son of Letus returned to his seated position away from the two women, his food forgotten about as he stared out across the dark field, he clutched his chest as he felt like it might tear open at any moment. He took long deep breaths as his body felt cold, the rejection of Reyna worse than any mind trick that Elliot had created to torture him.

Damien took a small dagger from his pocket, twisting it over in his hands, catching his reflection in the blade, he wanted to be able to say that this was the nightmare but somewhere in his head he knew that Elliot couldn't create the pain he was feeling now. He gazed at the blade a moment longer before tucking it back into his pocket and exhaling running a hand through his hair which was now filthy from trekking through the rainforest and lying in a muddy ditch.

That night he did not sleep, he had offered to keep watch, Hazel only allowed him to if he woke her up in the night to switch shifts, but he never did, he let them sleep while he watched Reyna and listened to the surrounding noises.