---- if trying to will her back to him.

The cold, calculating part of his mind screamed that this attachment was dangerous, that this softness could cost him everything.

Love wasn't a thing for monsters.

But for her? He wanted to try, to give it a chance.

To experience it for a second, even if meant he could lose everything for it.

With her warmth against him and her faint heartbeat under his palm, Vince let his eyes close.

For the first time in years, the weight of his own demons felt a little lighter.

"Rest, little one," he murmured against her hair.

"You'll need your strength." And in the quiet, shadowed room, his eyes flutter close, as he drifted into a restless sleep, holding her as if she might disappear.

Unaware of the crimson eyes sealing open and staring back at him.

---- Chapter 406 Damien s POV The cold never bothered me, nor did the silence.

5671 5672 I continue to do push-ups in this dreaded dark place, where not even an inch of light penetrated, choking out any scope for hope.

I could hear uneven breaths around me, everyone was shuddering in this freezing closed box of a dungeon.

While I couldn't stop.

The muscles in my chest burned, sweat dripping from my face.Each push-up was a futile attempt to drown out the image burned into my mind.

My Princess.

On her knees.

---- Chapter 406 Damien s POV The cold never bothered me, nor did the silence.

5671 5672 I continue to do push-ups in this dreaded dark place, where not even an inch of light penetrated, choking out any scope for hope.

I could hear uneven breaths around me, everyone was shuddering in this freezing closed box of a dungeon.

While I couldn't stop.

The muscles in my chest burned, sweat dripping from my face.Each push-up was a futile attempt to drown out the image burned into my mind.

My Princess.

On her knees.

---- Her head bowed, her body yielding.

To that man.

Vincenzo.noveldrama

His lips on her....

The way he manhandled her like she was some toy of his to play with? The bastard had intentionally paraded her submission in front of me, taunting me with it, knowing exactly how it would rip me apart.

The way she looked at him, the way she obeyed without hesitationit wasnt her.

It couldn't be my fierce Princess.

I know her! She would die before she would submit to a man.

And that's when a voice whispers in my mind and I feel a sick fear crawling over my skin.

Maybe she is dead then.

Your mate is dead.

That woman is just a vessel now.

A tool to be exploited by these men...

She is gone.