Damian had taken no more than a few steps away from Ava's room when it hit him.
The echo of his own words followed him down the hallway, sharp and unrelenting. 'Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?' The anger in his voice. The way she had flinched. The look in her eyes, wide, startled and... hurt burned into his mind like a brand.
He stopped in his tracks.
For a moment, the corridor was silent. Damian stood there, his chest rising and falling slowly, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
He had meant every word he said.
And yet… he had said them wrong.
He exhaled sharply and turned around.
Ava was sitting on the bed when the door opened again.
The sound startled her so badly she jumped, instinctively rising to her feet as Damian stepped back into the room. Her heart lurched when she saw him standing there again, his presence filling the space as completely as it had moments ago.
"Damian?" she said, uncertainty lacing her voice.
