“Baby,” she cooed, coming up to him. “You’re so beautiful. I missed you so much.”
I shook my head, pulling at him to get his attention. But he was frozen.
“I know you lost your temper, and it’s okay,” she told him sweetly, ever the delicate flower on the outside. “I’m okay. I love you no matter what. And I promise it will be better this time. I’ll take care of you.”
“Damon,” I barked, trying to break the spell.
But his eyes were locked, following her as she crept forward, closer and closer.
“I’ve missed you,” she carried on. “I need you. I’m so lonely. I’m so lost, baby, I—”
Just then, he darted out and caught her by the neck, his large hand wrapping around her slender, pale throat.
“Damon…” I looked between him and her,
not knowing what to do.
She gasped but remained stilled as he pulled her up to her toes and in close. His jaw was tight, and liquid heat raced through my veins as I watched them stare at each other.
“That’s my strong boy,” she whispered. “You’ve grown so strong.”
“Damon,” I pleaded with him. “Look at me.”
He simply stood there, gripping her neck, entranced.
“I’ve waited for you to come for me,” she panted. “To take control. You’re the man now. Whatever my son needs.”
I closed my eyes.
“She’s insane,” Kai uttered under his breath at my side.
“Damon!” I yelled. “Look. At. Me!”
He held her, but she completely held his attention. “Take her,” she urged him. “Wash her clean. Just like mama used to wash you.”
I broke down, the agony of years ago flooding back as I stared at my brother through my tears.
“You’re the man,” she repeated. “Everything is yours. Everything.”
I shook my head. Damon.
“If you love her, she can hurt you,” Natalya told him. “If you hurt her instead, she’ll never escape you. You’ll always own her. She’s yours. You don’t ask, and you don’t care. Take what’s yours. Take her.” Her voice dropped so low I could barely hear. “Take her.”
And all of a sudden, he finally turned, meeting my eyes.
No.
Tears spilled as I silently begged him. We’d been all alone in the world. We were only safe when we were together. I would never hurt him. He had to know that!
She wanted him to ruin us. To destroy anything left that was good in him, because Damon was the future of the family, and if nothing else, monsters were strong.
Damon might end up being so much worse than my father ever was.
“Take her,” Natalya egged him on, running a hand up his chest. “She’ll feed you. Take her. Show her what you are.”
Stay with me. I held his eyes. I know who you are. You protect me, you take me shopping on my birthday and let me pick out whatever I want, and you wake me up with my favorite fucking milkshakes when you come home in the middle of the night. I know who you are.
“Lick her all up,” Natalya breathed out. “Take her home and claim her.”