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Iβm a Black writer with a love for storytelling in all its formsβwhether itβs inspired by music, anime, or my own imagination. Much of my writing draws from song lyrics and album aesthetics, blending emotion with creativity to bring stories to life. Over the years, Iβve explored original characters and worlds of my own, and while I stepped away from that for a time, the spark of inspiration is never far. Writing is something I always come back to, and who knowsβmaybe one day Iβll return to building those stories from the ground up again. For now, Iβm excited to share my work with you, connect with fellow creatives, and keep exploring the endless possibilities of storytelling.
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Summary: In the refined and ruthless society of Gothmere, you have always been the forgotten daughterβsoft-spoken, kind, and easily overshadowed by siblings far more dazzling. Damian Wayne, the only legitimate heir to the powerful Duke Wayne, once met you and thought nothing of it. Yet during a grand evening among Gothmereβs elite, a royal unexpectedly recognizes you with familiarity that turns the entire ballroom toward you at once. Suddenly the quiet girl no one noticed becomes the subject of whispers, curiosity, and intrigueβand Damian Wayne, who prides himself on missing nothing, begins to wonder how he could have overlooked you at all.
Bruce Wayne stood motionless before the long oak table in his study, now transformed into a shrine of evidence. Auction catalogues, stylistic analyses, discreet inquiries from gallery owners, and multiple Lady G paintings were laid out like pieces of a grand puzzle.
Dick Grayson leaned over the table, holding a small, recently acquired watercolor study β a delicate rendering of wild pink roses against a stormy sky. βThis one,β he said quietly, tapping the corner. βThe auction house finally slipped. The intermediary who delivered it was traced back to a footman in the Sterling household. Thomas Hale. Heβs been running errands for Y/N Sterling for over a year.β
Bruceβs jaw tightened. He picked up the painting, studying the brushwork with narrowed eyes. βThe overlooked daughter. The one who was nearly killed at Valeris. The same girl Damianβ¦β He trailed off, a rare flicker of emotion crossing his usually stoic face.
Dick watched his father carefully. βYou miss him, donβt you?β
βEvery day,β Bruce admitted, voice low. βHe would have solved this weeks ago. He sees patterns like no one else.β He set the painting down gently. βWhat do I do with this information, Dick? Confront her? Expose her? Or let her secret remain hers?β
Dick exhaled slowly, glancing at the laughing children playing in the corner. βSheβs building something real. Independence. Respect on her own terms. Maybeβ¦ we wait. Watch. And let Damian find out when he returns β if he returns.β
Bruce stared at the pink roses for a long moment, the weight of fatherhood and secrets heavy on his shoulders.
Rahim-Khar β Imperial Palaceβ¦.
Damian woke to the sound of hurried footsteps and low voices. His head throbbed mercilessly from the previous nightβs indulgence β an act so unlike him that even the servants seemed scandalized. Two lower-ranked eunuchs tried to help him rise and dress, but he pushed them away roughly, voice hoarse.
βEnough. I can manage.β
The Head Eunuch, an elderly man of impeccable dignity named Master Zhu, stood at the threshold, expression carefully neutral. βHis Imperial Majesty summons you, Your Highness. He awaits you in the Garden of Eternal Reflection.β
Damian dressed quickly in simpler emerald robes and made his way to the garden. Ancient ginkgo trees and lotus ponds created a serene landscape under the midday sun. Emperor Raβs al Ghul stood beside a carved stone pavilion, hands clasped behind his back.
βYou wished to see me, Grandfather?β
Raβs turned, studying his grandson with those piercing, ancient eyes. βWalk with me.β
They strolled along the winding stone path in silence for a time, the only sounds being the soft trickle of water and distant bird calls.
βI have heard rumors,β Raβs said eventually, voice calm but cutting. βThat in your sleep, you call out a name. Y/N. Repeatedly. And that you keep a hidden portrait of a foreign girl with roses in her hair.β He glanced sideways. βIs this true?β
Damianβs steps faltered for half a second. The hangover and emotional exhaustion made his defenses brittle. βIt isβ¦ unimportant.β
βUnimportant enough to make a prince of the empire drink himself into disgrace?β Raβs stopped walking and faced him fully. βSpeak plainly, grandson. Who is this girl who haunts you so fiercely that even an ocean cannot silence her?β
Damian stared at the lotus pond, chest tight. The words he had buried for eight months finally broke free in a raw, jumbled torrent.
βShe isβ¦ everything I tried to leave behind. Quiet strength. Defiance wrapped in softness. She saw through every wall I built. I tried to warn her, protect her, push her away β and in the end I only hurt her. I kissed her before I left like a thief stealing something I had no right to take.β His voice cracked. βI cannot stay here, Grandfather. Not while she is there. I need to return to Gothmere.β
Raβs was silent for a long moment, the weight of empires in his gaze. Then, surprisingly gentle, he spoke. βI once loved a woman with such force that I nearly burned the world for her. My late Empress.β He placed a hand on Damianβs shoulder. βGo. Return to her. Face what you left unfinished. When you come back β if you come back β you will do so more completely in your identity than when you left.β
Damian bowed deeply, relief and fear warring inside him. Preparations for his journey would begin immediately.
Gothmere β Royal Palaceβ¦.
The announcement swept through society like wildfire.
At a private tea in the royal conservatory, Princess Seraphine publicly named you as one of her new Ladies-in-Waiting. The news spread within hours. By evening, a formal letter bearing the royal seal arrived at the Sterling townhouse.
Your mother read it with wide eyes, then looked at you with a mixture of shock, resentment, and opportunistic calculation. Your father simply nodded with quiet approval. Your sisters said nothing β they had long since lost the right to comment on your life.
You stood taller than you ever had, the weight of independence finally within reach. The position offered everything you had dreamed of: prestige, protection, financial stability through court allowances, powerful connections, and most importantly β freedom from your familyβs suffocating control.
Yet as you accepted congratulations from well-wishers and envious debutantes alike, one thought refused to leave your mind.
Damian.
Wherever he was in the world, you wondered if he had heard. If he still thought of you the way you β despite every effort β still thought of him.
That same night, under a sky full of unfamiliar stars, Damian al Ghul stood on the balcony of the Hall of Verdant Shadows, staring toward the distant horizon.
Home was calling.
And for the first time in eight months, he was ready to answer.
Summary: In the refined and ruthless society of Gothmere, you have always been the forgotten daughterβsoft-spoken, kind, and easily overshadowed by siblings far more dazzling. Damian Wayne, the only legitimate heir to the powerful Duke Wayne, once met you and thought nothing of it. Yet during a grand evening among Gothmereβs elite, a royal unexpectedly recognizes you with familiarity that turns the entire ballroom toward you at once. Suddenly the quiet girl no one noticed becomes the subject of whispers, curiosity, and intrigueβand Damian Wayne, who prides himself on missing nothing, begins to wonder how he could have overlooked you at all.
The summons came at dusk, carried by a silent eunuch in emerald silk. Damian had barely finished reviewing border reports when he was escorted through moonlit courtyards to his motherβs private pavilion, The Hall of Crimson Lotus.
Talia al Ghul awaited him reclining on a low divan, surrounded by burning incense and silk cushions. Lanterns cast a warm, golden glow across intricate wall carvings of dragons and phoenixes. She looked every inch the imperial Princess β powerful, beautiful, and dangerously perceptive.
βSit, my son,β she said, gesturing gracefully. βYou have been avoiding deeper conversation since your return from the ridges.β
Damian lowered himself onto the cushion across from her, posture perfect. βThere has been much to do.β
Talia studied him with sharp, knowing eyes. βAnd you have done it exceptionally well. Your grandfather sings your praises. The nobles respect you. Even the ministers speak of your strategic mind. I believe you are finallyβ¦ home.β
Damian inclined his head, the lie slipping easily from his tongue. βIt feels increasingly so.β
A small, satisfied smile curved Taliaβs lips. βGood. Because there is something important we must discuss.β She paused, letting the silence stretch. βThe Minister of War has an eldest daughter β Lady Soraya. She is nineteen, accomplished in calligraphy, archery, and court etiquette. A match of exceptional strategic value. Your grandfather and I have spoken. The alliance would strengthen our military reforms and secure your position here permanently.β
Damianβs blood turned to ice. Marriage. The word landed like a shackle.
He rose abruptly, robes whispering. βI will not marry her.β
Taliaβs eyebrows lifted. βYou reject a union chosen by the Emperor himself?β
βI reject any arranged marriage,β he said, voice low and edged. βI have no desire for a political wife. Not now. Not ever.β
Talia rose as well, circling him slowly like a predator assessing prey. βWhy? You have embraced everything else β the training, the duties, the title. Why resist this?β
Damian remained silent, jaw locked.
Talia stopped in front of him, eyes narrowing. Then, softly, almost tenderly, she spoke the name that had haunted these halls in whispers:
βY/N.β
Damian froze, every muscle going rigid.
Taliaβs smile was knowing and faintly pitying. βYou speak her name in your sleep, Damian. The servants hear it. And that painting you keep hidden behind silk in your chambersβ¦ the one you uncover only when you think no one is watching. A girl with soft eyes and pink roses in her hair. Did you truly believe such things would remain secret in this palace?β
Damianβs hands clenched into fists at his sides. The carefully constructed walls he had built over eight months cracked violently.
β β β β βΒ
Gothmere
You walked arm-in-arm with Princess Seraphine through the royal conservatory, winter sunlight filtering through glass panes onto blooming orchids and exotic ferns. The Princess had become a true confidante in recent months.
βI cannot stay under my parentsβ roof much longer,β you admitted quietly, voice thick with exhaustion. βThe way they β especially my mother and sisters β have treated meβ¦ I have borne it long enough. I want my own life. My own home. Even if it is small.β
Seraphine was quiet for a long moment, then sighed. βA young woman of your station living completely alone would cause a terrible scandal, my dear. Society would tear you apart.β She stopped beside a flowering camellia bush and turned to face you fully. βHoweverβ¦ there is another path.β
You looked at her hopefully.
βBecome one of my Ladies-in-Waiting,β the Princess said with a warm, conspiratorial smile. βIt is a prestigious position. You would have apartments within the palace complex, assigned specifically to my household. Your days would revolve around court duties, my schedule, and royal events β far from your familyβs control. It would grant you genuine independence while shielding you with royal favor. Your marriage prospects would improve dramatically. You would gain powerful connections. And most importantlyβ¦ you would finally be seen on your own terms.β
Your heart raced. The idea was perfect β freedom wrapped in respectability. For a moment, an unbidden image of Damian flashed in your mind β his intense eyes, the heat of his kiss, the way he had looked at you before leaving. An old ache bloomed in your chest. You pushed it down ruthlessly.
βIβ¦ would be honored, Your Highness,β you said softly, voice thick with gratitude. βTruly.β
Seraphine squeezed your hand. βThen it is settled. We shall make the announcement soon.β
β β β β β βΒ
Late that night, in the privacy of his chambers, Damian al Ghul did something entirely out of character.
He drank.
Deeply.
The strong rice wine burned down his throat as he paced the moonlit room, silk robes loosened, hair unbound. The lanterns flickered low. Eventually, the alcohol loosened the iron chains he had wrapped around his heart.
With a sudden, violent motion, he crossed to the corner of the room and snatched the heavy silk cloth from the large portrait.
There she was.
You.
Painted in traditional style but with his own precise, passionate hand β soft eyes looking back at him, the faint curve of a smile, pink roses woven into your hair and scattered at your feet. The painting was unfinished, yet heartbreakingly alive.
Damian stared at it for a long, agonizing moment.
Then he sank to his knees on the cool marble floor, pulling the large sheet of traditional paper close to his chest. The painting crumpled slightly against him as he clutched it desperately, forehead pressing against the painted surface.
A broken sound β half growl, half sob β escaped his throat.
βDamn you,β he whispered hoarsely, voice cracking. βEight months. Eight months of distance, of duty, of trying to forgetβ¦ and still you haunt me.β
His fingers tightened on the edges of the portrait, creasing the delicate paper further.
βI should have stayed,β he breathed, eyes burning. βOr I should have taken you with me. But I was a coward. And nowβ¦β
He closed his eyes, pressing the painting even closer, as though he could somehow pull you through the canvas and into his arms.
In the moonlit silence of the imperial palace, the once-unbreakable Prince Damian al Ghul finally allowed himself to feel the full weight of his longing β raw, fierce, and unrelenting.
Summary: In the refined and ruthless society of Gothmere, you have always been the forgotten daughterβsoft-spoken, kind, and easily overshadowed by siblings far more dazzling. Damian Wayne, the only legitimate heir to the powerful Duke Wayne, once met you and thought nothing of it. Yet during a grand evening among Gothmereβs elite, a royal unexpectedly recognizes you with familiarity that turns the entire ballroom toward you at once. Suddenly the quiet girl no one noticed becomes the subject of whispers, curiosity, and intrigueβand Damian Wayne, who prides himself on missing nothing, begins to wonder how he could have overlooked you at all.
The sun hung low and golden over the vast imperial capital of Rahim-Khar, capital of the Eternal Empire of the Al Ghul lineage. Towering minarets and jade-roofed pavilions gleamed under the desert sky, while silk banners in deep emerald and gold snapped in the dry wind. The air carried the scent of sandalwood incense, orange blossoms, and distant rose gardens β a world far removed from the gray mists of Gothmere.
For eight months, Damian Wayne β now known and revered as Prince Damian al Ghul β had thrown himself into this new life with ruthless discipline. He had led successful border patrols, reorganized parts of the imperial archives with Western military precision, and earned the wary respect of both the court nobles and his grandfatherβs elite guards. Even the Emperorβs favored concubines inclined their heads with genuine deference when he passed.
He returned that afternoon from a hard ride across the red dunes on Titus, the great black warhorse now adorned with ornate green-and-gold tack befitting a prince. Damianβs own attire had transformed: rich emerald silk robes layered with gold embroidery, a finely wrought belt of linked jade plaques, and a heavy jade thumb ring on his right hand β a symbol of imperial blood and favor. His hair was longer, tied back with a gold clasp, and his skin had taken on a deeper tone from the relentless sun.
He dismounted in the grand courtyard of the Inner Palace with fluid grace. Servants and eunuchs bowed deeply as he passed. Two imperial guards in lacquered armor saluted sharply.
In the Hall of Eternal Harmony, his mother Talia and his grandfather, Emperor Raβs al Ghul, awaited him.
Raβs sat upon a raised dais carved from dark jade and gold, an imposing figure with piercing eyes and an aura of ancient authority. Talia stood gracefully at his right side, resplendent in crimson and gold.
Damian approached, dropping to one knee in perfect imperial form, right fist pressed over his heart. β Royal Grandfather. Mother. I have returned from the western ridges.β
βRise, my grandson,β Raβs commanded, voice deep and resonant. βHow was the ride?β
βExhilarating,β Damian replied, standing with straight posture. βThe new patrols are well-disciplined. We discovered and neutralized a small band of raiders threatening the silk route.β
Taliaβs eyes gleamed with pride. βAs expected of you.β
Raβs studied him closely. βAnd how are you adjusting, Damian? Truly? This court, this bloodβ¦ does it sit well with you yet?β
Damian met his grandfatherβs gaze without flinching. βIt suits me well, Your Imperial Majesty. I am learning much. Contributing. This is where I belong.β
The lie tasted bitter on his tongue. In truth, he had been drowning himself in duty, training, and endless activity β riding until exhaustion, studying imperial strategy until dawn, overseeing reforms with merciless focus. Anything to silence the quiet, persistent ache that refused to fade.
Raβs smiled faintly, as though he saw through the words but chose not to press. βGood. You carry both your fatherβs steel and al Ghul fire. Soon, we will discuss your formal title and future responsibilities here.β
Damian bowed once more before being dismissed.
β β β βΒ
He returned to his personal residence β The Hall of Verdant Shadows β a beautiful, smaller palace within the imperial complex, surrounded by lotus ponds and shaded walkways. Maids and eunuchs bowed low as he crossed the marble courtyard, their whispers of βHis Highnessβ following him like a shadow.
Inside his private chambers, a low kang table sat near the window, covered with brushes, ink stones, colored pigments, and half-finished calligraphy. Behind a heavy silk screen in the corner stood a large easel, the painting upon it completely hidden beneath layers of protective cloth.
Damian removed his outer robe, rolling his shoulders. For a brief, treacherous moment, a memory surfaced β soft eyes, a hellebore in pristine hair, the sharp sting of a slap followed by the taste of desperate lips.
He forced the thought down viciously, jaw clenching until it ached. No. He had chosen distance for a reason. Distraction was safer. Duty was safer.
He sat at the kang table and reached for a fresh sheet of paper, losing himself once more in imperial strategy maps.
β β β βΒ
Back in Gothmere, Bruce Wayneβs study had become a war room of quiet obsession.
He and Dick Grayson pored over auction records, stylistic analyses, and scattered clues. Three of Dickβs children played happily on the carpet nearby, occasionally crawling over discarded papers.
βIβm close,β Bruce murmured, eyes narrowed. βLady G is young β a debutante, no more than twenty. The emotional maturity in the work suggests someone who has felt deeply but remains somewhat sheltered. And the rosesβ¦ always those specific pink roses. Theyβre not generic. They carry personal symbolism.β
Dick picked up one of the smaller studies. βLook at the brushwork here β delicate but confident. This isnβt formal academy training. Itβs self-taught or privately tutored. And notice how the shadows fall? Almost melancholic. Like someone who understands being overlooked.β
Bruce leaned back, fingers steepled. βA Sterling daughter, perhaps? The overlooked one. The timing aligns with when she began appearing more in society.β
Dick raised an eyebrow, a slow grin forming. βYou really think itβs her? Y/N Sterling?β
βI donβt think,β Bruce said quietly. βIβm nearly certain.β
β β β βΒ
In your room that same evening, you sat at your desk finishing another small poem when your fingers brushed against the hidden handkerchief once more. You pulled it out and held it to the lamplight, tracing the embroidered βW.β
Memories flooded you again β sharper this time. The kiss. The way he had looked at you before turning away. The long silence since.
You pressed the linen briefly to your lips, then tucked it away with a soft sigh.
βWherever you are, Damian Wayne,β you whispered to the quiet room, βI hope youβre as unsettled as I am.β
The wheels of fate, though turning slowly, were beginning to align once more.
would you be want to put your regency dick and Damian fics up on ao3. Tumblrs random refreshes scare me. NP if not.
I thought about it actually! I have an Ao3 account and i donβt know how to really work it. Plus im low key scared of the A03 curse ππ Maybe one dayβI got ton of crap going on rnππ
Summary: In the refined and ruthless society of Gothmere, you have always been the forgotten daughterβsoft-spoken, kind, and easily overshadowed by siblings far more dazzling. Damian Wayne, the only legitimate heir to the powerful Duke Wayne, once met you and thought nothing of it. Yet during a grand evening among Gothmereβs elite, a royal unexpectedly recognizes you with familiarity that turns the entire ballroom toward you at once. Suddenly the quiet girl no one noticed becomes the subject of whispers, curiosity, and intrigueβand Damian Wayne, who prides himself on missing nothing, begins to wonder how he could have overlooked you at all.
The remainder of the sojourn at Valeris passed in a gentler rhythm once the storms had cleared. With Damianβs dramatic departure and the swift, merciless removal of Arabella and Juliette, the sharpest edges of tension dissolved. You remained at the Archduchessβs estate for the full week, and in that time you truly began to bloom. You formed genuine acquaintances with several young ladies of good sense and quiet wit, exchanged thoughtful conversations with artists and scholars invited by the Archduchess, and even received subtle but unmistakable interest from two respectable gentlemen. For the first time, you were not merely seen β you were sought after. The quiet Sterling daughter had become quietly popular.
Yet the shadows of that fateful morning never fully faded.
Eight Months Laterβ¦
Gothmere had slipped back into its familiar rhythms of balls, scandals, and social climbing, but much had shifted beneath the surface.
You had thrown yourself into secret work with renewed determination. Under the name βLady G,β your paintings continued to fetch increasingly impressive sums at anonymous auctions. More recently, you had begun writing as well β delicate poems and short, emotionally charged novels circulated through discreet channels under yet another pseudonym. The earnings had grown substantial. You were now perilously close to your goal: enough money to secure a modest but independent household of your own.
You had not yet spoken to your father about your plans, but the conversation loomed closer with every passing week.
Your sisters had fared far worse. Their punishment at the hands of your mother had been swift and severe β social exile within their own home, curtailed allowances, and the permanent stain of their disgrace once whispers of their role in your near-fatal accident had circulated. They had become a quiet laughingstock among the ton. You spoke to them only when absolutely necessary, the betrayal still too raw.
One quiet afternoon, while sorting through your desk drawers in preparation for your eventual departure, your fingers brushed against a small, folded piece of fine linen.
You froze.
It was his handkerchief β the one Damian had offered you in the circulating library so many months ago. The fabric was still faintly creased, the embroidered βWβ slightly worn from being clutched in moments of distress.
Memories flooded you without mercy.
The charged silence in the library. The snow-covered argument. His raw, clumsy confession of care. The desperate heat of his kiss in that side room before he walked away.
Your chest tightened. It had been eight long months, and though you had tried to bury it beneath work and newfound independence, you still missed him. Quietly. Achingly. You had heard only vague rumors β that Lord Wayne had left Gothmere on an extended journey to distant lands, something about family heritage and obligations no one fully understood.
You ran your thumb over the embroidered initial, heart heavy with complicated longing.
β β βΒ
At Wayne Estate, the afternoon light slanted through the tall windows of Bruceβs private study. Papers, auction catalogues, and several of Lady Gβs paintings were spread across the massive oak desk.
Bruce Wayne stood with arms crossed, studying the latest acquired piece with narrowed eyes. Beside him, Richard Grayson β Duke of BlΓΌdhaven β bounced his youngest child on his hip while the older two played with wooden soldiers on the carpet.
βSheβs good,β Dick said, tilting his head at the newest painting. βVery good. The emotion in the brushwork is remarkable.β
Bruce grunted. βIβm close to identifying her. The anonymity is deliberate and well-protected, but patterns are emerging.β
Dick leaned in, shifting his daughter to his other arm. βLook here,β he pointed. βPink roses again. Not always the focus, but they appear in nearly every major piece β sometimes blooming, sometimes wilting, sometimes caught mid-fall. Itβs consistent. Almostβ¦ personal.β
Bruceβs eyes sharpened. βPink roses,β he murmured. βInteresting.β
A comfortable silence fell, broken only by the delighted laughter of Dickβs children playing at their feet. The mystery of Lady G had become something of a shared project between father and eldest son β one that grew more intriguing with every new discovery.
Neither of them yet realized just how close they were to uncovering the truth.
β β βΒ
Back in your room, you carefully folded the handkerchief and tucked it into the inner pocket of your writing desk, fingers lingering for just a moment longer than necessary.
πππππ πππ (Jason Todd x Reader)
Summary: You were trained to be a weaponβsilent, precise, untouchable. A swan that bites, a peacock that dazzles only after the strike. Trained by women who believed softness was a lie and love a liability, you learned to move silently, to kill without leaving a trace. You were never meant to want. Only to execute. Jason Todd sees you and knows immediately: you donβt soften. You consume. You meet like survivors circling the same woundβwatchful, armed, too close. What grows between you isnβt tenderness. Itβs hunger, pressure, and inevitability. Love doesnβt bloom here. It overflows. And when the world comes for what they madeβyou donβt run. You devour.
Tw: this fic has themes of Graphic violence, blood/gore, death (both canon and non-cannon ), trafficking, PTSD, possessive behavior, explicit language, eventual smut and implied mental health. DEAD DOVE. DO NOT EAT
(Masterlist) CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE: WHEN HOME BURNS PT. 2
The Plume Palace was dying in real time.
Flames roared through ancient halls, devouring silk banners and centuries of history. Smoke choked the mountain air, thick and black, turning the night into a choking inferno. Explosions still thundered in the distance as secondary arsenals cooked off. The once-sacred courtyards were now slaughter groundsβstone slick with blood, bodies sprawled in broken heaps.
You and Jason moved through the chaos like two predators cut from the same violent cloth. Your rifle was up, eyes scanning every shadow. Jason stayed glued to your flank, shotgun barking whenever a Vale or LexCorp soldier dared show their face. You didnβt waste rounds. When one got too close, you closed the distanceβclaws extended, ripping through tactical armor like it was paper. A soldier raised his rifle; you caught the barrel, twisted, and drove your claws straight through his throat. Blood sprayed hot across your face. You took his spare magazines without blinking, slamming them into your vest as you kept moving.
Another tried to flank. You spun, dismembered his arm at the elbow with a brutal swipe, then put two rounds through his visor before he could scream.
Jason glanced at youβhalf-impressed, half-worried.
βYouβre not even breathing hard.β
You didnβt answer. Your focus was razor-sharp, every sense tuned to the nightmare around you.
You stepped into the main courtyard.
And paused.
Your rifle snapped up instantly, barrel aimed at the rooftop of the burning eastern hall.
There she was.
Jia.
Casually perched on the edge of a collapsing roof like she was watching a street performance. One eye still covered by that sleek black patch, the other gleaming with unhinged delight. She whistledβsharp, mockingβthen slow-clapped, the sound cutting through the roar of flames.
βBravo,β she called down, voice dripping with venomous glee. βLook at you. All grown up and ripping throats like the good old days. Lady Draculaβs back in the house.β
You didnβt lower the rifle.
βGet down here and say that to my face.β
Jia grinned wider, legs swinging like a child on a swing.
βOh, I would. But this view is just too good. All that fireβ¦ all that bloodβ¦ it suits you.β
Jason shifted beside you, shotgun trained.
βJason,β you said without looking at him, voice low and deadly. βGo. Help the others.β
He hesitated, grip tightening on his weapon.
βIβm not leaving you with her.β
You finally glanced at himβeyes glowing faint green at the edges.
βI have her. Go.β
He searched your face for half a second, jaw clenched. Then he nodded onceβreluctantβand melted into the smoke toward the lower levels.
Jia laughed.
βSending your little guard dog away? How sweet.β
The second Jason disappeared, you moved.
Like lightning.
You switched weapons mid-strideβdropping the rifle for the suppressed SMG slung across your chestβand opened fire. Rounds stitched across the rooftop where Jia had been. She was already moving, flipping off the edge with reckless grace, landing in a roll that carried her into the smoke.
You pursued.
The fight was savage.
Jia was chaosβfast, unpredictable, laughing even as you clipped her shoulder and blood sprayed. She threw knives from hidden sleeves, one grazing your cheek. You closed the distance in a blur, slamming her into a burning pillar. Embers rained down as you drove your knee into her stomach. She gasped but still grinned.
βYou know what the best part is?β she wheezed, blood on her teeth. βYour mother screamed so pretty when we dragged her out. And that little sister of yoursβ¦ Blaire, right? Her cries were like music. High and sweet. I bet she begged just like you did when you burnedββ
You snapped.
No warning. No thought.
Your claws extended fullyβlong, razor-sharpβand you drove your entire hand straight through her chest.
Jiaβs eyes widened in shock. A wet, choking gasp escaped her as you twisted, feeling ribs crack and organs tear. Blood poured hot over your wrist, down your arm, splattering across your face and chest.
You ripped your hand free in one brutal pull.
Jia dropped like a broken doll, eyes glassy, mouth still open in a final, silent scream.
For a moment you stood over herβchest heaving, claws dripping, fangs fully extended. The old hunger roared back to life. The taste of blood on your lips was copper and salt and satisfaction. You dragged your tongue across the back of your hand, licking a streak of red clean without thinking. Lady Dracula, theyβd called you in the underground pits for a reason.
The feral part of you purred.
Then you heard footsteps.
Jason rounded the corner, shotgun up, eyes widening at the sight of you standing over Jiaβs corpse, blood painting your face like war markings.
He didnβt flinch.
But he saw itβthe shift in you. The hunger. The monster barely leashed.
βYouβ¦.good?β he asked carefully.
You wiped your mouth with the back of your hand, smearing red across your cheek.
βIβm fine.β
You werenβt.
ββββ
MEANWHILEβ¦.
Bruce, Tim, Dick, and Damian moved through more of the collapsing underground passages with grim purpose. Justice League backup had arrivedβGreen Arrow and Black Canary providing cover fire as they evacuated the surviving girls.
Tim scanned the group, voice gentle but urgent.
βIs there a girl named Blaire? Small, dark hair, about nine?β
The protective line shifted. One of the older girls shook her head, eyes wide with fear.
βShe was with the younger onesβ¦ but they took some when they breached the second chamber. We tried to stop themββ
A distant explosion rocked the tunnel.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
Bruceβs voice was calm steel.
βWeβre moving. Now. Stay together. And you must be quiet.β
The evacuation contuinedβfragile, terrified children being herded through collapsing stone corridors while League remnants and League backup fought a desperate rearguard.
But no one had seen Blaire.
Not yet.
ββββ
Back in the burning courtyard, you stood over Jiaβs body, blood still dripping from your claws, the taste of it lingering on your tongue.
The palace groaned around you as another wing collapsed in flames.
Jason watched you carefullyβrifle lowered but ready.
Then your comm crackled.
Timβs voice, strained:
βWeβve got most of the girlsβbut we canβt find Blaire. Sheβs not with the group.β
Your blood ran cold.
The feral hunger in your veins sharpened into something far more dangerous.
Pure, protective rage.
You looked at Jason, eyes glowing bright green now.
βThen we tear this place apart until we do.β
The hunt had just become something far more personal.
And heaven help anyone still standing in your way.
Summary: In the refined and ruthless society of Gothmere, you have always been the forgotten daughterβsoft-spoken, kind, and easily overshadowed by siblings far more dazzling. Damian Wayne, the only legitimate heir to the powerful Duke Wayne, once met you and thought nothing of it. Yet during a grand evening among Gothmereβs elite, a royal unexpectedly recognizes you with familiarity that turns the entire ballroom toward you at once. Suddenly the quiet girl no one noticed becomes the subject of whispers, curiosity, and intrigueβand Damian Wayne, who prides himself on missing nothing, begins to wonder how he could have overlooked you at all.
You had just managed to move from the bed to a velvet armchair closer to the roaring fireplace, legs still unsteady and chest aching with every breath, when a footman knocked and delivered the letter. The seal was simple but unmistakable; a single βWβ pressed into dark wax.
Clara hovered nearby as you broke it open with trembling fingers.
The words hit you like a wave.
Damianβs handwriting was precise, almost painfully controlled, yet the content beneath that restraint was raw. He admitted his cruelty in the snow. He spoke of walls shifting, of feelings he could not name, of the terror he had felt watching you disappear beneath the ice. He was leaving for Gothmere today.
You read it twice, heart pounding so violently you felt lightheaded. A storm of emotions crashed through you; lingering anger at his harsh words in the snow, overwhelming gratitude for the man who had dived into freezing water without hesitation, confusion at the vulnerability he had dared to put on paper, and a deep, aching warmth that terrified you.
βHeβ¦ wrote this?β you whispered, voice hoarse.
Clara peered at your face. βMy lady?β
βIs he still here?β you asked suddenly, folding the letter with shaky hands and clutching it to your chest. βLord Wayne β has he left yet?β
βIβm not certain, miss. There was talk of him departing this afternoonββ
You stood up too quickly. The room tilted. Clara lunged forward to steady you.
βMy lady, you mustnβt! Youβre still weak! the doctor said restββ
But you were already moving, ignoring the dizziness and the sharp protest in your lungs. You pushed past her, still in your nightgown and wrapper, bare feet slipping into the nearest slippers.
βMiss Sterling!β Clara pleaded, hurrying after you with a thick shawl. βYou nearly drowned this morning!β
You didnβt stop.
You made it to the tall window overlooking the entrance courtyard just as a carriage was being loaded with trunks. Your heart slammed against your ribs. He was leaving. After everything β after pulling you from the ice, after that letter bearing pieces of his soul β he was going to slip away with nothing but ink and distance.
No.
You snatched a heavy wool coat from a startled maid in the hallway, threw it over your shoulders, and rushed down one of the side servant staircases, Clara trailing desperately behind you.
βPlease, my lady! Youβll catch your death!β
You heard his voice before you saw him β low, commanding, giving instructions to footmen in a side antechamber near the courtyard entrance. Your pulse thundered in your ears as you picked up speed.
The moment you appeared in the doorway, everything froze.
Damian turned sharply. His eyes widened at the sight of you β disheveled, flushed, still visibly unwell, yet burning with determination. The footmen and servants stared.
βLeave us,β you said, voice surprisingly steady despite how fragile you felt. βAll of you. Now.β
The servants bowed hastily and filed out. Clara hesitated at the threshold, eyes wide with worry, but you gave her a firm look. βWait outside, Clara.β
The door clicked shut.
For a moment, the two of you simply stared at each other across the small room. the air thick, charged, alive with everything unsaid.
βYou wrote me a letter,β you began, stepping closer, voice trembling with a storm of emotions. βAfter everything β after you risked your life for me, after the things you said in the snow, you were just going to leave with a letter? Like a coward?β
Damian stood very still, but you saw the muscle jump in his jaw.
βYou cannot say such things to me on paper and then run back to Gothmere as though none of it matters!β You closed the distance further, eyes flashing. βYou told me I was a fool for trusting the Prince. You told me you cared in the most infuriating, clumsy way possible, and now you think a few lines of ink are enough? After you held me in that freezing water? After Iββ
He moved without warning.
In one swift stride, Damian closed the remaining space between you, cupped your face with both hands, and kissed you.
It was not gentle.
It was desperate, consuming β months of tightly leashed tension, fear, frustration, and unspoken longing pouring out in a single searing moment. His lips claimed yours with bruising intensity, as though he had been starving for this, as though he might never get another chance. For one dizzying heartbeat, you nearly melted into it, your hands fisting in his coat as the world narrowed to the heat of his mouth and the thunder of your heart.
Then reality crashed back.
Your eyes flew open. You shoved him back hard and slapped him across the face β the same cheek you had struck in the snow.
The sound cracked through the room.
Damian didnβt flinch. He simply stared at you, breathing hard, eyes dark with a thousand unsaid things.
βYou donβt get to kiss me and then leave,β you whispered, tears gathering in your eyes again. βNot like this.β
He looked as though he wanted to say something β perhaps everything β but the words seemed to die in his throat. Instead, he took one shaky step back, jaw clenched so tightly it looked painful.
βI have to go,β he said roughly, voice hoarse. βBefore I make this worse for you.β
He turned toward the door, every line of his body rigid with restraint.
βDamianββ
But he was already gone.
You stood there alone in the small room, lips still tingling from his kiss, cheek wet with fresh tears, heart torn between fury and something far more dangerous.
Outside, the carriage wheels began to crunch across the snow as Damian Wayne left Valeris Hall. and youβ¦.behind.
Summary: In the refined and ruthless society of Gothmere, you have always been the forgotten daughterβsoft-spoken, kind, and easily overshadowed by siblings far more dazzling. Damian Wayne, the only legitimate heir to the powerful Duke Wayne, once met you and thought nothing of it. Yet during a grand evening among Gothmereβs elite, a royal unexpectedly recognizes you with familiarity that turns the entire ballroom toward you at once. Suddenly the quiet girl no one noticed becomes the subject of whispers, curiosity, and intrigueβand Damian Wayne, who prides himself on missing nothing, begins to wonder how he could have overlooked you at all.
The Archduchess Elowenβs late husbandβs study was a room of solemn authorityβdark oak paneling, heavy velvet drapes, and the faint scent of aged leather and ink. The Archduchess sat behind the massive desk like a queen holding court, her steel-gray eyes cold and unyielding. Before her stood the trembling stable boy, flanked by Arabella and Juliette Sterling.
The sisters looked far less composed than they had at dinner the night before. Their faces were pale, eyes darting nervously.
βExplain yourselves,β the Archduchess said, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. βA guest under my roof was nearly killed this morning due to deliberate sabotage of her horse. I have already spoken to the Head stable hand. I wish to hear it from your own treacherous mouths.β
The young stable hand immediately crumbled, blurting, βIt was them, Your Grace! The Misses Sterling paid me last night. They said just enough to embarrass herβloosen the stirrup, make the saddle slip. I swear I didnβt know sheβd ride near the lake!β
Arabella shot him a venomous glare. βYou lying little worm! We only suggested a harmless prankββ
βA prank?β Juliette interrupted, voice rising in panic as she turned on her sister. βThis was your idea! You said we needed to remind her of her place, that she was getting above herself with the Prince and that Wayne boy!β
βI never told you to tamper with the horse near the lake!β Arabella snapped back, face flushing. βYou agreed it would be funny to see her fall in the snow!β
βEnough.β The Archduchessβs single word cracked like a whip. The room fell into immediate, terrified silence. βI do not care which of you conceived this despicable scheme. Both of you orchestrated it. Both of you endangered a young womanβs life out of nothing more than petty jealousy and spite.β
She rose slowly, towering over them. βYou are no longer welcome at Valeris. You will leave today. A carriage will be prepared within the hour. Your belongings will be packed for you, and you will not speak to another guest before your departure. Consider yourselves fortunate I do not have you thrown out into the snow with nothing but the clothes on your backs.β
Arabellaβs mouth opened in protest. βYour Grace, pleaseβour reputationββ
βShould have been considered before you tried to destroy anotherβs life!β the Archduchess cut her off icily. She rang a small silver bell. A maid appeared instantly. βPack the Sterling sistersβ belongings at once. They are departing immediately.β
The sisters were escorted out in stunned, humiliated silence, their dreams of a triumphant week at Valeris crumbling into ash.
ββββ
Meanwhile, in his room on the West Wing, Damian Wayne stood at the window as pale winter light slowly strengthened across the snow-covered grounds. The morning was advancing, yet the chaos he had caused earlier still echoed in his mindβthe public accusations against the Prince, the near-fight, the spectacle he had made of himself.
He could salvage his reputation. A few well-placed words, a display of cool composure, and the ton would eventually move on. He had always been able to control the narrative.
But then you consumed him.
The memory of your face in the snowβfurious, hurt, beautiful. The sharp crack of your palm against his cheek. The raw terror that had seized him when your horse bucked and you disappeared beneath the ice. The crushing weight of your unconscious body in his arms as he carried you from the lake. The sound of your muffled sobs through the door earlier.
He began pacing, hands flexing at his sides. For the first time in his rigidly ordered life, Damian Wayne did not know how to face someone. He could not storm into your room and demand anything. Not after everything.
With an abrupt motion, he sat at the writing desk, pulled out paper and ink, and began to write. The words came haltingly at firstβthen faster, almost feverish.
ββββ
Miss Sterling,
I have never been skilled with pretty words or easy apologies. What I said to you in the snow was harsh and unforgivable in its delivery, though I still believe the warning itself was necessary. I handled it poorly. Cruelly, even.
You were right to strike me.
I cannot explain the way you have unsettled every carefully built wall I possess. From the library to the lake, from your quiet defiance to the moment I thought I had lost you beneath the iceβsomething in me has shifted. I do not know what to call it. I only know that the thought of you being hurt, used, or discarded is intolerable to me.
I am returning to Gothmere today. Perhaps distance will restore some clarity. Perhaps not.
Regardless, I remainβ
Yours in ways I cannot yet name,
Damian Wayne
He stared at the letter for a long moment, then folded it with precise movements and sealed it. Rising, he rang for a footman.
βDeliver this to Miss Sterling within the hour,β he ordered, voice steady despite the storm inside him. βNo one else is to read it.β
The footman bowed and left.
Damian turned back to the window, watching the snow fall more gently now. His trunks would be packed shortly. He was going home.
But as the carriage wheels would soon turn toward Gothmere, he knew a part of him would remain hereβentangled with a woman who had somehow managed to crack the unbreakable control he had spent his life perfecting.
Summary: In the refined and ruthless society of Gothmere, you have always been the forgotten daughterβsoft-spoken, kind, and easily overshadowed by siblings far more dazzling. Damian Wayne, the only legitimate heir to the powerful Duke Wayne, once met you and thought nothing of it. Yet during a grand evening among Gothmereβs elite, a royal unexpectedly recognizes you with familiarity that turns the entire ballroom toward you at once. Suddenly the quiet girl no one noticed becomes the subject of whispers, curiosity, and intrigueβand Damian Wayne, who prides himself on missing nothing, begins to wonder how he could have overlooked you at all.
The warmth of the fire and the heavy blankets should have been comforting, but you felt chilled to your soul. As the doctor finished speaking, a flash of memory struck you like a whip: the snow-covered rise, Damianβs furious face, his harsh warnings about the Prince, and your own hand cracking across his cheek. The sting of that argument lingered sharper than the cold of the lake.
A firm knock sounded at the door.
The Princess and the Archduchess exchanged a quick, meaningful glance. The Archduchess gave a subtle nod. βWe shall leave you for a moment,β she said smoothly, guiding her niece toward the door with graceful authority. βCome, Seraphine.β
The doctor bowed and slipped out as well. Clara hesitated, squeezing your hand once with quiet reassurance before following them, closing the door softly behind her.
Prince Adrien entered alone. He looked every inch the polished royalβhair perfectly arranged, expression composedβbut something shadowed his eyes. He pulled a chair close to your bedside and sat, his posture elegant yet tense.
βYou gave us all quite the fright this morning,β he said gently, reaching out to brush a damp strand of hair from your forehead. βHow are you feeling?β
You studied him carefully. The warmth that had once made your heart flutter now feltβ¦ practiced. Distant. βI am alive, thanks to Lord Wayne,β you replied quietly. Then, after a beat, βYour Highnessβ¦ what is wrong? I can see it in your face. Please do not spare me.β
Adrien hesitated, his charming mask cracking for the first time. He looked away toward the window, jaw tight. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and carefully measured. βThere areβ¦ complications. Old entanglements that have resurfaced at the worst possible time. Lady Evelina Harrow has made certain claims. Demands.β He gave a bitter, hollow laugh. βShe believes I owe her a future I never promised. Women like her always do. They mistake attention for devotion.β
Your stomach twisted. The rumors Damian had thrown at you in the snow echoed in your mind. βAnd the children?β you whispered, voice breaking. βThe ones you are said to have fathered and abandoned?β
He waved a dismissive hand, but his eyes betrayed him. βExaggerations. Scandals blown out of proportion by jealous tongues. A prince is allowed certainβ¦ indiscretions. It is the way of our world. One day you will understand that duty must come before fleeting affections.β
The words landed like stones in your chest. You, who had lived your entire life as the illegitimate daughter quietly accepted and protected by a father who chose to keep youβwere now hearing this man justify abandoning his own blood so easily. Tears welled up and spilled down your cheeks.
βWas I to be next?β you asked, voice trembling but clear. βAnother pleasant diversion? Another woman you would court sweetly until a more advantageous match appeared, then discard like the others?β
Adrienβs silence was damning. He reached for your hand, but you pulled it away. Finally, he spoke, his tone shifting into cool finality. βMy mother and the Queen have made my path clear. I must marry soonβproperly, strategically. A union that strengthens alliances and secures the line. Ourβ¦ courtship has been delightful, but it cannot continue. Not now. Not with everything coming to light. You understand, donβt you? This was never meant to be permanent.β
The casual cruelty of it shattered something deep inside you. You turned your face away, fresh tears falling silently onto the pillow.
Adrien stood, smoothing his coat. βRest and recover. You will always have my fondest regards.β With that, he left, the door clicking shut behind him like the closing of a final chapter.
The moment he was gone, Clara rushed back in, her face etched with worry. She climbed onto the bed beside you without hesitation and pulled you into her arms as you finally broke into quiet, heartbroken sobs. βOh, my ladyβ¦ Iβm so sorry. He never deserved you. None of them do if they canβt see how brightly you shine.β
ββββ
Downstairs in the Archduchessβs private studyβher late husbandβs old sanctuary lined with dark wood and heavy booksβthe housekeeper finished her report with a grave expression. The Archduchessβs face hardened like stone as she listened.
βSummon the stable boy immediately,β she ordered, voice cold with authority. βAnd bring the Sterling sisters as well. They will answer for this in this room. No excuses. No delays.β
ββββ
Meanwhile, Damian walked down the corridor toward your room, freshly changed and still vibrating with restless energy. He intended only to check on your condition through the doctor or a servant. He froze just outside the door when he heard itβmuffled, heart-wrenching sobs coming from inside.
His hand hovered over the doorknob. Every instinct screamed at him to enter, to comfort you, to tell you he had been trying to protect you from exactly this pain. But propriety, his own tangled emotions, and the memory of your slap held him back. He stood frozen in the hallway, fists clenched at his sides, listening to your quiet devastation and feeling utterly powerless for the first time in his life.
The storm outside had finally begun to ease, but inside Valeris, the consequences were only beginning to unfold.
Summary: In the refined and ruthless society of Gothmere, you have always been the forgotten daughterβsoft-spoken, kind, and easily overshadowed by siblings far more dazzling. Damian Wayne, the only legitimate heir to the powerful Duke Wayne, once met you and thought nothing of it. Yet during a grand evening among Gothmereβs elite, a royal unexpectedly recognizes you with familiarity that turns the entire ballroom toward you at once. Suddenly the quiet girl no one noticed becomes the subject of whispers, curiosity, and intrigueβand Damian Wayne, who prides himself on missing nothing, begins to wonder how he could have overlooked you at all.
The stables of Valeris Hall were dimly lit by lanterns swinging in the cold morning draft. Snow continued to fall outside, but inside the long stone building the air was thick with the scent of hay, leather, and nervous sweat. Tim Drake moved with quiet, predatory focus between the stalls, his usually amiable expression replaced by something far sharper.
He stopped in front of a young stable hand who was pretending to polish a bridle with shaking hands. βYou,β Tim said calmly. βA word.β
The boy swallowed hard. βM-my lord, I donβt knowββ
Tim stepped closer, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. βMiss Sterlingβs mare. The one that nearly killed her this morning. Someone tampered with the tack. Tell me who gave the order, and I might forget your face. Refuseβ¦ and I assure you, the Archduchess will hear exactly how her guests were endangered under her roof.β
The stable handβs face went ashen. Within minutes, under Timβs unrelenting stare and a few well-placed threats about consequences for attempted murder of a guest under royal protection, the truth spilled out in a frantic whisper.
βIt was the Misses SterlingβArabella and Juliette, my lord. They paid me last night. Just said to loosen the stirrup leather and make the saddle shift a little. They wanted her embarrassed, thrown in the snowβ¦ notβnot this. I swear I never meant for her to go near the lake!β
Timβs expression darkened. He grabbed the boyβs collar once for emphasis. βYou will speak to no one. Stay here until you are summoned.β
The boy nodded frantically as Tim turned on his heel and strode out.
In the warmly lit sickroom, a fire roared in the hearth and thick wool blankets had been piled high on the bed. The Princess Seraphine and her aunt, the formidable Archduchess Elowen of Valeris, stood near the foot of the bed while the doctor finished checking Y/Nβs pulse.
βShe is remarkably resilient, Your Highness, Your Grace,β the doctor said, wiping his hands on a cloth. βThe cold was severe, and the shock to her system significant, but Lord Wayne pulled her from the water with impressive speed. Had he been even a few minutes later, we might be having a very different conversation. She should make a full recovery with rest, warm broths, and careful monitoring. There may be a lingering cough, but nothing life-threatening.β
The Archduchess, a tall woman with steel-gray hair and piercing eyes, nodded gravely. βSee that she wants for nothing. Valeris will not be remembered for nearly costing a young woman her life.β
At that moment, you stirred beneath the mountain of blankets. Your eyelids fluttered open, and a soft groan escaped your lips. Everything felt heavyβyour limbs, your chest, your thoughts.
βWhatβ¦ happened?β you rasped, voice hoarse from the icy water.
Princess Seraphine moved to your side immediately, taking your hand with gentle warmth. βYou were thrown from your horse near the frozen lake during your morning ride. You fell through the ice.β Her voice softened further. βLord Wayne saw it happen. He rode in after you without hesitation and pulled you out. He carried you back himself, shouting orders like a war general on the battlefield. Youβve been unconscious for nearly two hours.β
You blinked slowly, trying to process her words. βHeβ¦ saved me?β
The doctor nodded. βYou are very fortunate, Miss Sterling. The speed with which he acted likely saved your life. Another few minutes in that water and hypothermia would have taken hold far more severely.β
You lay back against the pillows, a complex swirl of emotionsβgratitude, confusion, and the lingering sting of your argumentβwashing over you. βI donβtβ¦ I donβt understand why the horseβ¦β
The Archduchess exchanged a knowing look with her niece. βThat, my dear, is being looked into as we speak.β
βββββ
Tim found Damian in the private sitting room, now dressed in dry clothes but still radiating barely contained tension. The firelight cast harsh shadows across his face.
βIt was deliberate,β Tim said without preamble, closing the door firmly behind him. βThe Sterling sisters;Arabella and Julietteβbribed a stable hand last night. They wanted the saddle tampered with just enough to humiliate her. They didnβt plan for the lake, I'm certain, but they absolutely intended for her to be thrown.β
Damianβs hands clenched into fists at his sides. A dangerous, icy fury settled over him. βThey will answer for this.β
βIβve already informed the Archduchessβs private secretary and the Princessβs lady-in-waiting,β Tim continued. βTheyβre handling it discreetly for now, but the sisters are finished here. The Archduchess does not tolerate threats to her guestsβespecially not from jealous vipers within her own walls.β
Damian stared into the fire, jaw tight. The image of you sinking beneath the ice replayed relentlessly in his mind. βShe almost died because of their petty cruelty.β
Tim placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. βShe didnβt. Thanks to you. Now breathe, Damian. The situation is being managed.β
But Damianβs thoughts were already far aheadβon you, on the sisters, and on the growing, terrifying realization that protecting you had become something he could no longer deny or control.
The storm outside continued to fall softly, but inside Valeris Hall, the real tempest had only just begun.
Summary: In the refined and ruthless society of Gothmere, you have always been the forgotten daughterβsoft-spoken, kind, and easily overshadowed by siblings far more dazzling. Damian Wayne, the only legitimate heir to the powerful Duke Wayne, once met you and thought nothing of it. Yet during a grand evening among Gothmereβs elite, a royal unexpectedly recognizes you with familiarity that turns the entire ballroom toward you at once. Suddenly the quiet girl no one noticed becomes the subject of whispers, curiosity, and intrigueβand Damian Wayne, who prides himself on missing nothing, begins to wonder how he could have overlooked you at all.
The corridor outside the room had descended into complete chaos. Servants hurried past with armfuls of blankets and steaming kettles, while guests in various states of undress poked their heads out of doorways, drawn by the commotion. Snow still fell steadily beyond the tall windows, indifferent to the storm raging inside Valeris Hall.
Damian stood soaked to the bone, dark hair plastered to his forehead, his greatcoat dripping onto the marble floor. His eyes burned with fury as Prince Adrien pushed forward again, voice sharp with royal authority.
βStand down, Wayne,β the Prince ordered. βThis is not your concernββ
βNot my concern?β Damianβs voice rose, raw and carrying down the hallway for all to hear. βYou have the audacity to feign concern while hiding bastards and pregnant mistresses across half the continent? Lady Evelina Harrow arrived here in secretβpregnant with your childβthreatening to expose every filthy secret if you do not marry her. How many others have there been? How many scandals have your handlers buried?β
Gasps rippled through the gathered guests. Whispers erupted like wildfire. A lady clutched her pearls. Several gentlemen exchanged stunned glances.
Prince Adrienβs face drained of color before flushing with rage. βYou dare spread such vile liesββ
βThey are not lies,β Damian snarled, stepping forward despite Jon and Timβs restraining hands. βI heard her myself this morning. Dates. Physicianβs letters. Promises you never intended to keep. You would drag Miss Sterling into that web of deceit and ruinββ
The Prince lunged forward, fist raised. βSay another word and I willββ
Damian met him head-on, shoulders squared, every inch the trained warrior ready for blood. The corridor tensed, on the verge of an outright brawl between a future duke and a crown prince.
βEnough!β Jon Kent barked, throwing his full weight against Damianβs chest while Tim grabbed his other arm. βNot here!β
A footman fumbled with the door to an adjacent private sitting room, throwing it open. βMy lordβplease, this way! Dry clothes and a fireββ
Tim and Jon shoved Damian inside with considerable effort. He resisted for a moment, muscles coiled like a predator, eyes still locked on the Prince. The door slammed shut behind them, muffling the growing uproar in the hall.
Inside the room, a fire already crackled in the hearth. Damian shook off their hands violently, pacing like a caged animal, water streaming from his clothes.
βDamianββ Tim began.
βThe horse,β Damian cut him off suddenly, freezing mid-step as the memory slammed into him. βBefore she fellβher mare was acting strangely. The buck was too sharp, too violent for fresh snow and a calm ride. It wasnβt natural.β
Jonβs eyes widened. βYou think it was tampered with?β
βI know it,β Damian said, voice low and lethal. βTim. Investigate. The stables. The saddle. The mare. Everything. Do it quietly, but thoroughly. Now.β
Tim didnβt hesitate. He gave a sharp nod and slipped out the door without another word, melting into the chaos of the hallway.
βββββ
Meanwhile, in a locked bedroom in the East Wing, Arabella and Juliette Sterling had barricaded themselves inside. The moment news of the accident spread, they had fled back upstairs, turning the key with trembling fingers.
Arabella paced frantically near the window, wringing her hands. βThis wasnβt supposed to happen,β she hissed. βJust a little frightβenough to embarrass her, to make her look reckless in front of everyone. Not this.β
Juliette sat on the edge of the bed, face pale. βWe only told the stable hand to loosen the stirrup leather slightly. How were we to know the stupid horse would bolt near the lake? If she diesββ
βShe wonβt die,β Arabella snapped, though her voice wavered. βSheβs too stubborn for that. But if anyone traces it back to usβ¦β
Julietteβs eyes darted toward the door as raised voices echoed faintly from downstairs. βWayne saw it. He was there. What if he connects it? What if the Princeββ
βWe say nothing,β Arabella whispered fiercely, grabbing her sisterβs arm. βWe were in our rooms the entire morning. We saw nothing. Understood?β
Juliette nodded jerkily, but fear lingered in her eyes. The consequences of their petty jealousy had spiraled far beyond anything they had intended.
βββββ
Back in the sitting room, Damian stood rigid by the fire, steam rising from his wet clothes. His mind churned with rage, fear, and an overwhelming, terrifying need to know that you were still breathing. The doctorβs voice drifted faintly through the wall from the next room, and Damianβs fists clenched at his sides once more.
Summary: In the refined and ruthless society of Gothmere, you have always been the forgotten daughterβsoft-spoken, kind, and easily overshadowed by siblings far more dazzling. Damian Wayne, the only legitimate heir to the powerful Duke Wayne, once met you and thought nothing of it. Yet during a grand evening among Gothmereβs elite, a royal unexpectedly recognizes you with familiarity that turns the entire ballroom toward you at once. Suddenly the quiet girl no one noticed becomes the subject of whispers, curiosity, and intrigueβand Damian Wayne, who prides himself on missing nothing, begins to wonder how he could have overlooked you at all.
Snow continued to fall in soft, silent veils as the two horses stood mere feet apart on the wooded rise. Your heart still raced from the near-collision, breath puffing visibly in the frigid air. Damianβs grip on your horseβs bridle remained firm, his sharp green eyes locked on yours with an intensity that made the cold fade for a moment.
βYou ride alone?β he asked, voice rough from the hard gallop, releasing the bridle slowly.
βI wanted the quiet,β you replied, brushing snow from your cloak. A small, genuine smile touched your lips despite the shock. βItβs beautiful out here. Like the world reset itself overnight.β
For a few breaths, conversation flowedβcareful, almost tentative. You spoke of the strange magic of fresh snow, how it softened even the sharpest edges of Valeris. He admitted, grudgingly, that he had needed the ride to clear his head. The tension from dinner and the corridor lingered unspoken between you, but the snow created a fragile pocket of peace.
Until it shattered.
Damianβs expression darkened suddenly. βYou should stay far away from the Prince.β
You blinked, the warmth draining from your voice. βI beg your pardon?β
βHe is not what he seems,β Damian pressed, jaw tight. βThere are thingsβrumors, secrets, scandals that follow him like shadows. You would be wise to keep your distance before you are caught in them.β
You straightened in the saddle, cheeks flushing with indignation. βYou speak as though I am a naive child who cannot see or think for herself. The Prince has been nothing but kind. Attentive. Respectful. Unlike some.β
Damianβs control frayed. βKind?β he bit out, voice rising. βHe is a man with bastards and discarded lovers trailing behind him like broken promises. He will use you as he has used othersβthen discard you when a better match appears. You are a diversion, nothing more.β
The words landed like a slap. Your eyes widened, hurt and fury flashing across your face. βHow dare you,β you whispered, voice trembling with rage. βYou know nothing of him, and even less of me if you think I would allow myself to be used so easily.β
He leaned closer, snow catching in his dark hair, eyes blazing. βThen you are a fool for believing his honeyed lies. A foolish, naive girl playing at court likeββ
The crack of your gloved hand across his cheek echoed sharply through the quiet woods. His head snapped to the side, the imprint of your palm blooming red against his pale skin.
Silence fell, broken only by the soft whisper of falling snow.
You stared at him, chest heaving, stunned by your own actions. Then fury surged again and you drew back to strike once more.
Damianβs hand shot out like lightning, catching your wrist in an iron gripβnot painful, but unyielding. His breathing was ragged, eyes wild with a storm of emotions he had no language for.
βIβm saying this because I care!β The words tore from him, raw and clumsy, almost angry in their honesty. βDamn it, I shouldnβtβbut I do. More than I know what to do with.β
You wrenched your wrist free, tears of rage and confusion stinging your eyes. βThen care from a distance, Lord Wayne. I never asked for your protection or your judgment.β
You turned your horse sharply and urged her back toward the estate, snow flying from her hooves as you galloped away.
ββββββ
You had ridden only a short distance when it happened.
A sharp crackβperhaps a hidden branch or deliberately loosened strapβstartled the mare. She shied violently, bucking hard on the snowy, uneven ground. You cried out as you were thrown, tumbling through the air and crashing through the thin ice at the edge of the half-frozen lake.
The cold hit like a thousand knives. Freezing water rushed over your head, soaking the heavy layers of your riding habit and cloak. They dragged you down like lead. Your limbs numbed almost instantly as you struggled, lungs burning, the world above a blurry, unreachable shimmer of white.
βY/N!β
Damianβs roar cut through the silence. He spurred Titus forward without hesitation, leaping from the saddle at the lakeβs edge and diving into the icy water. The shock of cold nearly stole his breath, but he powered through, strong strokes cutting through the murk until he found you. His arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you up with desperate strength. He carried you out bridal-style, water streaming from your sodden clothes, your head lolling unconscious against his shoulder.
He got you onto Titus, then swung up behind you, wrapping his coat around your shivering form as best he could. βHold on,β he growled, though you could not hear him, and rode like the devil himself back toward the estate.
ββββββ
βOpen the doors!β Damian bellowed as they thundered into the courtyard, voice carrying the authority of a battlefield commander. βNow! Fetch the doctorβhot water, blankets, every fire in the east wing! Move!β
Staff scrambled awake in panic. Doors flew open. Lights blazed to life across Valeris as guests stirred from sleep.
He carried you inside, barking orders the entire way, his own clothes dripping and clinging to him. βThe Rose Suiteβquickly! Sheβs not breathing properlyβsomeone take her!β
In the hastily reprepared suite, he laid you on the bed. Your lips were blue, skin deathly pale. Without thinking, he reached for the laces of your soaked riding habit to peel away the freezing layers.
βMy Lord!β The housekeeper gasped, rushing forward with wide eyes. βYou shouldnβt touch her any further! Proprietyβplease, step back!β
Clara burst in moments later, pale but determined, and immediately began working on your wet clothes with the help of two other maids. A doctor hurried in, medical bag in hand.
βOut, my lord,β the doctor ordered firmly. βYou are soaked through yourself. Youβll be no use to her if you catch your death. Tend to him immediately,β he snapped at a footman.
Damian stood frozen, water pooling at his feet, eyes fixed on your unconscious form.
The commotion drew more attention. Prince Adrien came rushing down the corridor in a hastily thrown-on robe, face etched with alarm. βWhat in Godβs nameβ? Y/N!β
Something in Damian snapped. Adrenaline, fear, and possessive fury surged through him. As the Prince moved toward the door, Damian stepped forward and planted a hand hard against his chest, shoving him back.
βStay the hell away from her,β he snarled.
The Prince stumbled, shock flashing into anger. βHave you lost your mind, Wayne?β
Jon and Tim appeared almost instantlyβJon grabbing Damianβs arm, Tim locking the other. βDamianβenough!β Jon hissed, struggling to hold him back.
βYou donβt touch her!β Damian shouted, voice raw as he fought against his friendsβ grip, muscles straining. βNot after what youβve doneβ!β
The corridor erupted into chaosβshouts, scrambling staff, the Princess arriving wide-eyed down the hallβas snow continued to fall softly outside, indifferent to the storm breaking within.
Summary: In the refined and ruthless society of Gothmere, you have always been the forgotten daughterβsoft-spoken, kind, and easily overshadowed by siblings far more dazzling. Damian Wayne, the only legitimate heir to the powerful Duke Wayne, once met you and thought nothing of it. Yet during a grand evening among Gothmereβs elite, a royal unexpectedly recognizes you with familiarity that turns the entire ballroom toward you at once. Suddenly the quiet girl no one noticed becomes the subject of whispers, curiosity, and intrigueβand Damian Wayne, who prides himself on missing nothing, begins to wonder how he could have overlooked you at all.
Snow fell softly outside the tall windows of Valeris Hall, blanketing the world in hushed white. The estate lay quiet in the early morning hours, most guests still wrapped in sleep. Prince Adrien Valois stood alone in his private sitting room, hands clasped behind his back, staring out at the falling flakes with unseeing eyes. The weight of the previous eveningβs tensions still pressed on him.
The door opened with a soft click.
βLeave it,β he said without turning, voice clipped.
βI think not.β
The voice was wrongβfeminine, familiar, edged with fury. He turned sharply.
Lady Evelina Harrow stood just inside the doorway, cloaked in dark velvet, her face pale and drawn. Her eyes burned with a volatile mix of desperation and righteous anger.
Adrien crossed the room in two strides, seizing her arm in a bruising grip. His voice dropped to a furious whisper. βHave you lost your mind? You should not be here. If anyone sees youββ
She did not flinch. Instead, she lifted her chin defiantly. βYou stopped answering my letters.β
He released her as if her skin had burned him and stepped back. βBecause there is nothing left to say.β
Evelinaβs hand moved slowly to rest over her abdomen. The gesture was deliberate. Heavy with meaning.
βThere is,β she said quietly.
Silence crashed over the room. Adrien let out a hollow laugh that held no humor. βNo.β
βYes.β She stepped closer, voice trembling but fierce. βThe dates align. The physician confirmed it.β
His composure cracked. He dropped heavily into a nearby chair, one hand gripping his temple. βYou expect me to believe this? After everything?β
βI expect you to do what you promised,β she hissed. Her voice lowered into something deadly. βOr I will ruin you. Every affair. Every child. Every lie youβve hidden behind that charming smile. I will drag your nameβand your crownβthrough the mud.β
Adrienβs jaw tightened until the muscle jumped. For the first time in years, genuine fear flickered across the Princeβs face.
In the corridor just beyond the slightly ajar door, Damian Wayne had frozen mid-step. He had not meant to eavesdrop, but the raised voices had drawn him. He had heard enough.
Child.Ruin you. Marry me.
His expression went deathly still. Disgust curled in his stomachβat the Prince, at the scandal, at the web of lies now threatening to ensnare everything. And then the image of you flashed through his mind, seated across from the Prince at dinner, the warmth in Adrienβs gaze.
βShe deserves better than this,β he muttered under his breath, jaw clenched so tightly it ached.
He turned on his heel and walked away fast, boots echoing sharply against the marble
Back in his room, Damian moved with tense precision. He threw on his riding boots, a heavy dark greatcoat, and gloves. His movements were controlled, but fury and something sharperβprotective instinctβsimmered beneath the surface. Without a word to anyone, he left for the stables.
βββββ
In the Rose Suite, pale morning light reflected off fresh snow and spilled across your bed. You stirred, then sat up abruptly as the realization hit. You rushed to the window, pressing your fingers to the cold glass.
βItβs snowingβ¦β you whispered, pure, unfiltered joy lighting your entire face.
You woke Clara with uncharacteristic excitement, almost childlike in your delight. βQuicklyβwarm riding habit, the wool cloak, and my sturdiest gloves!β
Clara laughed softly as she helped you dress. βYou look like a girl seeing snow for the first time, miss.β
βPerhaps I am,β you replied with a bright smile. βAt leastβ¦ seeing it like this.β
Dressed in a deep green riding habit that complemented the emerald tones you had recently embraced, you slipped out into the crisp morning air.
βββββ
From a window high above, Arabella and Juliette watched you ride out alone across the snow-dusted grounds. Their expressions were not merely jealous or annoyed. They were calculating.
βSheβs gone alone?β Arabella murmured, a smirk curving her lips.
Julietteβs eyes narrowed with dark satisfaction. βHow convenient.β
They had ensured it would be. A few quiet words to a stable hand the night before, a subtle tampering with your usual saddle and stirrup leatherβnothing obvious, but enough to create trouble on uneven, snowy ground. They stepped back from the window, satisfied.
βββββ
The grounds of Valeris were transformed under the fresh snowβsilent, pristine, magical. You rode at an easy canter, breath visible in the cold air, the world muffled and beautiful around you. For the first time in days, your mind felt clear. Peaceful.
Meanwhile, Damian rode hard across the same fieldsβfast, controlled aggression pouring out with every stride of his powerful warhorse, Titus. Snow flew from the horseβs hooves as he pushed harder, trying to outrun the disgust and unease churning inside him.
Their paths converged near a small wooded rise.
You crested the hill at the same moment Damian thundered up the other side. Both horses shied at the near-collision. Yours reared slightly in surprise, hooves kicking up snow. You gripped the reins tightly, heart leaping into your throat as you fought for balance.
Damianβs hand shot out instinctively, steadying your horseβs bridle with iron strength before pulling Titus back a safe distance. Snow swirled around you both in the sudden stillness.
His sharp green eyes locked onto yoursβbreath visible, chest rising and falling heavily from the hard ride. For a long moment, neither of you spoke, the only sounds were the soft huffing of the horses and the whisper of falling snow.
