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~Lisa’s POV
I had already grown used to Damon being around after so days. At first, it was strange, having soone like him in my space, always close, always watching. But slowly, I realized he wasn’t just watching. He was protecting. He had a way of making feel safe, like I didn’t have to keep looking over my shoulder anymore.
Most evenings, he would be in my room. Other tis, I would go to his. It beca normal, almost like a routine. And even though I tried to keep a distance, I couldn’t deny how much lighter my chest felt when he was near.
The doctor also ca in secretly, always careful. Each ti he checked on , his words were short but reassuring.
"You and the baby are fine," he whispered once, packing his things quickly.
I nodded, clutching my blanket. "Thank you... Please don’t let anyone know."
"I won’t," he promised. "But you need to rest more. Don’t stress yourself."
I only smiled faintly and looked away. Resting was easier said than done. But Damon always seed to notice when I was pushing myself.
One night, he found folding clothes.
"You should be in bed," he said firmly.
"I’m fine," I answered.
"No, you’re not," he replied, walking closer and taking the fabric from my hands. "Sit. Please."
I sat because sothing in his voice left no room for argunt. He placed the folded cloth aside and crouched in front of .
"You’re carrying sothing precious," he said softly, his eyes locking with mine. "Don’t make worry more than I already do."
I swallowed hard, blinking away the sting in my eyes. "You worry too much."
"Not when it’s about you," he said, so quietly that it made my heart stumble.
****
The day before Belinda’s crowning, Damon surprised . He ca into my room with a strange look on his face.
"What?" I asked, suspicious.
"Nothing," he said, lips twitching like he was holding back a smile. "Just stay here. Don’t move."
"Damon..." I frowned. "What are you planning?"
"You’ll see." He left before I could ask again.
When he returned, the palace designer followed behind him, carrying several dresses draped over her arm. My eyes widened.
"Damon!" I gasped. "What is this?"
He looked pleased with himself. "You can’t just wear anything tomorrow. You deserve to look your best as well. Rember, you are our mate."
"Tomorrow?" I repeated.
"Yes. Belinda’s crowning. You’ll be there too. And I want you to have sothing special."
I stared at him, unsure whether to feel touched or overwheld.
"Damon... you didn’t have to..."
"I wanted to," he cut off gently. "Now, don’t argue. Try them on."
The designer laid the dresses out carefully, one after another. Different colors, soft fabrics, elegant designs. I just stood there, staring.
"They’re beautiful," I whispered.
"Which one do you like?" Damon asked, his voice softer now.
I shook my head. "I... I don’t even know. They’re all too much."
"They’re not too much for you," he said quickly. "Nothing is."
The designer glanced at both of us, then smiled politely. "Shall we start with this one?" she asked.
I stood in front of the long mirror, staring at my reflection in the pale blue dress the palace designer had just pinned around . The fabric was soft and elegant, flowing all the way to the ground, but I felt... awkward. My hands brushed down the sides nervously.
"I don’t know," I murmured, frowning. "It feels too much. Too... fancy for ."
From where he sat in the chair by the corner, Damon leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His eyes softened when they landed on , and for a mont, I could see pride shining in them.
"It looks good on you," he said quietly. "Better than good. You look... beautiful."
I looked away quickly, my cheeks heating. "You’re just saying that."
"I’m not," he said, shaking his head. His voice was steady, like he wanted to believe every word. "You don’t see what I see."
I swallowed, trying to hold back a small smile. "Well, I don’t feel like myself in it."
The designer ca back with another gown, a deep green one with delicate embroidery at the chest. "Try this instead," she said softly, passing it to .
I took it carefully, stepping behind the screen to change. As I slipped into the green dress, I felt the weight of the fabric settle on my shoulders. It was heavier, tighter, and when I stepped out, I hugged my arms around myself.
Damon’s eyes widened. He got up from his chair this ti, walking closer. "Lisa..."
"What?" I asked nervously, glancing down. "Is it bad?"
He shook his head slowly, almost in disbelief. "No. It’s... It’s perfect. It makes your eyes stand out. You look... like you belong here."
I let out a shaky laugh. "Belong here? In a palace? Damon, I don’t even know how to stand properly in these dresses."
He gave a small smile, reaching out without touching . His hand hovered near my arm as if asking for permission. "You’ll learn. And even if you don’t, I’ll be right there. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be you."
For a second, my throat tightened. His words felt heavier than he probably realized. I blinked fast and whispered, "You always say the right thing."
"That’s because I an it," he replied softly.
The designer brought a third gown, this one a softer shade of cream with golden embroidery. She adjusted the skirt as I tried it on, then stepped back to let Damon judge again.
I twirled nervously, the hem brushing the floor. "What about this one? Too plain?"
Damon’s eyes stayed on , serious and warm. "No. It’s simple... but it’s elegant. Honestly, Lisa, I think you could wear anything and still outshine everyone else."
My lips parted slightly at his words, and my heart beat faster than I wanted it to. I quickly turned back to the mirror, pretending to fix the fabric so he wouldn’t see how much his words affected .
"I shouldn’t outshine Belinda, Damon. It’s her day. I will just go with sothing plain but beautiful," I said softly, still staring at the row of gowns before . My fingers lingered on one of the brighter ones, but I quickly pulled away, shaking my head.
Damon gave a calm smile, his voice steady and reassuring. "No problem. I’m fine with whatever you choose. What matters is that you’re comfortable."
The designer seed to understand my hesitation and quietly pulled out a dress that was neither too loud nor too dull, sothing simple, graceful, yet elegant enough to fit the occasion. I looked at it for a mont, then exhaled in relief.
"Yes... This is fine," I whispered, nodding. Damon’s eyes softened as he watched , not pushing or insisting, simply allowing to feel safe in my choice. And just like that, my heart felt lighter.
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