The Beast And The Blessed

Fifteen: Damien

Damien's P.O.V.

She was angry. Charlotte was glorious when she was angry.

Charlie. I kept having to remind myself that she was Charlie, not Charlotte. I didn't know who Charlotte was. The woman that was able to cause a stir in town just by being recognized was a mystery to me. I thought I had known a decent bit about her, but now I had no idea who she was again.

It all made sense why she avoided discussing her life before coming here to be a mercenary. Whatever her secret was, it had to be huge.

Realistically, I knew it was probably something simple like a noblewoman going rogue and wanting to live in the wild, but she would have to return eventually. It was an uncomplicated explanation, an easy one. Probably the right one.

Yet, my mind kept going to the worst-case scenario that just maybe she was on the run from something or someone. I wasn't sure why my mind kept returning to the idea of a man at home waiting for her, searching for her.

I was jealous. I was absolutely jealous of a man I had created in my head, and I had just stormed out of my house first thing in the morning to wake Charlie so we could finish our argument. I was ready to demand that we return to normal when I found Barley sitting on my front porch.

For such a big man, his ability to move and exist in complete silence made him deadly. I had either been so distracted by Charlie that I hadn't heard, smelled, or sensed him, or he had mastered the art of masking himself from living in the wild for so long.

It had taken me years to perfect it, but I only used it when I needed to.

' The girl she was and the woman she is today are too different people. Learn who she is now, don't let who she was forced to be in the past impact what you are and can have in the future." Barley got to his feet, slipping his hands in his pockets before walking past me and down the stairs. “I think you should come with us today. We're taking on a rock troll. You might have some fun and get to see a new side of Charlie. She is a fighter." i

He glanced at my garden as he walked past it, a slight smile on his face. "I see she hasn't killed any plants yet, but best to keep a watchful eye on her while she's in there. She told me stories about the plants she tried to keep alive as a kid. Said they killed themselves from how toxic the environment was, but I'm not so sure she didn't have a hand in it."

I had stood there for only a few seconds before giving up and following after him. It wasn't just because he was now the second man who really knew Charlie to tell me she was worth it and not to give up on her. It was also because I wanted to know her on the same level they did.... Well, on a higher level than they did.

They knew her mentally, but I wanted her brain and body. I could be very territorial over what was mine, and while I knew we weren't together yet, she sure felt like she was mine.

couldn't keep my eyes off her. The group, minus Neil, was marching through the forest at a brisk pace. Charlie was at the front, leading the pack, with fierce determination across her face. I wasn't sure if it was because she was set on ending the rock troll causing trouble for wanderers or if she was just that motivated

seemed momentarily remorseful before her anger returned. I hated

as she moved through the trees. Each time I met Charlie's fiery gaze, I imagined holding her up against a tree and

asked, falling back until he was in line with me at the back of the pack. I hadn't intended to get involved. I just wanted to watch. As Barley had put it, I

was a test, my

"No."

back of his neck. "There is a small pebble in the back of their neck; think of it like where our brain

nodded and shrugged at me, like it

watch your head. They can throw rocks faster than you would believe and don't get close enough for it to touch you. One hit will pulverize every bone in your body. Charlie is the best climber out

to the side. I slowed as I watched everyone do the

and felt out of place. A bear against a rock troll? It just didn't

of a clearing, and I grimaced as I pictured one of those being thrown at me. They were larger than

few were only noticeable from where legs or an arm were sticking out

sense my unease, and she signaled with her hand for me to stay back. I scoffed. Tough chance of

eyes from me.

just as the mountain of stone unfolded, rising to tower over us, taller than most of the trees. Charlie

side like he was watching a sporting event, and I felt every ounce of anger and frustration with Charlie melt

on the tree truck at my side to steady me. My eyes were locked on Charlie with horror as she lost her footing and

lips before I could stop it, and Charlie pushed herself up just as the troll turned to me. His entire being was made of rocks,

lobbed the giant boulder my way. I ran a few steps before diving to the side just as the bounder crashed into the tree trunk. The wood splintered as the giant stone

him, his hand reforming as he prepared

witches, but all their little pet projects that had gotten out of hand, like this one, suddenly colored

of these creatures were designed

out a loud sound in an uneven round that knocked the troll's equilibrium off. The creature shook his large head from side to side, and I used the moment to race around the troll, desperate to get my eyes