Chapter 030

AMELIA

"You came here straight from the bakery?"

Damian's quiet voice nearly made me jump off the couch in surprise. As I did every time I came home, I flopped down on the living room couch and began to massage my aching feet. Damian was never in sight when I returned. He specialized in always keeping out of my way except for the few occasions when we got thrown together, and he couldn't keep his hands off me.

I had expected him, as usual, to be holed up in his room or his study, as he always was, so I didn't notice him sitting on one of the couches. He raised his brows when I did not answer and put away a book I suspected he had not been reading. He had the air of someone who wanted to get something off his chest.

"Er- good evening, Damian," I answered, wondering why he was suddenly interested in where I had been. He inclined his head in response to my greeting and repeated his question. "Yes, I came straight from the bakery."

He glanced at the clock. I followed the direction of