Damien helped Penny with her wounds. Dabbing the cotton while making her sit on a chair with his back against the desk of his room. Applying ointment on her face. Every touch on her face had her wincing which made his blood boil in anger. 

"Just a little more," he said, pressing the cotton on her skin which had swollen. It would take two days for the swelling to come down, the wound which was discolored would take more time before it would fade away.  He was done cleaning her back, and this time there was not a single word of protest that came through her lips. She sat there docile without many words as if in a state of daze. 

Penny had been lost in her thoughts at what happened, running the time that took place a few hours ago over and over again as the pain continued to ink her mind that came with every touch of Damien on her skin. 

She could feel his hands that were gently moving back and forth, his eyes staring at the parts of her face. She asked him, "Where did you go?" it was something she was curious to know since his two days of absence. And though her words were supposed to be simple, the intended message came out as if she wanted to know why he left her alone in this mansion.

"To Woville. My stay was meant to be short but it turned out to be longer which I had not expected. I didn't mean to leave you here alone," answered Damien, his hands and gestures coming to be patient. For the very first time, both Damien and Penelope were speaking to each other like a.d.u.l.ts who didn't tease and have sarcastic retorts for each other. Now even the first time Penny had hurt her back had Damien behaved with her like this. 

Penelope who had already been alone these days, holding herself against the antics of Grace and Lady Fleurance, Damien looked nothing less to an angel who had rescued her. Maybe calling him an angel was a far fetched term thought Penny to herself. He was her own personal devil who made others life a living h.e.l.l while having his own ways of handling her. 

The more she thought about what happened the more her eyes filled up with tears but she tried to not shed them. 

Damien who was dabbing the side of her temple, to say, "It is okay to cry. You don't have to hold back when I am around. Haven't we established the fact that you are mine?" her tear-filled eyes blinked to look up and into his eyes, staring into his dark red vivid eyes. One drop of her tear trailing down her cheek while the other got stuck in her lower lash making it look darker in view.

She didn't say anything. She was quiet and obedient that got him slightly worried. Before he could inquire and get the information from her own mouth, he heard Penny ask,

"What kept you in Woville?" she looked nothing less to endearing even with her nose that had turned red along with her cheeks due to her crying previously and now which she tried to hold back. 

"If I could I would take you in my arms right now, Penelope. To hug you tightly, to a.s.sure the you who looked so worried and tense," hearing this she quickly turned her eyes away from him, "You keep getting hurt and I keep tending you. I don't mind playing doctor but this is not something I wish to see you...bruised and hurt," his words trailed. 

"You didn't answer my question," stated Penny for him to chuckle. 

"When you fell unconscious in the village town, the witches injected the poison they have so cleverly designed for us vampires and pureblooded vampires," Penny suddenly frowned, worry forming on her face to hear him say, "I am fine now. Unfortunately, I wasn't a few hours ago and yesterday. I think the corruption potion didn't work well in my body. Though I am alright now, it affected my ability to travel back due to which I was late...Late to get back to you. What did Grace do?"

Penny didn't know if she was comfortable talking about how she was collared and dragged from the dining table to the carriage and then to the Isle Valley. 

Feeling her insecurity and the uncomfortableness, Damien patted her hair, "Don't hide anything from me, Penelope. I won't judge you for anything that has happened in the past or now. No one will ever think of what Grace did once I am done dealing with her."

As much as the happiness it brought Penny, she was worried about what he would do with the young vampiress. Though not directly blood-related, she was his step-sister. 

"Tell me, sweet mouse," he urged her for her to finally spill out what happened, her voice coming out much quieter and tired. Once Damien was done taking in a detailed report of what happened during his absence, he patted her head again. Running his hand from the crown of her head to the back, "You did well. Much better than I expected. You are a strong girl," he praised her as if she needed to hear it to calm her anxious heart. 

"I don't know about that," she replied back. When she turned to stand up, he helped her, his hands supporting her.

With a slight tilt, he asked, "Why do you say that? For one fact I know, you wouldn't have given the satisfaction that Grace could bask in. The woman I fell in love with is strong and fierce in character even though she doesn't show it. It is why she tried to push you further wanting to seek that satisfaction which you didn't give in. Don't you think she is pitiful?" 

And though Damien asked her the question, her thoughts were still catching up with what the word of love. He had meant it before but this was the first time he had spoken even more clearly. 

Unlike other men who behaved hard to please which in truth Damien was hard to please, the man unashamedly spoke about his feelings for her like it was the most natural thing to do. And somewhere down in her heart, she didn't mind it. It might be one of Damien's charming quality, thought Penny to herself.