DAMON
I waited until the last of the caravans trundled out of the clearing before turning to Cass.
We stood in the middle of the empty space, surrounded by bare patches of earth, where tents had been pitched only a short time ago.
Cass refused to meet my gaze.
“Cass, please.” I reached out a hand, and then pulled it back, uncertain. “Allow me to explain myself.”
She tucked her arms around her body, biting her lip. The dark fringe of her lashes hid her eyes from me. “What is there to explain?”
“When I first saw you, I...” Unable to help it, I rushed forward, but I didn’t dare touch her yet. “You know how I felt. How we felt. It terrified me. I couldn’t see anything beyond your youth, your inexperience. In my eyes, you were this delicate, beautiful woman who had stumbled into a harsh w
