Chapter 62: A Wife’s Promise

"Don’t misunderstand what joining Eclipse Concord means," Richard said, his tone less severe than before.

"The Thornes were one of its founding families, and your mother’s actions have left a mark that won’t disappear simply because she’s gone. Some people will judge you for what she wanted to do. Others may see you as a threat simply because of the family name you carry."

Damon rested his arm against the back of the sofa, listening without interrupting.

"Then there will be those who try to use you," Richard continued.

"They may approach you as allies, offer you help, or claim they want to restore the old relationship between our families. Some of them might mean it. Others will have their own reasons, and you won’t necessarily know which is which until it’s too late."

"You think joining them was a mistake?" Damon asked.

"No. I think refusing an opportunity because it carries risks can be just as foolish as accepting it without understanding those risks." Richard shook his head.

"You’ve entered an organization where family names carry weight, old grudges survive for generations, and people rarely forget what they stand to gain or lose. Prepare yourself accordingly. The Thornes may be a collective enemy to some of them, but that doesn’t mean everyone will openly oppose you."

Damon gave a small nod. "I’ll keep that in mind."

He had no intention of walking into Eclipse Concord blindly, but neither did he plan to let other people’s suspicions dictate his decisions.

If the organization offered opportunities worth taking, he would take them. If someone decided to make an enemy of him because of his family name, he would deal with that when the time came.

Richard seemed satisfied with the answer and didn’t press the matter further.

Catherine, who had been quietly listening throughout the discussion, finally let out a breath and glanced at Vivian.

"That’s enough talk about dangerous organizations for one afternoon. If you keep going, you’ll have Vivian thinking her engagement has turned into a military campaign."

"Mother," Vivian protested, giving her a look that only made Catherine smile.

"What? You’ve spent half your time lately talking about training, and now your father has spent the other half warning your fiancé about people who might want to kill him. I’m beginning to wonder whether either of you remembers that you’re supposed to be getting married."

Damon chuckled. "I haven’t forgotten."

"Good. Someone in this room should remember the purpose of the engagement."

Vivian’s cheeks warmed, though she tried to maintain her usual composure. "We both know why we’re engaged."

"Of course you do," Catherine replied, her expression innocent enough to be suspicious. "I’m simply wondering when you’ll stop discussing everything else long enough to enjoy yourselves."

Richard shook his head at his wife, but the faint smile on his face suggested he had no intention of rescuing his daughter from the teasing.

Damon found the exchange amusing.

The Ashfords could discuss disappearances, political conflicts, and the dangers surrounding an entire organization with the utmost seriousness, then return to teasing their daughter as though nothing had happened.

They spent the next little while discussing more ordinary matters. Richard asked Damon how he was settling into Blackstone Manor, while Catherine reminded Vivian not to neglect her health in pursuit of stronger martial skills.

Vivian assured her that she knew how to manage her training, although the way she answered suggested she had already decided that her mother’s advice wasn’t going to change her plans.

"I expect you to visit more often," Catherine told them when the conversation finally began to wind down. "You don’t have to wait for a family gathering every time you want to come here."

"We’ll visit," Vivian promised.

Richard looked toward Damon. "I meant what I said about Eclipse Concord. Don’t assume that everyone who welcomes you has your best interests at heart."

"I understand. I’ll be careful."

Richard held his gaze for a moment before nodding.

After saying their goodbyes, Damon and Vivian left the Ashford residence and headed back to Blackstone Manor.

The drive began quietly. Vivian sat beside him, looking out at the passing streets, while Damon kept his attention on the road.

The conversation with Richard had given him plenty to consider, and the more he thought about it, the less he believed the Ashfords had allowed him into Eclipse Concord without expecting something in return.

They had known about the history surrounding the Thornes. Richard had openly acknowledged the damage his mother’s ambition had done to the family’s standing, yet he had still supported Damon’s entry into the organization.

That decision could have been an act of loyalty to an old ally, but Damon wasn’t inclined to accept such a simple explanation without examining the alternatives.

Perhaps the Ashfords wanted to preserve the relationship their families had once shared.

Perhaps they believed Damon could eventually uncover something about his missing parents, and keeping him close to Eclipse Concord would give them access to whatever he learned. There was also the possibility that his membership served some purpose in their own dealings with the other families.

He would find out what the Ashfords expected from him eventually. Until then, he could make use of the opportunity without placing too much trust in the people who had offered it.

By the time they reached Blackstone Manor, Damon had settled on that much.

The familiar grounds and quiet interior welcomed them back, and Vivian followed him inside.

She seemed more thoughtful than usual, but Damon assumed she was still considering what her father had told them.

For a while, Vivian remained where she was, watching him move about the room.

Her father’s warning had stayed with her, though not for the same reasons it had occupied Damon’s thoughts. She had always known that the Thorne family carried a complicated history, but hearing Richard explain how much hostility that history might have created made her consider what being Damon’s wife would actually mean.

She had agreed to the engagement because it suited both families, and her pride had never allowed her to regard the arrangement as something she could enter carelessly.

She wanted to become stronger, to establish herself through her own abilities, and to stand beside a man who would not expect her to remain a decorative figure in his life.

Damon had never asked her to abandon those ambitions. If anything, he had given her room to pursue them without trying to dictate what she should become.

Now she understood that his future might involve more than training, family expectations, and the ordinary difficulties of building a life together.

She couldn’t promise to solve those problems, but she could decide what kind of wife she intended to be when they arose.

The thought made her more nervous than she had expected, but after watching him for another moment, she finally gathered her courage.

"Husband."

Damon turned toward her, noticing the unusual seriousness in her voice. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong." Vivian crossed the short distance between them and took his hand before she could lose her courage.

She looked at him directly, trying to keep her expression composed despite the warmth rising in her cheeks.

"I’ve been thinking about what my father said, and I’ve decided something."

He waited for her to continue, his attention settling fully on her.

"Whatever happens from now on, I’ll support you. I know joining Eclipse Concord may bring trouble, and I understand that the situation surrounding your family isn’t simple."

She tightened her fingers around his hand, gathering herself as she spoke.

"I don’t know everything I’ll have to face as your wife, but I’m not going to stand aside just because things become difficult. If there’s anything you need, please tell me. I’m capable of more than simply standing beside you."

Damon studied her face.

"You don’t have to prove your worth to me by promising to take on every problem I face," he told her. "Keep working toward what you want for yourself. If I need your help, I’ll tell you."

Vivian’s expression softened, and a small smile appeared on her lips.

"Then you have to remember that I offered."

"I will."

For a moment, neither of them moved. Vivian was still holding his hand, and the closeness between them suddenly felt more noticeable than it had a few seconds earlier.

She had meant what she said, and she wanted to do something that would make her decision unmistakable.

Before she could reconsider, she rose onto her toes and kissed him on the lips.

It was brief, but deliberate.

The moment she pulled away, her composure faltered. She had gathered her courage to kiss him, but now she could barely meet his eyes.

"I’ll see you later," she said quickly.

Before Damon could respond, Vivian turned and hurried toward the room, leaving him standing where she had abandoned him.

He watched her disappear down the hallway, a faint smile forming on his face.