LOGINDamon’s POVFor the first time in weeks, I wasn't working. No patrol reports, no council meetings, no elders trying to force decisions onto my desk. Just Aria.I had made that decision the night before and refused to let anything interfere with it, though unfortunately Aria was currently trying to.
For a moment, he just stared at me then, slowly, his expression softened again, like he was slipping back into a version of himself that knew how to win me over.“You’re really choosing him,” he said quietly. “After everything I did for you?”I let out a short, humorless laugh. “You didn’t do anythi
Aria’s POVThe infirmary was too quiet, not peaceful—never peaceful—but had this kind of silence that felt forced, like the walls themselves were holding their breath. The smell of antiseptic was sharp enough to sting my nose the moment I stepped inside, and for a second I almost turned back.Almost
For a moment, he just stared at me then, slowly, his expression softened again, like he was slipping back into a version of himself that knew how to win me over.“You’re really choosing him,” he said quietly. “After everything I did for you?”I let out a short, humorless laugh. “You didn’t do anythi
Aria’s POVThe infirmary was too quiet, not peaceful—never peaceful—but had this kind of silence that felt forced, like the walls themselves were holding their breath. The smell of antiseptic was sharp enough to sting my nose the moment I stepped inside, and for a second I almost turned back.Almost
Aria's POVThe feeling wouldn't leave, it followed me through lunch, through the reports stacked on my desk, through every conversation I barely paid attention to and no matter how many times I reminded myself that Damon could handle himself, that he had survived far worse than a day spent with Kade
I held his stare for a second, then tilted my head slightly. “In the room or in yourself?”His jaw tightened.“Neither,” he said flatly.“Mm,” I hummed softly, not convinced.Silence stretched between us for a moment, but it wasn’t the heavy, suffocating kind from earlier. It was quieter now. More c
Aria’s POVThe doors shut behind us with a finality that settled deep in my chest.I didn’t turn around to look at them. I didn’t want to see how completely sealed they were, how cut off we had just become from everything familiar. Instead, I kept walking beside Damon, matching his stride as Elder M
The hall went still again.Damon’s head turned sharply toward me. “Aria,” he warned under his breath, but I could feel something shift in him too… unease, not anger.Amelia didn’t react immediately. Then, softly, “careful.”I took a slow breath, stepping forward just enough that Damon’s hand caught
Aria’s POVThe silence after her words didn’t feel empty. It felt judged.Every breath I took in that hall seemed louder than it should have been, like the entire space was listening to see what I would do next. The woman on the throne didn’t move, didn’t blink, didn’t soften her expression even sli







