Haliyah’s POV. Damon guided me down the hallway, walking easily while I struggled to keep up. The chaos of the council room still echoed in my mind, and yet here, in this dim corridor, it felt like the world had shrunk down to just the two of us. He opened the door to an empty chamber and stepped aside. “In here,” he said, carrying that authority I couldn’t ignore. I paused for a second, then stepped inside. The door clicked shut behind us, muffling the voices from the council room. My heart thumped unevenly. For the first time in hours, I could breathe without someone watching me, but somehow, I still felt exposed. I managed a shaky breath. “Thank you for stepping in back there…” I murmured, glancing at him. “I really thought I was alone. I felt like everyone was against me.” His eyes caught the dim light as he leaned against the wall, folding his arms. “This is what happens when you refuse my help,” he said, tilting his head with that teasing lilt. “You turned down the contract
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