The drive to the Voss estate was silent. Elara sat in the passenger seat of Damien’s car with her hands clasped tightly in her lap, watching the familiar streets slide past. She had showered and changed into jeans and a soft sweater, but she still felt marked—by his mouth, his hands, the way he had spent the night claiming every inch of her like he was trying to rewrite the six days they had lost. Damien’s hand rested on her thigh the entire way, thumb stroking absently, as if he needed the contact to keep himself grounded. Neither of them spoke about what waited at the end of the drive. Victor opened the front door himself before they reached it. He looked older than he had a week ago. The usual easy warmth was gone, replaced by something measured and exhausted. His eyes moved from Damien’s face to Elara’s, then to the place where Damien’s hand rested at the small of her back. Something flickered there—pain, resignation, a reluctant understanding. “Come in,” he said. They
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