Damon's POV
Aria didn't listen. Her fingers still gripped the handle, knuckles white, shoulders shaking. My blood ran down the blade and dripped slowly to the floor, pooling dark red between us.
But I barely felt the wound. My whole mind was on her.
Something about Aria's scent was wrong. It wasn't just anger, or grief. She had lost all reason. I could feel it—she was walking straight toward self-destruction.
I sensed that Aria had changed.
Not her eyes, not her body—but… something I couldn't put into words.
It was as if a new bond had formed between her and me—something I couldn't yet see clearly.
The moment I arrived and saw her pointing that knife at Claudia's heart, Rhein erupted inside me.
They're destroying themselves. Look at Aria—she doesn't care whether she lives or dies.
