Damon's POV
Claudia threw herself at me, both arms locking around my neck, her body trembling, tears spilling as if she'd just escaped death itself. The scent of terror poured off her.
Fury blazed up in me.
Rhein bared his teeth.
She's faking those tears again.
I used my uninjured left hand to pry her arms loose and pushed her back.
"Damon!" she cried. "Thank god you came. If it weren't for you, Aria would have killed me!"
My jaw tightened.
"I was just resting in my room when Aria burst in and slapped me again and again. She demanded to know what I'd said to her father. I told her I'd never even met Mr. Ronan Grayson, but somehow I'd set her off. She grabbed me by the throat and pinned me to the wall."
She touched her own neck theatrically.
"I could barely breathe. Then I broke f
