Damon's POV
Twenty minutes later.
Justin came back in—Lilith with him, her scrapes already patched up.
"Justin. Book her a flight. Tonight. Anywhere out of the country." I glanced at her—just enough to watch her muscles lock. "Three months. Not coming back without my permission."
"Three months?!" Lilith's head snapped up, eyes wide, voice climbing. "That's insane. Damon, what's wrong with you? You've never—never done anything like this to me. Not once."
She stared at me like I'd become a stranger. "And now—because of Aria? Whose father killed Liam? You're punishing me?!"
Because of Aria?
Yes. Because of Aria.
When I watched that footage—when I saw Lilith's hands shoving toward her—something in me broke.
In that moment, I just wanted to protect her. Pure instinct.
"Have you forgot
