We walked hand in hand back toward the manor, the soft light of lanterns guiding our way, the sounds of celebration drifting toward us like a warm embrace. But even as we stepped back into the noise and joy, Damon never let go of my hand, never moved more than an inch away from me, as if being close to me was the only thing that mattered. Every now and then, he would lift our joined fingers to his lips, pressing a quiet kiss to my skin, his golden eyes soft and full of wonder, still unable to believe I was truly his.
When we reached the grand staircase, leading up to the private quarters, Damon paused and turned to me, his expression shifting from joy to something deeper, softer, filled with a quiet nervousness I had never seen in him before. The guests were still celebrating below, but h
