Demitri’s POV
Aria’s plan shouldn’t have surprised me. She was as stubborn as she was reckless, constantly throwing herself into danger without a thought for her own safety. Yet, her suggestion—to allow me to compel her into sanity in the cursed forest—had left me both impressed and deeply uneasy.
She was willing to put her life in my hands. Despite her defiance, despite the bond she still clung to with Damon, she trusted me enough for this. Or maybe she simply had no other option.
Still, her determination stirred something within me. An ache I didn’t care to name.
Aria stood abruptly, cutting through my thoughts. “We don’t have time to waste,” she declared, her voice firm. “We need the stake, and this is the only way.”
Drake, ever the loyal wolf, chimed in immediately. “I’ll join you
