Lana’s POV
The arena’s lights were blinding, reflecting against the silver rails and glinting across my unexpected savior’s face as if the entire world had paused to frame this exact moment.
My breath hitched. My eyes blinked rapidly, my lips parted… but no sound escaped me.
It was him.
Damon.
He stood like a storm trapped in human form, broad shoulders squared, sharp jaw tight, eyes glowing faintly under the artificial lights. His arms were locked firmly around me, holding me against the steady rise and fall of his chest. His warmth seeped through my clothes, grounding me against the chaos still spiraling around us.
For a heartbeat, I felt this had to be my inevitable wild imagination for the noise of the arena was lasting in long silence. Thousands of people watched, yet it felt li
