he air had barely settled after the chaos of the party, and my thoughts still buzzed with what had just happened. The night, which had started with so much energy, had left me feeling restless and confused. I couldn’t shake the pull toward Damon, but also the sharp sting of frustration every time he was near. It was as though I was a magnet, drawn to him and repelled by him all at once.
I was standing in the courtyard with Luca when Damon appeared, strolling toward us with an almost casual confidence. But it wasn’t just Damon who was with him.
A girl, tall and lithe, with long dark hair and an air of practiced elegance, was walking just behind him. She had that look of someone who had always belonged here, a creature of beauty and power. Her sharp features were framed by the glow of the
