Aria's POV
Noah hesitated. Then he looked directly at me. "I think you already know."
I stared at him, and suddenly, everything clicked. The old Council had wanted me gone. But simply killing me wouldn't have been enough.
They needed an opportunity. A justification. Something that would allow them to invade Grayson territory and take control without appearing to be the aggressors.
My stomach twisted. "They wanted to get rid of me."
Damon's eyes darkened. "And take control of your territory afterward."
I nodded slowly.
Lydia snarled inside me. They tried to make our death useful to them.
My fingers curled into fists. My claws pushed against my fingertips.
I took a slow breath, forcing the anger burning through me back under control.
"This isn't over."
Damon looked at me. "No," he
