By the time the sun rose, my head throbbed and my chest felt hollow. I stayed in the guest room longer than necessary, staring at the ceiling, replaying every word from last night. Relief that Victor and Marcus were being released warred with a deeper unease.
Damien had done it for me. He’d gone against his instincts. But the fact that he could do it at all, that he had the power to make people vanish left a chill I couldn’t shake.
Lila’s warnings echoed in my mind, uninvited but persistent. He’s not who you think he is, Elena. There are things he’s buried deep. Dark things. I’d brushed her off back then, convinced she was bitter. Now? I wasn’t so sure.
A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.
“Elena?” Damien’s voice was low, careful. “I made coffee. And there’s breakfast i
