AURORA’S POV
The name struck like venom.
Natalie.
Of all people, he had chosen her to replace Lucien. The smug witch who once cornered me during chores, the one who smirked at every stumble I made, who delighted in reminding me I wasn’t worthy of standing in her shadow. And now Damion expected me to bow to her as my trainer?
My lips parted, but no sound came. My lungs refused to move as if the very air had been stolen from me.
“You can’t be serious,” I whispered, my voice low, shaking with fury I could barely contain.
Damion tilted his head, his expression unreadable. His storm-grey eyes caught the moonlight, sharp as blades. “I’m always serious, Aurora. You’ll begin tomorrow.”
I clenched my fists so tightly, the nails bit into my palms. After everything—after his apology, after the
