"Was there ever something between you and Selene?"
He turned his head toward her, and this time, he didn't look away.
"There was," Damian said quietly.
Evelina didn't move.
Her face remained unreadable, the barest hint of curiosity in the set of her mouth. But he could feel the weight of her waiting. Expecting something real.
"Not like that," he added quickly. "But yes. People always assumed we'd end up together. She was—well, Selene. Strong. Beautiful. Smart. Commanding. Practically royalty without the bloodline. It made sense on paper. Everyone expected it."
His voice softened, more thoughtful than regretful. "We kissed. Once. Twice, maybe. It was curiosity more than anything. Just… testing the story that everyone else already believed."
Evelina's eyes narrowed slightly, but not with jealousy—more like she was measuring something. Measuring him.
