Luna Everleigh's POV
***
The night air was cold, but it wasn't what sent a shiver down my spine.
Damian stood at the edge of the trees, his silhouette barely illuminated by the silver light of the moon. I hadn't seen him in months—not since the engagement had been called off, not since I had left that life behind.
And yet, here he was.
I stepped onto the balcony, gripping the stone railing to ground myself.
"What are you doing here?" My voice came out steady, but my hands trembled.
Damian didn't answer immediately. He took a slow step forward, his dark eyes searching mine with something unreadable.
"I made a mistake." His voice was rough, edged with something that almost sounded like regret. "I shouldn't have let you go."
My stomach twisted.
He sounded sincere, but I knew better than to believe pretty words.
I forced a sharp laugh. "Oh? And now you've come to fix it? To take me back like nothing ever happened?"
Damian's jaw clenched. "I know I hurt you, Luna. I know I—" He exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I was wrong. But this isn't just about us."
A cold, uneasy feeling settled in my chest.
"You need to come back," he said. "Before it's too late."
Something in the way he said it—low, urgent—sent alarm bells ringing in my mind.
I stepped back. "I am back. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."
His expression darkened. "No, you're not."
There was something in his gaze, something heavy, like he was holding back something I needed to hear.
"Damian." My voice was quieter now, laced with uncertainty. "What aren't you telling me?"
His lips parted—but before he could say another word, a sharp gust of wind cut through the clearing.
And then—
A presence.
A force so overwhelming it pressed against my chest like a physical weight.
The air crackled with power, thick with dominance, with anger.
I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
—
To be continued...