Damon’s POV

The first thing I heard was silence.

Not the kind that follows death, but the kind that hums right before life breathes again.

I opened my eyes to the dim light of the sacred chamber. The air smelled faintly of smoke and moonlight...if such a thing had a scent.

My heart pounded hard against my ribs as I turned toward the center of the room.

She was there.

Aria.

Her body lay still on the cold stone floor, her hair spread like dark silk around her face, ...