Aria’s POV

Hating Damon was simpler when he was absent.

When the halls were empty and his scent had disappeared, I almost convinced myself that my feelings were nothing more...simply guilt, confusion, or some cruel twist of fate. Yet, each time I saw him, when those sharp grey eyes met mine across the room, that illusion shattered.

The bond felt like a quiet ache inside, humming beneath my skin like a spark on the verge of igniting. I hated it because it made me feel so exposed. I told ...