Aria’s POV

The silence between us felt really heavy, making it hard to bear.

The fire had long burned down to embers, but the room still carried the smoky scent of smoke and anger ... thick, choking. Damon stood by the window, shoulders tense, breath quick and uneven. His back was turned to me, yet I could sense the storm within him as clearly as my own.

My hands gently rested on my stomach, feeling a bit shaky. I thought I would feel anger or maybe even rejection. But what caught me off ...