Elena’s POV

The light of the dawn falls on the curtains, brash and undesirable. The wolfsbane dust is gone, swept off early in the morning. But the scent lingers, bitter and taunting.

Someone in this house wants me weak.

I won’t tell Damon. Not yet. He’d lock me down harder, and I can barely breathe as it is.

A knock echoes through the suite door. Before I can answer, it opens.

Victoria Nightfang walks in like she owns the air itself.

Her perfume hits first, rose and venom. Her hair ...