DAMIEN’S POV

I stopped outside the door, my hand resting on the handle, and for a long moment, I couldn’t move.

The wind was cold against my skin, sharp enough to sting. My mind was a mess. I didn’t even know why I’d come back here. I’d been gone since yesterday—hiding in the human town, drowning in my own bitterness, pretending I didn’t care anymore.

But I did.

Goddess, I cared too much.

I’d told myself I was done. That Emilia could do whatever she wanted. That she’d made her choice when she let Maximus mark her. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face—the way she...