~Lyra~

“Don’t,” I said, and my voice was already shaking. My hands were shaking. My whole fucking soul was shaking. “Just—don’t. Don’t come in here, Damon. Don’t you dare walk into this room like you have the right. Like you can just show up and fix it with that stupid face and those quiet eyes and that I’m-so-calm bullshit you do when you know you’ve already ruined me.”

He stepped forward again, but I snapped backward so fast my foot hit the edge of the bed frame and I winced. I didn’t even care.

“I’m serious,” I said, my voice rising, filling the space between us like a scream held...