Damon POV

After the kiss, I started looking into ways to kill a vampire.

You could cut off their head, burn them, or drive a stake through their heart. It was all very classic, Hollywood ways, but I was willing to try anything at this point.

I spent hours pacing, fists clenched, jaw tight. The usual calm I wore like armor cracked, and all I could think about was how that smug bastard had the nerve to cross every line. Not toward her—no, I kept that side gentle—but toward everyone else around us.

When my beta called that night, I snapped. Snapped harder than I ever had before. Nearly hung...