Chapter 16 Unspoken Truth

• The night air was thick with silence, save for the occasional crackle of the dying fire in the corner of the room. Amara should have left already, should have walked away after Damian’s quiet “good night,” but something kept her rooted in place. Maybe it was the way he looked at her—like he was fighting something within himself. Or maybe it was the way her own heart refused to settle, a restless ache blooming in her chest.
• She turned back toward him, hesitant. Damian hadn’t moved from where he stood, his fingers tapping idly against the glass in his hand. His posture was relaxed, but there was tension in his expression—something unreadable, something that made her want to pull back the layers he kept hidden from the world.
• "Damian," she said softly, taking a step closer.