#Chapter 15 – Crying Wolf

Lila I could feel every gaze in the ballroom pressing down on me as Damon extended his hand. Every woman in the room was watching, some with barely concealed envy, others with outright hostility. It was a silent chorus of judgment, expectation, and resentment. Swallowing hard, I slid my hand into his. Damon’s grip was firm, his skin warm against mine. The contact sent a pulse of electricity up my arm. I resisted the urge to pull away, to sever the connection before it could deepen, but the pull was already there, deep and insistent, weaving its way into my senses like a slow-acting poison. Damon walked us to the center of the dance floor, his other hand settling against my waist. The heat of his touch burned through the thin fabric of my gown, and I could feel the tension coiled in his body. Even when standing still, he radiated power, his very presence an unspoken challenge to anyone who dared to defy him. With effortless grace, he guided my hand onto his shoulder. My br