Chapter 109

••• Victoria’s POV ••• The garment bag was already waiting when I entered my room. Black. Silent. Obvious. I didn’t even need to open it to know who it came from. I knew there was a banquet tonight and we were invited, but as we were in a cold war, we hadn't talked about me coming with him. That was why I hadn’t asked for it - the gown. I stared at it like it might bite. Then again, everything from Damien did lately. But I did anyway. Still, I unzipped it. The gown inside shimmered under the light—deep wine red, soft silk, backless, with a slit that ran high enough to make conservative wolves whisper. It was the kind of dress that made you look like a weapon. A queen. A threat. It was perfect, which made me want to set it on fire. I didn’t touch it. Just sat on the edge of the bed, staring. I remembered the first time Damien had sent me something. A beautiful white gold bracelet. He said it reminded him of me. I’d stared at it for hours, wondering if it meant anything. Back then, I had