#Chapter 18 – Early Curfew

Lila "Damon!" I froze, gripping the thin towel wrapped around me as his imposing figure filled the doorway. His sharp eyes locked onto me, and for a split second, I forgot to breathe. “Sorry, I meant ‘Your Highness’… you, uh, you surprised me.” The air between us grew thick and heavy. Damon didn’t move, but his gaze alone sent shivers down my spine. His eyes flicked over my bare shoulders, then down to my towel-clad body. His expression darkened. "My clothes," I started, my voice unsteady with nerves, "someone took them." Damon’s jaw tightened. A muscle ticked in his cheek, but he said nothing. A cold draft swept through the room, prickling against my damp skin. Instinctively, I huddled into myself, my fingers clutching the edges of the towel. Damon’s eyes narrowed slightly before he let out a slow, almost exasperated breath. Then, without hesitation, he reached for the hem of his shirt and tugged it over his head. I forgot how to speak. Every flex and ripple of his