C116 THE FLAME BECAME FATE THAT NIGHT

Elara has never seen Damon terrified.

Not actually terrified.

Not like this.

He stood in front of her, shoulders rising and falling with uneven breaths, golden-crimson fire flickering across his skin as if even the flames were unsure of who he was now. His eyes—those molten, beautiful eyes—were fixed on her with a mixture of amazement, dread, and something unbelievably compassionate