A Dangerous Game

Lena watched Damian slip the note into his pocket, his expression dark with purpose. He was already calculating his next move, the strategist in him always a step ahead.

"How do we do that?" she asked, keeping her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

Damian's gaze lingered on her, intense and unrelenting. "We give Vaughn exactly what he wants or at least, make him think he's getting it."

Her stomach twisted at the implication. "You want me to play along?"

"I want you to be careful," he corrected, stepping closer. The air between them was taut with unspoken things. "If Vaughn believes you're considering his offer, he'll push harder, reveal more. And when he does, we'll be ready."

Lena hesitated. This wasn't just about her anymore. She had stepped into a battle she barely understood, caught between two men who wielded power like weapons. And yet, some part of her had already chosen.

"I don't like being used as bait," she said finally.

A ghost of a smile touched Damian's lips. "You're not bait, Lena. You're the one who decides how this plays out."

She didn't know if that was true, but the way he said it like she was more than just a pawn made her want to believe him.

The sound of footsteps in the corridor made them both go still. Damian's expression hardened. "Go inside. Act as if nothing happened."

Lena nodded, forcing her posture to relax as she turned toward the ballroom. But before she could step past him, his fingers brushed her wrist, stopping her.

"If he contacts you again," Damian said softly, "you come to me first."

It wasn't a demand. It was something else, something dangerously close to trust.

She swallowed and nodded once. Then she walked away, leaving the night air and its secrets behind her.

Meanwhile…

In the shadows of the garden, Vaughn watched from a distance, lips curving into a knowing smile.

"So, she hasn't chosen yet," he murmured to himself.

But she would. Soon.

And when she did, Damian Blackwood wouldn't see it coming.