(Damon POV)
"It's rare, but it happens. You might fake it, only for the real thing to hit you right after. And when it does, there's no hiding it."
'Fake it?… What are they faking?'
Ember kept quiet for some time before she began to speak again. "But what if I don't? What if no one's out there for me?"
"Then you'll still be free," Lydia said gently. "You'll have choices. Not everyone finds their mate at eighteen, but at least… you'll know you tried."
"But Ember… if Damon really cared, wouldn't he fight to keep you by his side? Even if he had a Luna?"
My breath hitched for a moment. They were talking about me too. Did my decision to take a mate make her feel like I don't care?
My hands clenched beside me. 'So absurd.'
"Sometimes, I feel like he cares… then he turns around and acts like I'm nothing but property."
"Then maybe he's confused too."
"Or maybe I'm just imagining things," she muttered. "It's foolish to hope, right?"
"It's not foolish."
