Chapter 14 – Fractures Beneath Composure
Athena's POV
The sound of his voice rolled through the hall like velvet smoke, deep and smooth, commanding yet effortless. Every word he spoke seemed to weave its way into the air, making even the faintest sighs from the girls sound like worship.
A group in the front row giggled when Damon adjusted his tie, and one even whispered, "Oh my God, he's so hot!" loud enough for half the room to hear.
Athena felt her jaw tighten.
She crossed her arms, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as if the floor itself was annoying her.
Seriously? she thought bitterly. He's just standing there.
But even as she tried to roll her eyes, her gaze betrayed her. It kept finding him — the confident curve of his mouth when he smiled politely, the way the light caught the sharp line of his jaw, and how his amber eyes occasionally flicked in her direction.
Every time their eyes met, it felt like a spark being lit in her chest.
She looked away first — always.
The speech finally ended with a thunder of applause. The crowd surged forward, desperate to get a closer look, a photo, anything.
Athena stayed rooted where she was, clutching her bag tightly, pretending to scroll on her phone while her pulse drummed beneath her skin. She felt him move — she didn't have to look to know that Damon DeVille had stepped down from the stage.
And then she heard his voice — closer this time.
"Excuse me," he said calmly to the students blocking his path.
She froze.
No.
Not here. Not now.
As the crowd parted for him, she turned sharply and started walking toward the exit, her heels clicking briskly against the marble floor.
"Athena."
Her name rolled from his lips — soft, deliberate, unmistakable.
She paused for half a second. Every instinct screamed at her to look back.
But she didn't.
She straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin, and kept walking.
Behind her, Damon stood silently, his hands tucked into his pockets, watching her disappear into the crowd of students who had no idea what kind of storm had just passed between them.