She jumped a little. "Allowed to what."
"Know," he said. "And still be kind."
She turned to face him. His eyes were sharp, but not unkind. Always watching her like she was a language he was still learning.
"I don't want to turn into someone else," she said. "You won't," he replied. "You'd hate it." She snorted. "True."
He studied her a moment longer, then added, "You're stronger when you're honest about wanting things."
She opened her mouth, then closed it again.
"…I don't know what I want yet." Damien's lips curved faintly. "You will."
When she returned to the fire, Ivan was sitting across from Victor, listening more than speaking. He looked up when she approached, eyes sharp, assessing. She felt it then. That tug. Not hunger. Not fear.
Interest.
She met his gaze calmly, then smiled. Small. Polite. Enough. His expression shifted, something like respect flickering through it.
