Damon waited at the edge of the school courtyard, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement. His arms were crossed, every muscle coiled like a spring. When he spotted Seraphina approaching, he didn't move, he just watched.
She walked with the careful pace of someone who didn't want attention. Her bag was slung over one shoulder, her eyes scanning the courtyard as though she wanted to avoid someone.
Damon's lips pressed into a thin line. "Vale," he said as she neared, his voice low, and commanding.
Seraphina stopped, her body tensing. "Damon," she said, polite but wary. "What…what do you want?"
He stepped closer, closing the distance until the space between them felt dangerous. "I don't trust you," he said bluntly, his eyes cold. "Not for a second, and I have no reason to."
Her brows furrowed. "Sorry, was there a transaction between us that required trust?"
