THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
Selene's POV
"Elder Marlow."
The name hung in the air like a death sentence.
Damon's entire body had gone rigid beside me. I could feel the shock radiating through the bond, mixing with a fury so cold it made my skin prickle.
"You're certain?" His voice was deadly quiet.
Elena nodded frantically, tears streaming down her bruised face.
"He... he threatened my family. My little brother. Said if I didn't help, they'd find him in pieces."
"So you poisoned my drink," Damon said.
"I didn't know it was poison at first! I swear!"
Elena's words tumbled out in a desperate rush.
"He just said to add a 'special ingredient' to your wine. That it was a harmless tonic. But then I saw... I saw what it did to the testing rabbits and I knew—"
She choked on a sob.
"I tried to back out. But he said it was too late. That I was already complicit."
Lila's blade pressed harder against Elena's throat.
