~Salvatore's POV
I walked into the event and for a moment I just let my eyes move through the crowd without really thinking about anything else. The place was already alive. Everything blended together in a way that felt familiar, almost routine, but my attention was not on any of that.
I was looking for her, and I found her before I even fully convinced myself I was searching. She was sitting with Gianna, and for a second I just stopped where I was, looking at her. She looked different tonight in a way I could not ignore even if I tried. The dress she wore caught the light every time she moved slightly, and the way she stood made her look softer somehow, like she belonged in space even though this kind of world was not meant to feel soft at all.
Gianna said something to her, and she smiled, and that smile stayed with me longer than it should have. I did not even realize I had started walking until I was already closer.
