Days passed, and Aurora couldn't shake the vision of Damon and the mysterious woman. Each night she lay beside him, the weight of betrayal heavy on her chest, though she kept it hidden.

Damon sensed her distance, his frustration building. "You're hiding something from me," he said one night as he traced a line down her bare back. His voice was low, almost threatening.

Aurora's breath caught, her heart racing. "You have your secrets, Damon. So do I."

He gripped her chin, turning her face to meet his gaze. His eyes blazed with warning. "Don't test me, Aurora."

But she couldn't back down, not now. "Why did you choose me? Was I just like her?"

Damon's jaw clenched, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and something else—guilt, perhaps? "You're different. I need you."

"Need me for what?" she whispered, her voice shaking. "To break the curse? Or because you actually care?"

For a moment, silence hung between them. Then Damon leaned down, his lips brushing her ear, his breath hot against her skin. "I don't care for anyone, Aurora. But you—you could change that."

His words sent a shiver through her, both a promise and a warning.