"Empire of Us

1: The I

rooftop ballroom, casting ripples of silver across the polished floor. Above, storm

l, dangerous, beautiful. Her crimson lips were perfectly painted, her jet-black hair swept into a sleek chignon that exposed the l

ot yet. But she wa

ly ever seen in society gossip columns: a lion wrapped around a blade. Damon Strathmore's personal sigil. Damon, who

rm hadn

skin, cold and unrelenti

nd walked away like a man who

cage of her ribs. The door he disappeared through was still swinging slightly from

nating the ghost of a smirk that s

uld be

ld run f

hummed from the nearness of him. Her thought

reak you b

choed in her skul

finall

way inside was warm, the light soft, but it felt foreign co

clung to her curves in a way that made more than one head turn as she

Elena?! You're-what the hell happened? A

?" Elena offered, vo

t by a

led. "May

ing elevator, Mira starin

ts

s cutting through the rain. The driver stepped for

asked, as if it we

ipping inside

leather, fine whiskey, a

d her with a hiss.

y from the curb, her hair dripping onto

hone

i

ED? HE LEFT

n slowly, as the city lights bl

made a deal w

know what he

eat, her fingers brushing the faint spot

rm wasn

only ju

rm hadn

skin, cold and unrelenti

nd walked away like a man who

cage of her ribs. The door he disappeared through was still swinging slightly from

nating the ghost of a smirk that s

uld be

ld run f

hummed from the nearness of him. Her thought

reak you b

choed in her skul

finall

way inside was warm, the light soft, but it felt foreign co

clung to her curves in a way that made more than one head turn as she

Elena?! You're-what the hell happened? A

?" Elena offered, vo

t by a

led. "May

ing elevator, Mira starin

ts

s cutting through the rain. The driver stepped for

asked, as if it we

ipping inside

leather, fine whiskey, a

d her with a hiss.

y from the curb, her hair dripping onto

hone

i

ED? HE LEFT

n slowly, as the city lights bl

made a deal w

know what he

eat, her fingers brushing the faint spot

rm wasn

only ju

rm hadn

skin, cold and unrelenti

nd walked away like a man who

cage of her ribs. The door he disappeared through was still swinging slightly from

nating the ghost of a smirk that s

uld be

ld run f

hummed from the nearness of him. Her thought

reak you b

choed in her skul

finall

way inside was warm, the light soft, but it felt foreign co

clung to her curves in a way that made more than one head turn as she

Elena?! You're-what the hell happened? A

?" Elena offered, vo

t by a

led. "May

ing elevator, Mira starin

ts

s cutting through the rain. The driver stepped for

asked, as if it we

ipping inside

leather, fine whiskey, a

d her with a hiss.

y from the curb, her hair dripping onto

hone

i

ED? HE LEFT

n slowly, as the city lights bl

made a deal w

know what he

eat, her fingers brushing the faint spot

rm wasn

only ju

rm hadn

skin, cold and unrelenti

nd walked away like a man who

cage of her ribs. The door he disappeared through was still swinging slightly from

nating the ghost of a smirk that s

uld be

ld run f

hummed from the nearness of him. Her thought

reak you b

choed in her skul

finall

way inside was warm, the light soft, but it felt foreign co

clung to her curves in a way that made more than one head turn as she

Elena?! You're-what the hell happened? A

?" Elena offered, vo

t by a

led. "May

ing elevator, Mira starin

ts

s cutting through the rain. The driver stepped for

asked, as if it we

ipping inside

leather, fine whiskey, a

d her with a hiss.

y from the curb, her hair dripping onto

hone

i

ED? HE LEFT

n slowly, as the city lights bl

made a deal w

know what he

eat, her fingers brushing the faint spot

rm wasn

only ju

est and perfectly bridges Chapt

she arrives at Damon's penthouse - or during the limo ride, a

a sing

Elena

ted to The

ck. Arri

.

P. No

she wa

le

manager, leaned in the doorway, breathles

," Mira whispered, eyes wide

ed. "Because I plan

weight of luxury. The room itself was breathtaking: crystal chandeliers the size of small cars dangled abo

n she s

tuxedo fit like sin, sharp at the shoulders, perfectly tailored to his tall, lean frame. His eyes-co

Stra

es. But his eyes looked ancient. Hard. Beautiful in

ed. Heat surge

sing her,

eyes

stutt

e crowd, but around it, like a predator

ow and smooth, like bourbon. "You'

ou're even more arrogant

a smile gho

th me,"

ques

slid her fingers through

?" she asked as they moved

make time

t here

intrigue me, Miss Voss

for a roaring fire pit and a

she said, as he p

id. Then he tossed hi

d. "That w

kno

nstellation. Elena wrapped her arms around herself. Not from the c

inally asked. "

want power. Not comfort. You crave meaning. Not parties. And

at him, t

nothing

class at Columbia. Interned at Valance PR while working nights at a jazz club. You pitched a campaign at twenty-two that tripled sales for Consta

art th

illegal," s

is breath was w

ation

him. Walked away. But

ant from me?"

eyes h

tep inside my wo

seduction line? Because you migh

his isn't seduction

cracked

'm dangerous

ce. "I know you are. The real question

r gown stepped onto the terrace. Sh

ve been ca

n. "Not tonig

flicked to Elena,

he?" Lill

need to wo

tened. Then she sp

n eyebrow. "Yo

any

like

like

o her again

ke you an off

reveal the contract

no contract. Not yet

arms. "I don't b

ant someone who belongs. I

m. The storm broke above. Rain

," he said. "Seven. Don't

ips p

sane," she

u're cu

e. Alone. Drench

rm hadn

skin, cold and unrelenti

nd walked away like a man who

cage of her ribs. The door he disappeared through was still swinging slightly from

nating the ghost of a smirk that s

uld be

ld run f

hummed from the nearness of him. Her thought

reak you b

choed in her skul

finall

way inside was warm, the light soft, but it felt foreign co

clung to her curves in a way that made more than one head turn as she

Elena?! You're-what the hell happened? A

?" Elena offered, vo

t by a

led. "May

ing elevator, Mira starin

ts

s cutting through the rain. The driver stepped for

asked, as if it we

ipping inside

leather, fine whiskey, a

d her with a hiss.

y from the curb, her hair dripping onto

hone

i

ED? HE LEFT

n slowly, as the city lights bl

made a deal w

know what he

eat, her fingers brushing the faint spot

rm wasn

only ju

n didn'

skin, cold creeping through her bones despite the heat that Damon had ignited within her. Her b

hrough the door, leaving the storm to swallow him whole. T

augh escap

evil," she whisp

trembling-not from cold, but from the electric charge of what had just happe

d just

was this exactly the kind

d remained icy. The plush carpet muffled her footsteps as she made her way back toward t

concerned eyes locked

the hell happened?" Her voic

self unable to. She could only manage a small

u look like you've been through a war

didn't

er, enclosing her in a capsule of solitude. She leaned against

outside, but inside h

a cruel contrast to the thunder t

waited like a shadow, a sil

e without a word, the scent of leather and faint spice wrappin

and the city blurred

bled as she pull

ed on the screen: WHAT HA

n typed back slowly, her thou

made a deal w

know what he

end and set t

the limousine,

ad, her mind wandered to Damon-his intensity, his dark charisma,

at the memory of h

reak you b

that ev

e be broken

way to say she'd be sha

et spot on her neck wher

ing in the hollow chambers of her h

wallowe

eady to s

stop in front of a towering skyscra

thmore-the man who had turned her w

door, but Elena hesita

aiting for

Danger?

it, she

eath and stepped o

ern, and intimidating-a

in a tailored suit who nodded a

ept for the soft click of

into Damon's penthouse-a space so vast

panoramic view of the city, light

gainst the marble counter,

oftly, his voice l

, her heart poun

expect you

" she admitted,

ow, dangerous c

e. This is my world. And if you're going t

. "And what a

ask questions you're not pre

n them crackle

on the edge of something s

certain: there w

as Damon laid out the t

s, only whispered prom

aid. "Your strength, you

ckled with antic

if I

lose she could feel the

n. But I believe in beautiful things, Elena.

eath c

he surv

a man who promised bo

idn't

awn crept through the windo

d never be th