Chapter 4: The One Who Watches
The ballroom had changed.
Or maybe it was Aria who had.
She could still hear the violins playing from the far end, still feel the warmth of champagne glasses brushing against sequined gowns, but now everything felt… off. Dimmer. Like she had one foot in a world no one else could see.
Damien hadn't said a word since they returned inside. His hand rested lightly on her lower back, guiding her through the crowd with effortless control. Some couples posed for photos, some exchanged pleasantries, but most stared.
At them.
At her.
Some with admiration. Some with envy.
And one—with unmistakable hatred.
Aria spotted him near the bar. Tall, golden-haired, his smile sharp enough to cut diamonds. He raised a glass toward her like an old friend greeting her from across lifetimes.
She didn't know him.
But her body did.
Her heart gave a sudden, painful lurch.
Damien tensed beside her. "Don't look at him."
"Who is he?" she whispered, eyes still locked on the stranger.
"His name is Caden Morell," Damien said. "In this life, he runs one of Westwood's rival tech firms. But that's not what matters."
Aria swallowed hard. "Then what does?"
Damien's jaw tightened. "He remembers you."
Caden began walking toward them, cutting through the crowd like a predator. A few guests tried to stop him to make conversation. He ignored them all. His eyes were only on Aria.
"Aria Lancaster," he drawled smoothly. "Or should I say—Lady Virelle?"
The name hit her like lightning. Her knees nearly gave out.
She had never heard that name before.
And yet it felt like it belonged to her.
"What did you just call me?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Caden smirked. "Don't worry. It'll come back to you soon."
Damien stepped in front of her. "Back off."
"Oh, come on," Caden said with a mocking tilt of his head. "You really think you can keep her from remembering what she is? What she did?"
"She's not ready."
"She was never ready," Caden snapped. "And look where that got us."
Aria stood frozen between them.
"Enough," she said, surprising herself.
Both men turned toward her.
"I don't know either of you," she said, voice shaking. "But I know I'm not some magical queen from another world. I'm a woman trying to survive in this one."
"You were a queen," Caden said softly. "A dangerous one. And you loved him once too. Until he made you bleed."
Damien's eyes flashed. "You know nothing about our past."
"I know everything," Caden said. Then he turned to Aria. "And soon, so will she."
He brushed a kiss to her hand before she could move, and something snapped inside her.
A flash—
Fire.
A burning city.
Caden on his knees.
Blood on her hands.
Damien, walking away from her with fire in his eyes and betrayal on his back.
Aria gasped.
She was back in the ballroom again. Caden was gone.
Damien steadied her. "He's not just playing games. He wants to break the seal early."
She looked at him, breathing hard. "What seal?"
"There's a spell on your soul," he said. "It keeps your memories buried. Keeps you safe from what happened before. But it's fragile. Touch from someone who remembers… can speed the cracks."
"Then why aren't you breaking it?"
His eyes softened. "Because I remember too much. And I don't want you to hate me—again."
Her breath caught. "What… what did I do to you?"
His voice was barely a whisper. "You loved me. You chose me. Then you destroyed me to save the world. And I let you."
They stood there in silence.
All around them, the music swelled. Laughter rang out like bells.
But Aria could no longer hear any of it.
Her world had changed.
And deep down, something inside her whispered a truth she wasn't ready to face:
This wasn't the first time she had fallen in love with Damien Westwood.
But it might be the last.