Chapter 84- Shadows Beneath the Moonlight

**Damon’s POV**

There was a rare and welcome stillness inside me—a sense of serenity I hadn’t felt in a long time. The chaos that usually raged within was momentarily silenced as I carefully pulled the door shut behind me, my hand lingering on the knob just a second longer than necessary. I didn’t want to disturb Ava’s sleep.

She lay in bed with our newborn son, Damon Jr., nestled peacefully in her arms. The sight of them together, framed in the soft moonlight streaming through the windows, was the definition of perfection. I stared for a breath longer, committing the image to memory.

Malios gave me a silent nod from his post at the doorway, his stance alert, respectful. I returned the gesture with a subtle dip of my chin before making my way down the corridor.

Lately, the pressure of everything—ruling, protecting, rebuilding—felt suffocating. But nothing had weighed heavier on me than the distance between Ava and me. I had missed her. Not just her presence, but the physical and emotional connection we shared. Loving Ava wasn’t just a matter of the heart; it consumed every cell in my body. She was the most alluring woman I had ever seen, and resisting her was like trying to hold back the tide with bare hands.

I was a man, not a saint. And for a while, I had done my best to suppress the frustration building within me. But I knew something had snapped inside me when I broke Luke’s jaw for a completely unjustified reason. One look at Ava holding our son, glowing in her new role as a mother, and I reminded myself she had just gone through childbirth. She needed time. Time to heal, time to breathe, and time to feel like herself again.

Still, being with her earlier that night—her softness, her warmth—had been nothing short of divine. The memory lingered, vivid and addictive. I nearly turned around to go back inside and wake her, to lose myself in her all over again.

But I didn’t. She deserved her rest.

“I’ll be back soon,” I muttered to myself as I paused at the front door, trying to shake the lingering thoughts from my head. I had business to take care of. Besides, I needed a clear mind for the hours ahead.

When I opened the door, my eyes narrowed instantly. Leaning against the rear bumper of my sleek black convertible—the Batmobile, as I liked to call her—was Valia.

That alone set me on edge. I hated people touching my car. It was a rule I didn’t break for anyone.

She stepped out of the shadows with a deliberately slow sway, wearing nothing but a sheer pink sleeping gown that left very little to the imagination. A black lace thong peeked through the fabric, and her nipples, bold and unbothered, pressed against the thin material.

“Damon,” she purred, smiling as if this was some sort of planned seduction. “Just the man I was looking for.”

I raised an eyebrow, already annoyed. “What do you want?” I kept my tone flat, my gaze pointedly avoiding her body.

“I need to talk to you,” she said, her voice laced with false innocence.

“If it’s about your mate situation, I haven’t had time to speak with Blake yet,” I replied coolly, reaching for the door handle. But her hand caught my elbow, halting me.

“It’s not that,” she said quickly. “This is more… important.”

I exhaled a sharp breath, already regretting not walking straight past her. “Fine. Spit it out.”

She shifted uncomfortably, her eyes flicking downward to her bare feet. “I don’t really know how to say it. It’s not really my place.”

My patience was running thin. There was a reason Ava never trusted Valia, and lately, I was starting to see it. Still, she had found our missing child—a debt I hadn’t forgotten. For that, I’d shown her more leniency than I probably should have.

“Just tell me,” I said, my voice low.

She looked up at me hesitantly. “I don’t want you to get upset, but I’ve noticed something… something that’s been bothering me.”

“Valia.” I clenched my jaw. “Get to the point.”

“It’s about Ava.”

That made me freeze. I closed the car door with a quiet thud and turned to face her fully.

“What about Ava?” I demanded, tension instantly coursing through me.

Her eyes widened slightly, as if surprised by my reaction. “A couple weeks ago, I was out walking near the forest behind the estate and… I saw her with the hybrid boy. Malios.”

“I’m aware. I asked him to watch over her,” I said stiffly.

“Yes, I figured that… but that’s not the problem,” she hesitated, biting her lip. “They kissed.”

I didn’t flinch. I’d learned my lesson with Tessa. Jumping to conclusions could destroy everything.

“I see.” My voice was neutral.

“There’s more,” she continued. “The night your son went missing—before I found him—I saw Malios with Ava again. This time… he was holding her. They kissed again.”

My entire body went still.

“Kissed how?” I asked sharply. “On the cheek? Forehead? Mouth?”

“I… I couldn’t see perfectly,” she admitted, wringing her hands. “But I’m pretty sure it was on the mouth. From what I’ve seen, they seem… close. Too close.”

“And what makes you think that?”

“Well, Ava talks about him a lot,” Valia said quickly. “And Malios… he’s Tiffany’s son, right? Ava and Tiffany are close. It’s not just that—they talk about him like he’s more than just a guard.”

I studied her closely. “How would you know what they talk about?”

“My first day here,” she said, voice faltering, “when we went into the village together… Ava asked about Malios. She brought him up more than once.”

“And you’re sure you saw them kiss?”

“I think so. Both times he was holding her—once in the forest, and once… in your bed.”

A cold fire burned through me. My thoughts raced, but I kept my expression unreadable. Cameras. I had them installed throughout the estate, including the forest perimeter and bedroom hallways. If she was telling the truth, I’d know soon enough.

And if she wasn’t… well, I’d know that too.

But if there was even a sliver of truth to what she said—if Malios had touched what was mine—then he would never see another moonrise.

Not while I was still breathing.