Damon held Lily firmly enough to prevent any sudden advance, but without violence, like someone who understood exactly the limit between restraint and harm. Her body still reacted, still carried that latent tension, but it was no longer the same lack of control from seconds ago. There was focus now—intense, directed—and that, in itself, was already an improvement.
He let out a small sigh through his nose, slightly adjusting his posture while keeping his gaze on her, assessing each micro-reaction.
"Relax," he said, his voice low, firm, unhurried. "You won't kill me. Or do anything out of control."
Lily didn't respond with words. Her breathing was still irregular, warm against his skin, her eyes fixed as if he were the only stable point in the world. But her body… heard. Not completely, but enough.
Behind them, the group still watched with maximum attention.
Morgana was the first to speak, the tension still evident in the way her fingers remained against her own arm.
