Damian was already seated in the dining hall when Ava walked in, trailing behind Charles, who had come to get her. She stopped in her tracks when she saw him sitting there, his expression calm and unreadable. She had been expecting to eat alone again, like she had done for the past few days.
Damian turned slightly, acknowledging her presence before his eyes returned to the plate in front of him. "Are you going to sit down?" he asked, his tone cool and steady when she remained by the door.
Ava hesitated. She would have preferred to skip dinner altogether; she wasn't sure she could eat much sitting across from him. But why should she avoid him? She didn't want him to think she was intimidated. Swallowing hard, she straightened her shoulders and walked into the room.
Instead of sitting near him, she took the farthest seat at the long dining table. Her choice made him almost scoff.
"I don't bite, you know," he said without looking up.
