Leslie's POV:
The moment Damien began to embrace his darkness, I felt it. A shift in our bond, something subtle at first but unmistakable—a sense of something foreign creeping in. It wasn't just the usual raw power I felt from him; this was different. Malicious. It slithered beneath the surface of our connection, like a shadow trying to find its way into me. I knew Damien was trying to shield me from it. I could feel his effort, the way he fought to keep that darkness from slipping through our bond. But no matter how hard he tried, it was always there—lingering.
