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I set my hand on his shoulder and give it a squeeze. “I miss you.”

My chest grows tight. I’ve needed this. Even this brief time with Rhett and Sienna is making me feel like myself again.

Rhett glances around the room before leaning in closely. “How is Damian treating you?”

I shrug. “He hasn’t been too bad.”

“That’s not exactly comforting.”

I let out a heavy sigh. It would be pointless to try to explain to Rhett the gradual shift in my feelings for Damian. I don’t fully understand it myself, and we probably don’t have much time before Damian comes back.

Rhett’s jaw clenches. “I tried to get you out. It didn’t work. But I’m not giving up.”

Ice flows through my veins. Does he mean he was in on the scheme with Kane? The insanity of the past week has almost made me forget that Rhett already hinted he was planning something.

My chest grows tight. “Don’t, Rhett. I don’t need your?—”

Rhett shakes his head once, his gaze drifting to the door of the common room that Damian and Sienna have just walked through.

“Ava.” Damian’s voice booms across the room, making everyone go silent. “I have something for you.”

Sienna’s gaze darts to him, her brow furrowing.

Damian strides toward me, and people around him move out of the way swiftly, like he’s parting the Red Sea. When he’s close, he lifts his hand. He’s holding an ornate necklace strung with pearls and giant lavender stones encased in diamonds.

“I want to congratulate Ava,” he says to the room. “She’s been rushing Thornecroft for the last month. It’s a grueling process—physically, emotionally, psychologically.” He glances at Rhett. “I’m so proud ofmy girl.”

Polite applause starts in a few corners of the room, uncertain and awkward. I can’t blame people for not knowing how to act. Damian is intimidating, and this little speech he’s giving is…peculiar.

“As a token of her achievement…” Damian holds up the necklace higher. The overhead light catches on the lavender stones, making them shimmer. “I wanted to give her something special. This necklace belonged to my great-grandfather’s mistress. She manipulated a lot of money out of him. I’ve always admired her.” His brow knits. “My great-grandfather was an idiot. He deserved to be swindled.”

The crowd gives a few scattered, uncomfortable laughs, and I stand frozen.

“My girl looks beautiful in lavender.” He steps closer to me. “The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I had to wrap this necklace around her pretty throat. What do you think, Ava?”

I stare at him, and then—because what else am I supposed to do?—I turn to address all the people with rapt eyes on me. “Wrapping it around my throat was, um…an odd way to put that.”

A beat of silence.

Then Damian throws his head back and laughs. The sound is unexpectedly light—almost boyish. The crowd joins him as he sets the heavy necklace on my neck and clasps it at my nape.

“She looks like she’s going to topple over,” Rhett says, and Damian’s cold exterior returns in a flash. He places his hand firmly on my lower back.

“That’s what I told him,” Sienna says, shooting Damian a knowing look.

“This was your idea, Sienna.” Damian’s voice is hard.

She grins. “Don’t you dare blame me, Overlord. I only mentioned that Ava likes antique jewelry when you interrogated me about all her favorite things. Apparently, you already got her a book nook and a piano.” She shakes her head. “Insanity.”

The camaraderie between them… It’s so strange. It warms me, but it also makes the back of my neck prickle. Has he brainwashed Sienna too? She’s only met him twice now, and she was one of his fiercest skeptics.

Is it possible he’s changing?

No. He just gave me this necklace as an act of possession.

Sienna flicks her gaze to the group of people who have started moving to the music in the corner of the room. “Come on,” she says to Rhett, grabbing his wrist. “Let’s dance.”

Rhett shakes his head. “I’m not in the mood.”