Damon's POV
After I finished the phone call, I stood by the railing of the long, open-air hallway. Someone walked up and patted my shoulder.
I glanced over and asked quietly, "How is she?"
"She's awake and doing okay. Astrid's staying with her."
Marcus leaned against the railing. "If you're so worried, why don't you just go upstairs and see her yourself?"
Right then, Aria's cold, determined eyes when she said we were even flashed through my mind. My chest tightened with irritation.
"No need," I said.
Marcus let out a short laugh. "Tim was right—you're such a walking contradiction. You're the king of saying one thing and meaning another. No need? If you really didn't care, why did you specifically ask me to text Astrid and casually fish for information about Aria?"
For the past two
