FOURTEEN

DAMIEN’S POV

Perfect timing!

Just when Kiera and I were finally building a connection, these urchins chose to crash our dinner.

I had been tough on her, but maybe that was just a wall I built to guard myself against her charms. She had awakened within me from the first time I caught her sneaking a glance into my room. While I was uncertain about the dynamics of her relationship with Gabriel, one thing stood out: Kiera was my kind of woman—Fierce, attractive, smart, and drop-dead gorgeous.

I glanced at Kiera, her relaxed demeanor cracking under the weight of the tension.

“Who are they?” She whispered, a mix of curiosity and fear coating her words.

“Just stay calm.”

I muttered, my eyes narrowing as I focused on the men. Their swagger was a toxic blend of arrogance and menace.

In an instant, the shortest one, a hideous figure with a steely gaze, stopped in front of our table, prompting me to rise to my full height.

“Well, well, if it isn't one of the Nyx Princes,” he sneered.

However, I