The Ashes of Vows (Elara and Damon) novel Chapter 9

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Sloane’s heart hammered in her chest. She struggled to compose herself, glancing at the tumultuous, inky–black sea below the yacht.

No one was visible down there. As if nothing had ever happened…

After a long moment, she slowly turned away.

“Elara, just take it. You deserve every single bit of this!”

Under the cloak of night, her lips twisted into a sneer, a look of indifferent, chilling malice.

Damon was on the second–floor deck, holding a six–inch chiffon cake. When Sloane returned, he lit the candle.“Here, try this…

I skipped the milk, and those raspberries were flown in from Europe just this morning. It’s lightly sweetened, just right for your diet. I bet you’ll love it.”

Sloane blew out the candle, a playful smile on her lips, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.“So, are you gonna feed me?”

“Ugh, look at these two. They seriously just dragged us out here to rub their relationship in our faces.”

“Haha, seriously Damon, when are you finally gonna divorce the help?

It’s high time you made our girl the official Mrs. Blackwood!”

“Honestly, just tie the knot on the spot. Damon already gave her a ring at that charity gala a few days back.”

The crowd’s playful taunts and cheers grew louder, more brazen. Damon’s expression inexplicably darkened. He looked up, a touch flustered, scanning the faces, searching for my shadow.

Nothing.

In that instant, a mix of irritation and unease washed over him.

“Damon, what are you spacing out for? I want you to feed me.”

Sloane linked her arm through his, giving it an impatient little shake.

Damon snapped out of it. He dutifully scooped a small spoonful of cake and fed it to Sloane, then quickly pulled his hand back, almost defensively. He frowned at the rowdy crowd.“Alright, I get you guys are joking, but let’s not push it. I’m married, remember? I have a family, a wife. Sloane’s still single.”

“It’s not good for her reputation, you know, carrying on like this.”

The atmosphere instantly got awkward. Sloane’s smile froze on her lips, her fingers, left hanging, clenching into a tight fist.

And just like that, the yacht was soon headed back to the Coastline, the young ladies and gentlemen from the party scattering in small

groups.

Damon, though, didn’t disembark immediately.

“The number you have dialed is currently switched off-”

As the prompt repeated from the other end, his brows furrowed. He strode quickly towards Sloane, who was saying goodbye to her girlfriends.

“Hey Sloane, have you seen Elle?

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I haven’t seen her since I came back with the cake, and the yacht hasn’t docked yet. I’m worried-”

Before he could finish, Sloane cut him off, her tone falsely casual.“Oh, Elara?

She…”

Her face instantly looked hurt.“Earlier, on the yacht, she got called out and punished in front of everyone because of the game, and she was totally resentful.

The moment you left, she called me over. Look…”

She was so mad, she ripped the lace collar of my dress clean off.”

As she spoke, Sloane intentionally flashed the frayed lace on her neckline.“I barely managed to get away, and then she just left. The yacht has an inflatable speedboat, and I heard someone used it tonight. I guess she probably just took off on her own.”

Damon’s eyes flickered to the faint red mark the collar left on her neck, and any trace of concern completely vanished. His voice was filled with indignation.“She’s still like this, even after what happened, she’s still trying to bully you…”

“If she’s gonna turn off her phone and sulk, then screw it, let her be!”

Sloane, seizing the opportunity, took his hand.“Alright, don’t be mad. Let’s go grab a drink.”

Later that night, after leaving the waterfront, they headed to a bar.

Damon was still pissed off. After downing several cocktails, none of them particularly strong, his body uncharacteristically started to feel hot, and his head was spinning like crazy.

Sloane reached out and steadied him.“Damon, you’re wasted. I’ll take you up to a hotel room to crash.”

Damon was practically draped over her.

But the moment the hotel room door swung open, a cool, light touch grazed his Adam’s apple. A jolt went through him, and his eyes dropped to Sloane’s wandering fingers.

She was on her tiptoes, her soft breath a teasing tickle against his skin.

“Damon,” she whispered, “I want you for my birthday.”

Her voice was a soft caress. Damon’s whole body was on fire, and he instinctively pulled her closer, a willing captive.