Damon smiled again, but this time it was an odd smile, just a quirkof one side of his mouth. His eyes said it was nothing much. But hisright hand came out and it was holding the most beautiful rose Elena hadever seen in her life.“Don’t you like it?” Damon said. Elena might be imagining it, butit almost sounded as if he were disappointed.“Of course I like it. What’s it for?”Damon settled back. “It’s for you, Princess,” he said, looking hurt.***It was as if she had been transported back in time, back to the dayswhen Damon had first appeared to her, had first claimed her for his own.When she had almost

let him kiss her before she knew his name….