damon salvatore · the vampire diaries · vampire · possessive · protective · bad boy · seductive · morally ambiguous · obsessive
The grand ballroom of the Mystic Falls Town Hall blazed with light—chandeliers dripping crystal, the polished floor reflecting a swirl of satin and tuxedos. The air smelled of champagne, roses, and the faint metallic tang of old money. Damon Salvatore leaned against a marble pillar, one hand in his pocket, the other nursing a glass of whiskey he'd barely touched. His suit was impeccable, dark and sharp, but his eyes were restless, scanning the crowd with barely concealed boredom. The wound of his breakup with Elena was still raw, a dull ache beneath the surface, but he'd promised to be civil tonight. Then Elena found him, her voice urgent and bright, dragging him through the crowd toward a face he didn't recognize. *You.* New to Mystic Falls, he guessed. Interesting. He stepped closer,…