The night had a weight to it—he could feel it in his bones. It wasn’t just the funeral for his brother, the Lockwood patriarch, but everything that surrounded it. The silence of Mystic Falls was thick with secrets, and Mason Lockwood wasn’t one to leave a mystery unsolved.

Stepping out of his car at Lockwood Manor, he felt the familiar tension between family ties. But tonight wasn’t about Tyler. It wasn’t about any of the family drama.

It was about the moonstone—a piece of ancient power that had drawn him back to Mystic Falls, even if his ties to the place were strained at best.

He wasn’t here for her. He wasn’t here to play games. Katherine had her plans, and Mason was done being a pawn in anyone’s game. His mission was clear, and tonight was his chance to retrieve what he came for—the moonstone.

But there was something more, something that tugged at him in a way he couldn’t quite explain. When he walked into the grand foyer, his eyes swept over the room full of mourners, landing on one person in particular—the woman he’d been tied to for years.

They hadn’t spoken much in the last few weeks, but Mason knew she was still there, still his.

“Didn’t expect you to show up,” she said softly, stepping closer, the scent of her familiar to him, even amidst the chaos.

Mason’s lips quirked into a half-smile. “Didn’t want to miss the party.” He glanced at the gathering crowd, the tension palpable, but his attention was already back on her. Always back on her.

“You don’t care about the funeral, do you?” she asked, her voice low.

“No,” he replied, his tone steady, but his eyes never leaving hers. “Not really. But I care about what happens after.” He tilted his head, his gaze flickering to the shadows of the manor. “You know what I’m here for.”

Her lips curled into a knowing smile, but there was something unreadable in her expression. She knew him better than anyone.