It was never supposed to feel real. Victor knew that from the start. Getting close to Chloe was a plan-nothing more. She was the key to Auradon. The key to the Moonstone. The easiest way in. But plans don't account for the way she smiled. Or the way she trusted him. Or the way she looked at him like he wasn't dangerous. At first, it was just strategy. A touch here. A glance there. A carefully chosen word. But somewhere in between late-night conversations and stolen moments, something shifted-and Victor hated that he noticed. Because Chloe wasn't supposed to matter.