Lyra's POV The click of my boots echoed far too loudly in the grand hall, each step swallowed by its cavernous silence. They bounced off the walls, and for a moment, I couldn't help the loud echo My footsteps made before they finally disappeared. My palms were clammy, and no matter how many times I told myself to breathe, the air still felt thin, like it had been sucked out of the walls and I. was going to pass out soon. Focus, Lyra. I chided myself. Focus or you're going to ruin everything. I wished it was that easy, but for some strange reason, it didn't matter how many times I wiped my hands against my dress. My heart thundered loudly in my chest, and I wouldn't be surprised if the poor organ burst through my skin. It would be a gory sight, but at least, I wouldn't have to face what was in front of me. I shouldn’t have sent that letter. The thoughts popped up at the back of my head so randomly, and I hated how I flinched at it. Despite how long it had taken me to do it, it
Lyra’s POV Even in a million years, I wouldn't have been able to predict that kind of ending. It had started out in the most bizarre way possible. Xavier calling me to his office and questioning me like I was nothing short of a criminal, bumping into Xander, and finally Xavier kissing me like a man possessed. I honestly thought that was going to be the end of the night, but apparently, the moon goddess definitely had something else up her sleeve. I was on my knees and ready to do only the goddess knows what when the loud crash from outside bolted us back into reality. Honestly, now that I thought about it,I wasn't exactly sure what I felt. I'd heard of pleasure doing an array of things to you, but never did I think that it could push me to the point where I wanted to go down on Xavier. Shit. What the fuck was wrong with me? The crash outside hadn't just interrupted us, it had saved me from turning all red in front of Xavier. I didn't need to ask if he was annoyed by the interr
Lyra’s POV His mouth was on mine before I could breathe, but that wasn't the worst part. I was torn between liking it, aching and also craving it, and even hating it. I wasn't supposed to be enjoying this. I was supposed to be mad at Xavier, or at least show a silver of defiance, but every thought of that disappeared the moment he pressed his lips against mine. Those soft and succulent ones I could kiss anytime any day. There was no warning, no space to think, just the crushing force of Xavier’s lips claiming me like he had every right, like he’d been waiting too long and had finally snapped. And if you asked me, I wasn't sure I wanted it any other way.“Xavier..” I gasped into him, my palms slamming against his chest, pushing hard. “Stop….”But he didn’t. His kiss only deepened. It got rougher, hungrier, as though he wanted to tear every protest from my throat. Goosebumps raced to the surface of my skin, and believe me when I said I felt the kiss app the way down to my toes. “
Lyra's POV The hallway felt too long, my footsteps echoing against the cold walls and floor. I tried to shield myself from there icy atmosphere that was hell bent on biting into my skin, but I just couldn't fight it off, no matter how hard I tried. Each step was a reminder that I was heading back to an empty room, and while that hadn't always been a problem, it was now. It wasn't the fact that the room was empty, but the fact that that empty room served as the perfect prison that didn't mind trapping me with thoughts of a particular human, one I was sure didn't care too much about me anymore. If someone had whispered in my ears that the night was going to turn out the way it had, I honestly wouldn't have believed it. Not because I couldn't, but because I didn't want to. A part of me had thought that Xavier had called me to his office to make peace, but now, now it just felt like the rift between us had grown wider. My mind was still reeling, and even though I didn't want it,
Xavier’s POV The silence pressed against me long after the door shut behind her.Lyra’s scent lingered faintly in the room, sharp and sweet, taunting me like the ghost of her words. My hand flexed against the edge of my desk, knuckles whitening as I replayed every glance, absyevery pause in her speech. She had looked at me as though daring me to call her a liar, daring me to strip away her layers until I found what she was hiding.Damn her, and damn me for letting her get this far under my skin.I tried to focus on the papers scattered before me, reports, requests, matters that demanded my full attention, yet the ink blurred uselessly. All I could see was the way her lips had tightened, the flicker of something dangerous in her eyes when I mentioned Xander.Xander.The thought of him gnawed at me like a viper coiled in my chest. His gaze lingered on her too often. He smiled too easily when she entered the room, and though I had no proof, my gut screamed he wanted her. Worse still,
Xavier’s POV The gardens were alive with laughter, and it made my stomach churn. It wasn't the shallow, performative kind nobles wore like masks, but a genuine deep, rolling, and untamed one. There were hints of mockery dripping from it, but there was something else that stuck to me. I knew that sound too well and even if I'd just woken up from a coma, I would be able to recognize whom that voice belonged to. Anywhere, anytime . Xander. The mere thought of him was more than enough to have my insides flailing in anger and nothing else. While every part of me wanted nothing more than to charge out there and find out what the fuck was so funny, I didn't. I froze on the stone path, partly cloaked in the shade of an arch draped with climbing vines. My gaze was drawn to the sight unfolding a few paces away, and the moment I noticed he was standing too close to her, to Lyra, something inside me snapped into two. Her back was stiff, her head tilted ever so slightly away as thoug