Lyra's POV
His fingers didn’t move away. They curled around my thigh.
And neither of us said anything.
The silence was louder than anything either of us could have spoken.
And then his thumb stroked the inside of my thighs, slow, almost somnolent, but it ignited a fire in my chest. I knew that touch. Knew what it meant. Knew where it could lead.
And I didn't do anything to stop him.
I wanted it and more.
His fingers slipped free of my thighs, rode up, stroking along the length of my arm, brushing against my sh
Lyra's POVI woke up with a soft start as the morning light slipped through the seam. I reached beside me for Orion, the spot still faintly warm, but empty.Again.The last time we slept in a tent like this, after that night by the river, I woke up to an empty bed as well.I should be used to it by now, and yet still, there was something about waking up alone after a night such as this that always strained my chest. This time, however, I knew he must have been close by.I ripped the blanket away, stretched a little, and sat up. The cold wind touched my skin as I stepped out of the tent barefoot, the forest surrounding us all still under morning sleep. But no Orion."Orion?" I called softly. Nothing. The only sound was the creaking of trees.My eyes darted left and right, and I took another step forward. And then I heard a quick, intent shift behind me, and my heart skipped, and I turned around out of reflex.And halted.It wasn't Orion.It was her.The woman at Ben's funeral. The sam
Lyra's POVHis fingers didn’t move away. They curled around my thigh.And neither of us said anything.The silence was louder than anything either of us could have spoken.And then his thumb stroked the inside of my thighs, slow, almost somnolent, but it ignited a fire in my chest. I knew that touch. Knew what it meant. Knew where it could lead.And I didn't do anything to stop him.I wanted it and more.His fingers slipped free of my thighs, rode up, stroking along the length of my arm, brushing against my sh
Lyra's POVBy the time we reached the other side of the river, the moon had shifted to its peak.Orion dragged the boat onto the bank and helped me step out. The earth felt soft under my boots, damp with river mist.We sat there, just breathing. The air here beside the river was thicker, quieter, more conspiratorial, as though it contained secrets."It's almost 11," Orion said, looking up at the sky as though he could read the time on his palm more accurately than a watch. "We camp here tonight. Leave early at dawn."I furrowed my brow. "Camp where? We don't even have a tent to sleep. And don't you think it's not safe, especially after the no-element-
Kate's POVI watched as Ruth walked away with that shady-looking guy she came with. My jaw tightened. I hated everything about her. The way she walked like the world owed her something, the way her eyes judged everyone like we were beneath her.If Kevin had tried anything stupid, I was ready to blow his head off, and hers without thinking. I'd do it for Ravenna since she didn't have the heart for it.Kira sat back in her chair beside me, sighing softly. “You didn’t have to pour wine on him, Kate.”I raised a brow, not even hiding my irritation. “Yes, I did. He deserved it and even more. He was lucky he didn't get a silver bullet in his skull."“She’ll know we’re onto her now,” Kira said, glancing at Keto like she was hoping he’d back her up.“Good,” I said flatly. “Let her know we know. Let her lose sleep for once.”Kira shook her head, clearly not seeing it the way I did. “That’s how you push someone into doing something reckless. She’ll be cornered now. And what happens when a snak
Ruth's POVBy the time we pulled up at Orion’s mansion, I was boiling inside. The security guards opened the gate, and we drove in.I didn’t even wait for Kevin to park properly. I swung the door open and marched into the house. “Keto!” I yelled as soon as I got inside. “Where’s Keto?”One of the maids looked startled. “He’s not in, ma’am.""Where is he?" I asked, my tone urgent."At the pool, ma'am," she responded quickly.I spun around, and Kevin was already catching up to me.“Come on,” I snapped, "he is at the pool," and we stormed toward the back of the mansion.As we rounded the corner, I saw Keto, but he wasn't alone.Keto was shirtless, lounging by the pool with a glass in his hand.While Kira was beside him, smiling like everything was perfect.And then Kate.That one. The bitch who once dared to challenge me in front of Ravenna. Now sitting there like a queen, sipping wine.I seemed to have forgotten about how she disrespected me. I didn't know how to deal with her yet, I wa
Ruth's POVI stood there like a statue, watching the car disappear down the long, dusty road.Orion didn’t even look back or stop.He left me on the side of the road like I was nothing. And drove off with Ravenna like I was an obstacle to their love life.I clenched my fists in anger, nails digging into my palm. The humiliation burned hot in my chest. He dared to do that in front of her? My own stepdaughter?I have never been humiliated like this before, the man that tried it didn't live beyond 7 days. And that was many years ago, when I killed Ravenna's father for humiliating me because of Ravenna.And now, Orion had just entered my death list.Although I had always wanted to kill Orion.But he wasn't a top priority 'wanted dead' in my head. Never! With this kind of rage that burned in my throat after he told me to leave his car.I always wanted to kill Ravenna, too; she had always been in the way. But now?Now they both had to die.Same level of determination. Same level of hate.I