Chapter 15

LYRA

Zade stood between Caspian and me, his golden eyes fixed on the prince. The pressure coming off him was so intense that the guests closest to us had started backing away. Even the security guards seemed unsure whether stepping in was worth the trouble.

Honestly, I couldn’t blame them.

I’d never seen Zade this angry up close. His shoulders were stiff, his hands curled at his sides, and he looked seconds away from doing something we’d all regret.

Caspian, however, didn’t seem interested in making things easier.

He straightened his jacket, brushed off the sleeve Zade had grabbed, and met his stare without blinking.

“I understand you’re protective of your mate, Alpha Zade, but this matter concerns the Royal Family. Your threats won’t change that.”

Zade let out a humorless laugh. “You think I give a damn who your family is?”

“I think you should.” Caspian’s gaze shifted to me briefly before returning to Zade. “Lyra could be the Supreme Royal Heir, the rightful successor to the Valerius throne. If her birthmark is genuine, she belongs at the Royal Court. Her identity and inheritance must be established.”

I stared at him. Seriously? The man was still talking about me like I wasn’t standing right there.

Zade took one step closer. “You came here, grabbed my mate, and tried to drag her off to your court. Now you’re telling me where she belongs?”

“I was trying to protect her.”

“Funny way of showing it.”

Caspian’s expression tightened. “You seem to be forgetting who you’re speaking to.”

“No, I know exactly who I’m talking to. That’s why I’m giving you one chance to watch your mouth and back off.”

A few guests exchanged nervous looks. Someone near the bar quietly called for the security team to stay back.

Caspian didn’t take the hint.

“Is this really the man you want standing beside you, Lyra?” he asked, looking past Zade. “A cursed murderer with a history that should make anyone question his judgment?”

My stomach dropped.

Oh, he did not just say that.

Zade went completely still. Somehow, that was more frightening than when he’d been moving. His jaw clenched, and the gold in his eyes burned brighter.

I caught his arm. “Zade.”

He didn’t look at me.

“Caspian,” I said, turning toward the prince, “insulting my mate isn’t going to make me trust you. If anything, you’re making this whole thing harder than it needs to be.”

He barely spared me a glance.

“Your future is bigger than your relationship with him. You need to understand that.”

I almost laughed, except nothing about this situation was funny.

“My future? You’ve known me for, what, ten minutes? And now you’re telling me what my future should look like?”

“Because the stakes are much higher than you realize.”

“Then explain them without acting like you own me.”

Zade stepped forward again.

“I challenge you to a formal Alpha duel.”

The words cut through the ballroom.

A ripple of whispers spread through the crowd. Several guests turned fully toward us, while the security guards finally began moving closer. Everyone knew what a formal duel between Zade and a royal prince could mean.

Caspian studied him, then lifted his chin.

“Fine. I accept the challenge.”

He adjusted his cuffs as though they were discussing business terms instead of preparing to fight.

“Don’t mistake my willingness to settle this properly for fear, Zade. Royal authority doesn’t disappear just because you don’t like it.”

“And being born into a royal family doesn’t give you the right to put your hands on my mate,” Zade snapped. “Or run your mouth about me when you don’t know a damn thing about what she’s been through with me.”

“If Lyra is the missing heir, her birthright comes before your claim over her. The throne has a legitimate interest in bringing her home.”

“She isn’t a damn piece of property you can claim because you recognize a birthmark.”

Neither man seemed willing to give an inch. If Zade won, he could turn the Royal Court against himself. If Caspian won, he might use the outcome to push his claim over my future.

And somehow, both of them seemed to have forgotten the one person this whole mess was supposed to be about.

Me.

Caspian’s words followed me long after he disappeared into the crowd.

Zade caught my hand and led me out of the ballroom without saying a word. I barely had time to grab my clutch before we reached the exit. He didn’t stop to acknowledge anyone, and judging by the looks people were giving us, tomorrow’s gossip was already taken care of.

“Zade, slow down. I can walk, you know.”

He loosened his grip immediately, but he didn’t let go until we reached the car.

He opened the passenger door for me, waited until I got inside, then shut it and walked around to the driver’s side. By the time he slid behind the wheel, I was practically holding my breath.

I expected him to start yelling about Caspian. Instead, he gripped the steering wheel and stared through the windshield.

“Supreme Royal Heir,” he said finally. “What the hell was he talking about?”

I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “He thinks I’m the missing heir to the Valerius throne. He recognized my birthmark and told me the royal child disappeared during a coup twenty-six years ago.”

Zade turned toward me. “And you believe him?”

“No. I mean, I don’t know what to believe. He sounded pretty convinced, but that doesn’t make him right.”

“Have you ever heard anything about your birth? Anything that might explain why he recognized that mark?”

I shook my head. “I’ve always known myself as Lyra. Nobody ever told me I was a princess, and I’m not about to start believing it because some prince showed up at a gala with a story. I told him we could arrange an official blood test. That’s the only way we’ll know.”

His fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

“Then why was he in such a damn hurry to get you to the Royal Court? Why grab you when you told him no? And how was he so sure about the mark?”

“I don’t know, Zade.” My voice came out sharper than I intended. “I can’t answer questions I don’t have answers to.”

He went quiet.

I reached for his hand, but he was gripping the wheel so hard his knuckles were turning pale.

“Hey. I refused to go with him, remember? I chose you in front of that entire ballroom. You don’t need to keep worrying about that part.”

His eyes softened briefly, though the tension in his face remained.

“Do you believe him?” I asked.

“I don’t trust him.” He started the engine. “And I sure as hell won’t let the Royal Family decide what happens to you.”

“I’ll decide that myself. I’m willing to take the blood test, but it happens on my terms. I’m not being dragged anywhere.”

Zade finally looked at me. “Fine. Your decision. But if they try to use this against you, they’ll have to deal with me.”