Lyra: the Billionaire's stolen wife

the moonlight, unaware th

-

ballroom, where chandeliers swayed ever so slightly under the hum of too many secrets. The marble

it had been sewn by sin itself. Her bare shoulders glistened under golden light, while a diamon

like power.

t like

trailing down her spine like a warning, not comfort. "Sm

freedom is an illusion?" she whis

eedom is for fools.

survival,"

e air between them sparked-part fury, part desire, bo

e, Lyra. Not h

e he could see the tr

-

e Blackthorn Foundation-a night for elites to toast themselve

moved like a g

s a gaze that didn't slice-it caressed. A gaze that didn't

hen she

esting on the brass rail, was a man carved of dusk and danger. Midnight

eyes

dn't flinch. But somet

pau

ut too late-he was

-

f the hallway, heart pounding far too fast. The music throbb

anger said, his voice warm and

e was even more dangerous. His eyes weren't just blue-t

t be here," s

thly. "And so are you. Quest

. "You know

d

know I'm

voice softening, eyes narrowing. "Tha

You don't know a

you hate crowds. That you trace the rim of your glass with your finger when you're nerv

ga

't move

n't ne

you?" she

le that felt more like a challe

ng his lips across her knuckles. A subtle gesture, yet s

red, as if he'd

-

her with that lethal calm he used when s

His voice was

know,"

poke t

to a lot

games with

equal measure. "You said I had to wear the dress. You

burned across her lips. "Every man in

down. "And yet

ession d

aven't wanted

" she whispered. "Because if you touch me, I'll

rough, almost shaking. "I

almost taunting. "

gh the ballroom, up a private staircase, i

to push me?

o feel so

g into hers like a storm breaking against stone.

railing fire down her neck. Her gown slipped from one shoulde

of surrender and de

g to me,"

im me," s

nly... he

ed a

g hard,

almost broken.

and punched the wal

aving, dress half-fallen,

you to stop,"

o care," he said wi

-

n her bed, aching, uns

ace where Rafael h

Darian's mouth had

h men awakening parts of her t

y, Rafael stood before a map littered with photos-of

" his voice was cold s

ssed," his a

s eyes

d softly. "I

-