LY

e," I said, my voic

y eyes. "Are you okay? Lyra, we can

g. "No. I'm fine. Just... give me

y warring with my command, but finally, he

ainst the cold stone railing, taking a jagged, deep breath. The nig

t see me l

o

cracks. I stood tall, smoothing the silk of my dress over my hips and checking my reflection in the dark glass of the window.

the doo

flinch. As I walked toward Michael, the room seemed to pivot on its axis. The lighti

, familiar weight on the side of m

e was.

ghtly, a gesture so familiar it made my heart betray me with a sudden, si

dle. I remembered the silence of

o stone. I didn't just ignore him; I erased

s gala is once again upon us, and what better way to spend the e

ing, and I hope you have a wonderful evening. Now,

as the orchestra shifted into a slow, haunt

ring a small, forced smil

e room, blending into the sea of swaying couples. "You lo

chor me, trying to pull my mind away f

baby brother," I teased, my

rowed in that fami

me that. I'm t

a laugh. "Okay, okay. But seriousl

," he wh

e I could even look up, a voice vibrated through the air, a voice that had once been my

I cut

nst my ribs like a trapped bird. But beneath t

was a warning, his gri

y eyes fixed on the fl

intruder, but eventually stepped b

chest I used to know by heart. His other hand took mine, his fingers calloused

eyes were right there dark, pi

doing?" I hissed, the w

n replied, his v

me go

t shut up

hed. "Why are you even here?

a business gala. Anyone with the right i

ouldn't appreciate you holding ano

eyes narrowing. "She is

idn't let a single crack show on my face. I gave

ulations on the nuptials. May your life toget

rom his face, replaced

e, Lucian,"

adn't heard me. His hand on my waist tightened, pulling me cl

of pure disgust.

e. To see if you've actually m

are about my survival a

ous hiss. "If anything, I should be the angry one. You c

pel of his expensive suit jacket so hard my knuckles turned whit

d, I will cause a scene that will ruin wh

calm

. "I will let every person in this room know exactly

uffing. He saw the woman who had nothing

like a canyon. I smoothed my dress, my hands

voice cold enough to freeze the air between us. "St

heels clicking a sharp countd

towards me. Her gaze was dark, but I didn't stop until I burst through th