Chapter 157 Keal kissed her Again

Chapter 157 Keal kissed her Again
"I'm certain." Her hands moved to his face. "I've never been more certain of anything. The Moon Goddess chose us for each other. I feel it. The rightness. The inevitability. The way everything leads to this moment."

Keal kissed her again. Deeper, claiming. His hands tightened on her waist, pulling her to the very edge of the workbench.

Sydney's hands returned to his shirt buttons. This time he didn't stop her. Fabric parted under her fingers. She pushed the shirt off his shoulders, her hands exploring the lean muscle of his chest and back.

Keal's lips moved from her mouth to her throat, finding the sensitive spot where neck met shoulder. Sydney's head fell back, a sound escaping her that made Keal's control slip further.

His hands moved higher, fingers tracing the curves of her body through her dress. Every touch gentle despite the desperation driving them both.

"Keal." Sydney's voice was breathless. "Please. Need you. Need—"

A door slammed somewhere in the corridor outside. Loud. Violent. Followed by shouting.

They froze. Reality crashing back.

Keal stepped back abruptly, his chest heaving. "Someone's coming."

Sydney slid off the workbench, her legs shaking. Her dress was askew. Her hair falling from its pins. She looked thoroughly disheveled.

"I need to..." She looked around frantically. "If someone sees me like this..."

"The back room." Keal gestured to a door behind his workbench. "There's a washbasin. Clean up quickly."

Sydney fled, her face flaming. Behind the closed door, she pressed her hands to her burning cheeks. What had she been thinking? What had they almost done?

Everything. They'd almost done everything. On his workbench. In the middle of the afternoon. With no thought to consequences or propriety or—

She caught sight of herself in the small mirror above the washbasin. Her lips were swollen. Her neck bore a red mark where Keal's mouth had been. Her dress was wrinkled beyond repair.

Evidence. Undeniable evidence of what they'd been doing.

Sydney splashed cold water on her face, trying to calm her racing heart. Tried to smooth her dress. Re-pinned her hair with shaking hands.

In the laboratory, Keal hurriedly buttoned his shirt. Straightened papers on his workbench. Tried to look like he'd been working instead of moments away from claiming his mate on that same workbench.

The door burst open. Marcus stood there, his expression urgent.

"Keal, we need..." He stopped, his eyes narrowing. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No. Just working on the blood analysis." Keal's voice was steadier than he felt. "What's wrong?"

"His Majesty wants an update on Gerrit's journals. The council is demanding action. They've heard rumors about the investigation and want official answers." Marcus's gaze swept the laboratory, noting the scattered papers, the rumpled cot, the general disarray. "Where's Sydney? I saw her enter hours ago."

"Washroom." Keal gestured vaguely. "Helping me prepare samples. She'll be out in a moment."

Marcus's expression suggested he didn't believe a word. But he said nothing, just waited.

The back room door opened. Sydney emerged, looking more composed. Her dress was still wrinkled but her hair was neat. Her face carefully neutral.

"Commander Marcus." She curtsied. "I was just preparing compound solutions for Lady Lila's treatment. Delta Keal was kind enough to let me use his facilities."

"Of course." Marcus's tone was dry. "How thoughtful of him. Sydney, you should return to your regular duties. People will wonder where you've been all day."

"Yes, Commander." Sydney moved toward the main door, not looking at Keal. "I'll check on Lady Lila and report her condition to you later, Delta Keal."

She fled. Actually fled. Rushing from the laboratory like something pursued her.

Marcus waited until her footsteps faded. Then he turned to Keal with raised eyebrows.

"Want to tell me what I just interrupted?"

"Nothing. We were working." Keal returned to his workbench, desperately trying to appear professional.

"Right. Working. That's why your shirt is mis-buttoned and Sydney's dress looked like she'd been rolling around in it. That's why you're both flushed and breathing hard. That's why the air in here smells like arousal and interrupted claiming."

Keal's hands stilled on his papers. "Marcus..."

"Save it." Marcus's voice gentled. "I'm not judging. I'm just saying you should be more careful. If it was me who walked in, fine. But if it had been a council member or Lord Thorne or anyone looking for reasons to cause trouble..."

"I know. You're right." Keal sank into his chair. "It got away from us. One moment we were talking, the next we were—"

"Claiming each other on your workbench?"

"Almost. You interrupted before..." Keal's voice trailed off.

Marcus was quiet for a moment. "The bond?"

"Yes. Sydney is my mate. I've known for weeks. Today I finally told her. And she..." Keal's hands shook. "She feels it too. Wants it too. And we almost completed the claiming without thinking about timing or safety or—"

"Or the fact that you're both targets right now. That anyone who matters to you becomes leverage against you in this investigation." Marcus's voice was grim. "Keal, I'm happy for you. Truly. But you need to be smart about this. Keep it quiet until Gerrit is dealt with. Protect her by not claiming her openly yet."

"I know. We discussed that. But when she's near me, when she touches me, rational thought becomes impossible." Keal looked at his friend desperately. "How do you do it? How do you manage the instincts?"

"I don't have a mate bond to manage. But I've seen His Majesty struggle with it. The need to claim, to mark, to possess. It's overwhelming." Marcus gripped Keal's shoulder. "But you're strong. You've spent twelve years controlling yourself, channeling obsession into research instead of recklessness. You can control this too. For her sake. To keep her safe."

Keal nodded slowly. "You're right. I will. I'll stay away from her until this is over. Until Gerrit is dealt with and the danger has passed."

"I didn't say stay away from her. I said be careful. Be discreet. Don't complete the claiming until it's safe." Marcus smiled slightly. "She clearly makes you happy. Makes you take care of yourself. I'm not about to tell you to give that up."

"Thank you."

"Now. About Gerrit's journals and the blood samples. What have you learned?"

Keal launched into his report, grateful for the distraction. But even as he discussed chemical compounds and spell residue, part of his mind remained with Sydney.

With the way she'd felt in his arms. The way she'd kissed him. The way she'd said his name like a prayer.

He'd almost claimed her. Almost bound them together irrevocably.

And Moon Goddess help him, he wanted to finish what they'd started. Wanted to complete the bond. Wanted to make her his in every way that mattered.

But Marcus was right. Sydney's safety had to come first. Which meant waiting. Being patient. Protecting her by not making her an obvious target.

It would be torture but he'd endure it for her, to keep her safe.

Even if every instinct screamed at him to chase after her. To finish what they'd begun. To claim her regardless of danger or timing or consequences.

And when Gerrit was finally dealt with, when the danger had passed, he'd claim Sydney properly. Completely. Publicly.

And nothing would ever separate them again.