Chapter 183
Lynette's POV
The white suit cut through the crowd like a blade.
I watched Belser stride toward the platform, two guards flanking him. The overhead lights caught the sharp angles of his face—all cold precision and calculated charm.
He stopped at the platform's edge and looked up at me.
"Miss." He inclined his head in a small bow. "I'm Belser, the coordinator of tonight's event. Would you mind coming down? I believe we should have a conversation."
I stayed where I was. My eyes flicked to the guard behind me, still pressed against the railing. His breathing was ragged. Angry.
Then back to Belser.
"Talk about what?" I kept my voice flat. "About how your demonstration can't handle a little competition?"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd below.
Belser's smile never wavered. "Hardly that. I simply think we could discuss this more productively in a calmer setting."
I crouched down on the platform edge. Low enough that my voice wouldn't carry to everyone. But loud enough for him to hear clearly.
"This is your arena. Your demonstration." I paused. "I just wanted to try it out."
I let the silence stretch.
"Didn't think you'd be this bad at losing."
A muscle jumped in Belser's jaw. Just for a second.
Then the smile was back. But I saw the thin sheen of sweat on his forehead now.
He's panicking. The first demonstration failing would destroy the drug's credibility.
"There's no need for hostility." His voice stayed smooth. Professional. "We have no quarrel between us. Surely we can reach some... arrangement? Find common ground?"
I stayed quiet. Thinking.
What do I actually want? Information about the drug. About Rezar. About what they're doing to the rogues.
My eyes found Kael in the crowd.
He was watching me. Waiting.
I held his gaze for just a second. A silent message.
I need you here.
He moved immediately. Pushing through the crowd toward the platform.
He was carrying my heels.
When did he even pick those up?
Kael stopped beside Belser. The contrast was immediate—Belser's calculated charm versus Kael's raw, effortless authority.
"Still want to play?" Kael's voice was directed at me. Low. Casual. "If you do, keep going. If not, put your shoes on. The floor's cold."
Something in my chest went tight.
I'd been fighting alone for so long. Making every decision by myself. Carrying every risk.
And here he was. In front of everyone. Not asking questions. Not demanding explanations.
Just... backing me up.
I looked down. Tried to process the feeling.
Don't. Not now. You can't afford to feel this right now.
Thirty seconds passed in silence.
The crowd was getting restless. Confused whispers.
Finally, I looked back at Belser.
"You can fool everyone else if you want." My voice came out steady. "But I want to know what you really did. Can we talk about that?"
His face went carefully blank.
"Our core technology isn't something we're prepared to publicly disclose—"
"Then I guess we're done talking." I turned back toward the guard.
"Wait!" The word came out too sharp. Belser cleared his throat. "Wait. Perhaps we can... discuss certain aspects. After all, there's no harm in a conversation."
I stopped.
Kael was still watching me. I could feel his attention like a physical weight.
He knows I'm bluffing. Knows I can't actually take another round with that thing.
But he wasn't calling me out. Wasn't stepping in to stop me.
He was just there. Solid. Steady.
"I'm curious though." Belser had recovered his composure. "Pinehollow has shown no interest in our research before. What changed your mind?"
"Wasn't interested before." I kept my tone even. "But then I saw someone here. That changed things."
I thought about Rezar standing in the crowd. About the missing rogues from Mistcreek. About all the pieces that were starting to connect.
Wild Hunt and this drug. They're linked somehow.
"I see." Belser's voice was thoughtful now. "Well then. Perhaps we do have matters to discuss. Shall we continue somewhere more appropriate?"
He extended his hand toward me.
I looked at it. At his manicured nails and expensive watch.
Then deliberately turned away.
Started to jump down.
"There are a lot of people watching," Kael said quietly.
Right. The dress. Jumping would give everyone a show.
I sat down on the platform edge instead. Reached for my shoes.
Kael moved first.
He went down on one knee in front of me.
Put one hand on my knee to steady me.
"Don't move. Let me help with the shoes."
His palm was warm through the thin fabric of my dress. I could feel each individual finger.
My breath caught.
What is he doing?
He lifted my left foot carefully. Slipped the heel on with slow, deliberate precision. His thumb brushed against my ankle as he fastened the strap.
Heat flooded my face.
Everyone's watching. Everyone can see this.
He moved to my right foot. Same careful attention. Same gentle touch.
I stared down at the top of his head. At the way his dark hair fell forward slightly.
The gesture was so intimate. So deliberate.
Why? Why is he doing this? In front of all these people?
Kael's eyes met mine as he finished with the second shoe.
Those amber depths held something I couldn't quite name. Something that made my pulse stutter and skip.
Are we really just working together? Just allies?
Then why does this feel like something more?
He stood slowly. Extended his hand.
I took it.
His fingers closed around mine as he helped me to my feet. Then his other hand moved to my waist.
Supporting me as I stepped down from the platform.
His palm was warm against my side. Steady. Strong.
My feet touched the floor.
Kael's hand stayed at my waist. Just for a second longer than necessary.
Then he stepped back.
The loss of contact felt wrong somehow. Like something had been taken away.
I blinked. Tried to clear my head.
The noise of the crowd rushed back in. The weight of all those watching eyes.
What just happened?
My heart was racing. My face still hot.
I looked down at my shoes. At my hands.
He just did that. Knelt in front of me. Put my shoes on. In front of everyone.
The memory replayed in my head. His hand on my knee. The careful way he'd fastened each strap. The way he'd looked at me.
My throat felt tight.
Stop. Don't think about it right now.
But I couldn't help it.
This feeling in my chest—warm and tight and confusing—I hadn't felt anything like it in so long.
Someone supporting me. Not because I'd ordered them to. Not because they were afraid of me. Not because they wanted something from me.
Just... because.
When did this happen? When did he become someone I could rely on like this?
I'd been alone for so long. Fighting alone. Deciding alone. Surviving alone.
And now...
My hands trembled slightly. I clasped them together.
Get it together. You're still in a room full of enemies.
But all I could think about was the warmth of Kael's hand. The steadiness of his presence beside me.
The way he'd just... been there. Without hesitation. Without questions.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
My chest ached with something I couldn't name.