Chapter 23 Chapter 23

Chapter 23 Chapter 23
Lyra
Being human has changed the way I inhabit my body.
I notice it as I dress for the evening, standing barefoot on cool marble while the city hums far below the DeLuca docks. There is a softness to my movements now, a deliberate awareness of every curve, every breath. When I slip into the red satin dress Kael chose for me, it glides over my skin like liquid fire.
The color is bold. Unapologetic.
Human me wants that.
I smooth the fabric over my hips, watching my reflection closely. My dark brown hair falls freely down my back tonight, glossy and loose, framing my face instead of being pinned into submission. A touch of makeup sharpens my features just enough to make my eyes glow. I don’t recognize the woman staring back at me entirely, but I don’t dislike her either.
I slide into the heels waiting by the door. They make me taller. Slower. More intentional.
More visible.
And for the first time since losing my wolf, I don’t feel diminished.
I feel powerful in a different way.
The yacht gleams under the night sky, lights reflecting off dark water like scattered stars. The sea air is cool, carrying salt and something sharp and clean that fills my lungs as I step onto the first deck.
The table is already set.
It takes my breath away.
Three places. Fine plates and polished cutlery. Crystal glasses catching candlelight. Fresh flowers arranged carefully in a simple vase, their scent subtle and elegant. Candles flicker in the breeze, casting soft shadows across white linen and dark wood.
It’s expensive.
Intentional.
Intimate.
Kael stands near the railing, dressed in black tailored to perfection. The city lights outline his profile, sharp and commanding, but when he turns and sees me, something softens instantly.
He crosses the deck in a few strides and cups my face, leaning down to kiss me gently.
“You look pretty,” he says quietly.
I smile before I can stop myself. “Thank you.”
The way he looks at me, like he’s memorizing every detail, makes my chest warm. He keeps a hand at my waist, grounding, protective, as if reminding the world I’m not alone.
We haven’t waited long when I feel it.
That shift in the air.
The presence.
Riven steps onto the deck like he owns the night.
He’s dressed in dark charcoal, coat draped over broad shoulders, movements unhurried and confident. The sea breeze lifts his hair slightly, silver eyes catching candlelight as they lock onto me instantly.
I gulp nervously.
I still can’t smell him.
That absence is unsettling in ways I can’t explain.
Riven’s gaze lingers openly on my body, not crude, not rushed—appreciative, assessing, dangerous. Then he smiles slowly, that familiar half-smile that always promises trouble.
He pulls Kael into a brief, brotherly hug. The gesture is unexpected, but genuine.
“Good to see you,” Riven says.
“Likewise,” Kael replies evenly.
Then Riven turns to me.
He leans down and places a kiss on my forehead, light and deliberate, his lips warm against my skin.
“You look ravishing,” he murmurs.
Heat crawls up my neck.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
We take our seats at the table, the water gently rocking beneath us. A waiter appears quietly, serving plates with practiced elegance. Lamb, perfectly cooked, paired with roasted asparagus and vegetables arranged like art. Whiskey for the men. Red wine for me.
The candlelight dances between us.
I take a sip of wine, letting the taste ground me before I speak.
“Thank you,” I say softly, looking from Kael to Riven. “Both of you. For saving my life.”
Kael reaches for my hand under the table, squeezing gently. “You don’t need to thank us.”
Riven nods once. “Still. I’m glad you’re breathing.”
Kael lifts his glass toward Riven. “And thank you for joining us.”
Riven smirks. “This is the best way to keep Lyra safe. Cooperation.”
I watch them as they eat, talk, exchange stories from past operations and old grudges that now feel almost… distant. Their laughter surprises me. It’s low and rare, but genuine. Seeing them like this—relaxed, aligned makes something loosen in my chest.
For a moment, it feels like peace.
Then I feel it.
Their attention shifts.
Kael’s gaze drags slowly over me, heat unmistakable in his eyes. Riven’s follows, darker, sharper. It’s not hunger alone, it’s awareness. Ownership. Interest.
I’m suddenly acutely conscious of my body again. The way the dress hugs me. The way the candlelight plays against my skin. The way my pulse jumps under their combined focus.
I am not a wolf.
I am human.
And somehow, that makes me more dangerous.
The yacht glides forward through the dark water, cutting a path through the night as if daring the world to challenge us. I sit between two kings, candlelight flickering, wine warm in my veins, and the realization settles deep in my bones.
This dinner is not just a truce.
It’s a warning like they want to eat me alive.