Chapter 44 — POV: Lyra
[.....today is her birthday ,special day for her so I try to make it warming for her i hope you liked it, little love warning for my readers .....]
The sunlight spilled through the curtains, golden and unapologetic, brushing over my face like a gentle reminder that I was still alive. My body still ached, my mind still carried the echo of the warehouse, but today was mine.
Today was my birthday.
I sat up slowly, stretching, letting the familiar arrogance return with each breath. I wore my favorite silk robe, the one that made me feel untouchable, regal. The past, the videos, the threats—they all seemed a fraction lighter under the sun.
Kieller was already awake, standing by the window, hands behind his back, sharp suit as always, eyes sharp, but there was… something softer in them. For the first time in days, I didn't feel like a hunted prey.
"You've been up for ten minutes," he said, voice casual but not arrogant this time. More… attentive. Protective. "Birthday queen rules: coffee in bed, and no stress."
I smirked, climbing out of bed. "Coffee in bed? Bold. I like it."
He produced a silver tray with a mug of steaming black coffee, croissants, and a small bouquet of white lilies—the ones I'd once mentioned liking. The arrogance in his gaze didn't fade, but it softened with a rare tenderness.
"You look… formidable," he said, tilting his head. "Even after everything. Even after…" His voice trailed. He didn't need to finish; I knew what he meant.
I rolled my eyes, reaching for the coffee. "Formidable doesn't mean calm. And don't start with the hero speech. Today is my day."
He stepped closer, leaning casually against the dresser. "Then we make it yours. No interruptions, no threats, no reminders of hell."
For a moment, I believed him. The room was warm, bright, safe.
But a small part of me—the part that never fully trusted calm—whispered that this peace was temporary. Somewhere, the Golden Mask was still watching. Somewhere, the storm was still gathering.
I pushed the thought away. Today, I would celebrate. Today, I would be myself.
I dressed in a sleek, tailored outfit—bold, confident, unapologetically me. The dress hugged my shoulders and waist, a subtle nod to the queen I was inside and out. Kieller watched every movement, unflinching, sharp as ever.
"Breakfast?" I asked, smirking, already knowing he'd have a plan.
"I thought I'd let you dictate the morning," he replied, almost teasing. "But then again…" He paused, eyes narrowing playfully. "I do have a few surprises."
He handed me a small black box. I raised an eyebrow, curiosity sparking. Inside: a delicate gold bracelet, sleek and understated, with a tiny lion emblem. "A queen's reminder," he said, almost whispering. "That you command every room you enter. Every battlefield. Every shadow."
I smirked, sliding it onto my wrist. "Arrogance suits you."
He shrugged, but I caught the briefest flicker of pride in his eyes.
The morning passed in quiet celebration, laughter, small playful arguments, and the comfort of knowing Kieller was near. Every glance he gave reminded me that I was not alone. That even when darkness approached, there was someone who would stand beside me.
Still, I couldn't shake the faint shadow—the unknown sender, the Golden Mask, the video. Somewhere in the back of my mind, a cold awareness lingered. Today was mine, yes—but tomorrow, the war would resume. And I would be ready.
I finished my coffee, leaning back in the chair, arms crossed, eyes sparkling with defiance. "You know," I said to Kieller, smirking, "it's my birthday. You're lucky I'm feeling merciful today."
He chuckled, stepping closer, letting the warmth of his presence anchor me. "Mercy or not, Lyra… you're a queen. And I will make sure everyone who dares forget that… remembers."
The room was quiet, safe, bright. But beneath it, the faint pulse of tension lingered—a reminder that even a queen must always be ready.
And I was ready.
The evening crept in, painting the sky in bruised shades of purple and gold. City lights flickered like stars brought low, visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my suite. I had tried to push the memory of the video, the unknown sender, the Golden Mask—everything—out of my mind, but the shadows clung, long and silent.
Kieller moved silently around the room, checking the security systems, scanning monitors, and yet, every few moments, he would glance at me. Always with that weight in his gaze—a mixture of calculation, care, and something I couldn't quite name.
I sank into the chaise, legs stretched out, still in my tailored outfit from the day. "You don't even relax, do you?" I said, voice teasing but edged with a trace of fatigue.
He smirked, leaning against the console.
"Relaxation is for the unprepared. But," he added, softer this time,
"I can make exceptions for birthdays."
I raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "Exceptions, huh? You've got my attention."
He closed the distance between us, slow, deliberate. Every step exuded command and elegance, but his eyes were locked on mine, unyielding.
"You deserve this," he murmured, crouching beside the chaise. His hand brushed a stray lock of hair from my face, a rare gentleness that made my pulse spike. "Tonight, even with everything… even with them watching, you deserve to feel safe. Even if just for a few hours."
I tilted my head, letting him see my face fully. "Safe?" I repeated, a little bitter laugh escaping me. "After everything? You make it sound so simple."
"It's not simple," he said, leaning closer, lowering his voice to a near whisper. "But it's real. And right now, that's what matters."
The tension between us crackled—not just desire, but unspoken fear, the awareness that danger was never far. Every shadow outside the windows, every faint hum from the security feeds reminded us that the Golden Mask was still out there. But in that moment, his presence was armor. His nearness was a shield.
I let myself lean back, letting his hand rest lightly against mine. The warmth seeped through, grounding me. "Kieller…" My voice faltered for only a moment before arrogance reasserted itself. "Don't let me get soft on you just because it's my birthday."
He chuckled softly, brushing a kiss against the back of my hand. "Not a chance," he said. "But… maybe a little indulgence isn't so dangerous."
The night deepened. Dinner was served in silence, the kind of quiet that comes from shared understanding rather than emptiness. We ate slowly, eyes flicking to monitors, shadows of movement on the city streets, the faint hint that someone, somewhere, was watching. But in the private fortress of the suite, we carved out a bubble—two predators in a world of chaos, for once choosing calm.
Later, when the city slept, we sat together on the balcony. Kieller draped a light jacket over my shoulders, the fabric warm against my skin. The lights below shimmered like liquid gold, and for a fleeting moment, I imagined it was just us in the world.
"Do you ever let yourself breathe?" I asked, quiet this time, my voice almost vulnerable.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, drawing me close. "Not often," he admitted, his head tilting slightly toward mine. "But tonight… tonight I'll let you breathe. Let me breathe. Just for you."
I rested against him, feeling the tension of the day slowly drain, replaced by a cautious peace. Yet the subtle weight of anticipation lingered—because I knew the Golden Mask wouldn't wait. Danger never slept.
I tilted my head up to him, eyes glinting in the soft city light. "Promise me something."
"Anything," he replied, voice low.
"Tonight, just tonight… no plans, no schemes, no ghosts. Just us."
He chuckled, brushing his lips against my temple. "I can promise that. But only until dawn. After that…" His grin was sharp, teasing, and infinitely dangerous. "After that, the war resumes."
I smirked against his chest, letting a rare laugh escape me, light and victorious. "Good. I like it when you're afraid of nothing… except me."
The night wrapped around us like velvet, the city sprawling below, silent and alive. I didn't know what tomorrow would bring, what new horrors or challenges awaited. But for now, I was Lyra. Arrogant, dangerous, indomitable. And tonight… I was happy.
And Kieller, ever relentless, was there to make sure I stayed that way—even if only for a few hours.