Chapter 24: The Gilded Cage
The descent in the private elevator was a journey from one world to another. The lingering warmth of Kael's body, the scent of their coupling on her skin, the profound quiet of the covenant they had just forged—it all clung to her like a second skin as the numbers on the display counted down to the garage level. When the doors hissed open, the air changed. It was cooler, smelling of concrete, motor oil, and tension.
A sleek, black, non-descript vehicle was waiting, its engine a low purr. Ronan stood beside the driver's door, his posture taut. He was dressed in tactical black, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a sharp, focused intensity. His hazel eyes scanned her as she approached, and for a fleeting moment, she saw something unreadable flicker in their depths—a mix of concern and something else, something she couldn't name.
"You're late," he said, his voice clipped.
