Chapter 30: Shadows of Betrayal
The explosion shattered the fragile veil of sleep, jolting Lyra awake in Kael's arms. The room trembled, dust sifting from the ceiling as alarms blared through the fortress. Kael was on his feet in an instant, his naked form a silhouette of raw power against the flickering emergency lights. "Nightclaw," he snarled, yanking on his tactical pants with practiced efficiency.
Lyra's heart pounded, adrenaline surging as she scrambled for her clothes. The warmth of their lovemaking lingered on her skin—Kael's possessive touches, the way he'd claimed her with slow, deliberate thrusts that built to shattering ecstasy—but now it was eclipsed by the cold grip of war. "Where?" she demanded, pulling her shirt over her head, her dark hair whipping around her face.
"Western perimeter," Kael replied, strapping on his vest. His stormy gray eyes met hers, a flash of protectiveness cutting through the chaos. "Stay here—"
