Lyra's POV
Smoke filled the ballroom. Thick. White fog. Smelled of sulfur. Ozone.
Screams erupted. Elite of the underworld scrambled for exits. Rats.
Didn't scramble. Dropped.
Rappelled from the lighting rig. Upside down. Descending into chaos. Magnetic boots locked onto steel beam. Hung there. Bat in the belfry. Surveying.
Damon gone. V-VIP box empty.
Waiting for me. Vault.
"Leo." Whispered into comms. "Kill lights."
"Executing blackout protocol. 3... 2... 1."
Click.
Sky Garden plunged into darkness. Emergency strobes painted the room. Flashes of red.
Perfect.
Released line. Flipped. Silent landing. Stage.
"Plan C is a go. Aries, extraction team ready?"
"Ready," Aries's voice muffled. Helmet. "Heavy lifter... heavy."
"Get it to the roof. Cyra, guide me."
"Corridor B blocked. Guards," Cyra said. Fingers flying. Keyboard. "Take ventilation shaft. Kitchen. Leads directly to vault cooling system."
Sprinted through kitchen. Dodged panicked chefs. Kicked vent grate. Slid inside.
Freezing. Climate-controlled. Artifacts. Serum.
Crawled fast. Tactical suit. Silent. Frictionless.
Reached end of shaft. Looked down.
The Vault.
Cavern of steel. Reinforced glass. Center pedestal. Dragon's Blood. Vial of shimmering red liquid.
Next to it. Damon.
Jacket off. Sleeves rolled. Glass of whiskey. Looking at the door. Waiting for a date.
"You're late." Spoke to empty room.
Didn't use door. Doors for guests.
Used ceiling.
Cut grate. Laser. Dropped.
Landed behind him. Seven feet. Perfect killing distance.
"Change of plans," I said. Voice distorted. Mask.
Damon turned slowly.
Saw me. Black bodysuit. Mask. Stance—weight on back foot. Ready to spring.
"Shadow Lord," Greeted. Raising glass. "Or... Ms. Gold? Lyra Vane?"
Didn't answer. Lunged.
Distract. Not kill.
Threw three shuriken. Razor-sharp titanium stars.
Damon didn't flinch. Caught one. Dodged second. Third embedded in wall. Next to his head.
"Sloppy." Tsked. "Used to aim for throat."
Moved.
Fast. Faster than human. Faster than Alphas.
Closed distance. Blur. Fist aimed for solar plexus.
Blocked. Forearm. Impact rattled bones. Used momentum. Backflip. Landed on display case.
"Give me serum." Demanded.
"Take it." Smirked. "If you can."
Swept leg. Shattered glass case. Jumped. Grabbed chandelier. Swung. Centrifugal force. Launched myself.
Wrapped legs around neck. 'Black Widow' takedown.
Tried to squeeze. Cut off air.
Too strong. Grabbed ankles. Slammed me against wall.
Crack.
Ribs protested. Didn't let go. Elbow into shoulder.
Granted.
"Feisty." Growled. "Missed this."
Spun me around. Pinned against steel wall. Body pressed against mine. Hard. Hot.
Mask inches from his face.
Smell. Cedar. Rain. Underneath... arousal. Predator found worthy opponent.
"Who are you?" Whispered. Hand reaching for mask.
"Worst nightmare." Hissed. Knee. If not groin... liver.
Wheezed. Grip loosened.
Dropped. Swept legs. Fell.
Scrambled for pedestal. Hand closed around Dragon's Blood.
"Got it." Breathed.
"Leaving so soon?" Hand clamped ankle.
Dragged back.
Twisted. Pointed wrist-mounted tranquilizer at face.
"Let go." Warned.
Looked at dart. Eyes.
"Shoot me." Challenged. Just like six years ago.
"End it."
Memory hit. Dungeon. Fire. Man begging death. Madness.
Hesitated.
Split second enough.
Yanked down. Fell onto chest.
Impact knocked breath. Vial rolled. Floor.
"No!" Reached.
Grabbed wrists. Pinned above head.
Loomed. Eyes burning gold. Feral State creeping. Triggered by violence.
"Mine." Snarled.
Lowered head. Thought he would bite throat.
Sniffed.
Buried nose in crook of neck. Pulse beating frantically.
"This scent." Groaned. "It's you. Really you."
Remembered.
Mask. Tactical gear. Moves.
"Six years." Whispered against skin. "Looked for you. Every shadow. Every face."
Grip tightened. Bruising.
"Why did you leave?"
"Because you were a monster." Whispered back.
"Still am." Ripped mask off.
Cool air. Face exposed.
Stared down. Lyra. Neighbor. Mother. Shadow Lord.
All one woman.
Shock raw. Human.
"Lyra..."
Didn't wait. Process. Kiss. Kill.
Headbutt.
Crunch.
Roared pain. Clutching nose. Blood spurred.
Rolled away. Grabbed serum.
"Good dog." Panted. Standing.
Looked up. Blood streaming. Smiling. Bloody. Terrifying. Triumphant.
"Run, little wolf." Laughed. "Run fast."
Reached for smoke grenade.
"Bye, Damon."
Threw it.
Proof.
Smoke filled vault.
Ran to vent. Climbed. Didn't look back.
Heard laughing in dark.
Laugh promised chase.
Promised never let go. Again.
Rooftop.
Helicopter. Heavy-lift drone. Leo driving.
Jumped in.
"Go! Go, go!"
Leo punched throttle. Lifted off. Soaring night sky.
Clutched vial. Dragon's Blood. Heart hammering. Hurt.
"Mom?" Cyra asked. Bruised face. "Did you win?"
Looked down. Storm Tower shrinking.
Had serum. Had life.
Lost cover.
Damon knew. Everything.
"Don't know, baby," Whispered. Touching lips where breath lingered. "Game changed."
"Changed how?" Aries.
"Now," Looked at dark city. "Not hiding. War."