Veil of Deception

AUTHOR'S NOTE :

Some people enter your life quietly. Others crash into it like a storm you never saw coming.

Lyra never asked for a bodyguard. She’s reckless, yes. Stubborn, absolutely. But needing protection? No.

At least, that’s what she’s always believed.

Until now.

Adam Blackford is a name she’s just learned, but something about him feels… familiar. Too familiar. His presence is unshakable, his silence louder than words, and his eyes? They see too much.

This is the moment their paths collide.

And neither of them will walk away unchanged.

Lyra's POV

I wake to the soft clinking of a tray being placed on the bedside table, gently tugging me out of the haze of sleep. The dim glow of the chandelier above casts warm light across the room, blending with the soft morning rays filtering through the tall windows, their sheer curtains shifting with the breeze. Blinking away the remnants of rest, I hear a voice, breaking the silence.

"Good morning, Miss," the helper greets, her voice a soft murmur that still holds a certain firmness in it as she sets a glass of fresh orange juice on the bedside table. She steps back, giving me a polite nod. "Would you prefer breakfast downstairs or here in your room?"

I push myself up, the silk sheets pooling around me as my gaze drifts to the elegant canopy bed I'm still nestled in-dark wood and silk drapes in midnight and blush, cascading over the edges in quiet luxury.

I squint at the glass, feeling the weight of sleep still heavy in my limbs. "In my room," I answer, my voice rough from sleep. I reach out to take the juice, the cold glass feeling like a small comfort against my warm fingertips.

She nods, offering a small smile. "I'll bring it shortly, Miss." With that, she retreats, leaving the door slightly ajar as she steps out.

I sip the juice, the sweetness washing away the grogginess. Stretching, I push the sheets aside and slip out of bed, my bare feet sinking into the plush rug that softens the cool marble floor.

I make my way across the room and step into the bathroom. Steam drifts from the shower, the steady sound of water filling the space. Without hesitation, I step inside, letting the heat relax my body and chase away the last traces of sleep.

I step out of the shower, wrapping a towel around myself, the warmth of the water still clinging to my skin. Grabbing another towel, I run it through my damp hair, squeezing out the excess moisture as I step back into my room.

Just as I start to dry my hair, a knock sounds at the door, firm but not urgent. I pause, glancing toward it, my fingers still tangled in the towel. "Come in," I call, expecting the helper, as I continue drying my hair.

The door creaks open, and as I look up, a figure fills the doorway. Alex.

I sigh dramatically, tightening the towel around me with one hand. "You have the worst timing, you know that?" I say, raising a brow. "Or did you just miss me so much you couldn't wait?"

Alex leans against the doorframe, completely unbothered. "Obviously," he deadpans. "You take forever."

I roll my eyes, tossing the damp towel onto the bed. "Well, forgive me for not scheduling my showers around your impatience."

Alex pushes off from the doorframe, his expression serious now, the brotherly teasing fading "Actually," he says, "I need to introduce you to someone."

I squint at him, irritation mixing with the ever-present sense of annoyance I feel when he gets all serious on me. "Introduce me to who?" I ask, eyeing him curiously.