Lyra’s POV
The morning sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, painting the bedroom in soft, golden hues. I stretched lazily, my body still humming from the night before. Kurtis lay beside me, his arm draped possessively over my waist, his face relaxed in sleep. For a moment, I let myself soak in the peace of it all.
It felt surreal, like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from. Alice was finally out of our lives, her schemes unraveled, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I could breathe without the weight of her shadow looming over us.
But, of course, peace never lasted long. My phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand, shattering the tranquility. I groaned, reaching over to Kurtis to grab it. He stirred but didn’t wake, his soft breathing steady against my nec
