Kurtis POV
As we stood on the balcony, the world seemed to fall away. It was just Lyra and me, wrapped in the warmth of each other’s presence. The soft hum of the city below was a faint backdrop to the sound of her breathing, steady and calm against my chest.
“I still can’t believe it’s over,” Lyra murmured, her voice laced with relief. “It feels like we’ve been fighting this battle forever.”
I stroked her hair, letting the silky strands slip through my fingers. “It’s over because we fought together. You gave me the strength to stand my ground, Lyra. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine. “You give me too much credit, Kurtis. You’ve always had that strength. You just needed a reason to unleash it.”
I cupped her face, my thum
