The Reckoning
The air in the lab crackled with the aftermath of the shattered energy field. Kieran, his body screaming from the exertion and the virus, tore at Lyra's restraints with desperate urgency. The elite guards, momentarily disoriented by the unexpected collapse of the barrier, surged forward, their weapons raised. Thomas Carlisle, his face a mask of furious disbelief, howled orders.
But Kieran moved with a speed born of pure, unadulterated terror and love. He didn't just break the restraints; he ripped them from the table, freeing Lyra's limp form. Her skin was clammy, her breathing shallow, and the terrifying scent of the virus was thick around her. He scooped her into his arms, her head lolling against his shoulder, a fragile weight. The mate bond, though weak, still pulsed, a
