Lyra felt a curious mixture of relief and apprehension as Percival and Declan walked away from the table. Just moments ago, Percival had claimed her with that devastating kiss, publicly establishing her as his wife. Now his absence left her vulnerable to the vipers who remained.
She took a sip of water, grateful for those few seconds to compose herself. Her lips still tingled from Percival's touch. Had that been strictly for show, or was there something real behind it? The thought vanished as Orla's eyes locked onto her like a predator spotting wounded prey.
"Well, well," Orla practically purred, adjusting her designer bracelet. "That was quite the performance."
Jasper Covington, who had been uncharacteristically silent during the earlier confrontation, finally spoke up. "I have to admit, I'm impressed by your ambition, Lyra. You've clearly been planning this for some time."
Lyra met his gaze coolly. "Planning what, exactly?"
