Page 55 of Knot Heirs: Serenity's Reign

"I trust you slept well," he said without turning.

"Well enough." She moved to the kitchen island, maintaining a careful distance. "I've made my decision."

Now he turned, silver eyes assessing her with that unnerving intensity. He offered a cup of coffee—black, no sugar, exactly as she preferred it. Another small detail he'd somehow learned.

"And?" His voice betrayed nothing, but there was a tension in his shoulders that hadn't been there before.

Serenity took the coffee, inhaling its rich aroma before answering.

"I'm not naive enough to believe I can navigate The Society alone. Not yet. And I'm not stupid enough to dismiss the advantages of an alliance with you three."

"So you'll accept our protection." It wasn't quite a question.

"I'll accept a partnership," she corrected. "Mutual benefit, mutual risk. I won't be a passive ward to be shuffled between Alpha protectors."

A smile curved Lucian's lips, genuine amusement warming his features.

"Your father would expect nothing less." He extended his hand. "Partners, then."

Serenity studied his outstretched hand for a moment, then placed hers in it. His grip was warm, firm, sending an unwelcome current of awareness through her.

"Partners," she agreed. "But understand this, Lucian: I'll work with you, I'll even trust you to the extent necessary for our mutual survival. But at the first sign that you're using me as a pawn in some larger game, I'll burn everything to the ground—starting with you."

His thumb brushed across her knuckles before he released her hand, the ghost of a touch that felt like a brand.

"I would expect nothing less from Marcus Vale's daughter."

Serenity lifted her chin.

"I'll need to return to my apartment. There are things I need to retrieve."

"Already taken care of." Lucian gestured to a sleek leather overnight bag by the door. "Ronan had your essentials collected last night. For security reasons."

Anger flashed through her.

"You had someone enter my safe home without my permission?"

"Yes." No apology, no justification. Just the simple truth. "The Society has resources everywhere. Your apartment isn't safe, and won't be until this is over."

She wanted to argue, but he was right. It was exactly what she would have done in his position.

"Fine. But in the future, you discuss such decisions with me before acting."

"Of course." He set down his coffee cup. "Darius will be here within the hour. There's a secure facility where we can continue our work, away from prying eyes."

Serenity nodded, steeling herself for what lay ahead. The path forward was dangerous, littered with betrayal and death, but she would walk it regardless.

For her father, for her inheritance, for the truth.

"Then I suggest we use that hour to establish some ground rules for this... partnership." She moved to the living area, settling into an armchair with natural authority. "Starting with complete transparency regarding what you know about my father's murder."

Lucian followed, his movements fluid, predatory. "Complete transparency would be unwise at this stage. But I can offer you something better." He sat across from her, leaning forward. "I can offer you the tools to discover the truth yourself. To see the patterns your father saw."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Why the games, Lucian? If you know who killed him?—"

"Because knowing and proving are different beasts entirely," he interrupted. "And because your father built his empire on information carefully acquired and strategically deployed. Your inheritance isn't just wealth and power, Serenity. It's knowledge. And that's something I can't simply hand to you."

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