Page 133 of Knot Heirs: Serenity's Reign

Serenity leaned into his touch almost unconsciously. "I don't get sick," she muttered, as if illness were a personal failure rather than biology. "I haven't been sick since grad school."

"Even the fiercest wolves have their down days," Darius replied. His thumb traced a small circle against her temple, an unexpectedly tender gesture. "There's no need to apologize for being human."

"I wasn't going to apologize," she lied, though they both knew she had been about to do exactly that.

A rare, genuine smile curved his lips. "Of course not."

She tried to shift position and winced at the ache in her muscles. "You should go back to work. I can manage."

"Scoot over," Darius commanded instead, already loosening his tie.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" He didn't wait for her response, simply kicked off his shoes and slid onto the bed beside her, still wearing his immaculately tailored suit. The mattress dipped under his weight, and the scent of his cologne—sandalwood and something uniquely him—enveloped her.

"You don't have to stay," she protested weakly, even as her body instinctively moved toward his warmth. "I'm not a child."

"You talk too much," he muttered, the words gruff but lacking their usual bite. His arm slid around her shoulders, drawing her against the solid wall of his chest. "Sleep, Serenity."

She felt the low rumble of his voice vibrate through her. Something primal in her Omega nature responded to the command in his tone, the protective strength of the Alpha beside her easing an ancient anxiety she hadn't known she carried.

"The Castellano crime family heir playing nursemaid," she murmured against his shirt. "Your enemies would pay good money for photographic evidence."

His chest rose and fell with silent laughter. "Let them try." His fingers stroked through her damp hair, a hypnotic rhythm that was already pulling her toward sleep. "Rest now. I'll be here."

"Fine," Serenity mumbled, her eyelids growing impossibly heavy despite her determination to remain awake. "But I'm taking a rain check on this argument." Her words slurred slightly as she pressed her feverish cheek against the cool fabric of his shirt. "Don't think... this means you win."

Darius's lips curved upward as he gazed down at her flushed face. "Whatever rocks your boat, Vale."

"It's 'floats'... your boat," she corrected, but her voice was already fading, the battle against exhaustion nearly lost.

His hand moved to cup her face, thumb gently stroking her heated cheek. The tenderness of the gesture was at odds with the powerful man the world knew—the Alpha who commanded respect with a mere glance, who controlled billions with a signature. Here, in the dimming light of the bedroom, he was simply a man caring for his mate.

"Sleep now," he whispered, leaning down to press his lips against her forehead.

The kiss wasn't demanding or possessive like so many they'd shared before. This one held something else—a promise, a question, something neither of them had dared name yet.

"Mmm," Serenity hummed, a small smile playing on her lips as her golden eyes, flecked with that distinctive red, finally fluttered closed. "We'll... continue... tomorrow."

Her breathing gradually deepened and evened out, her body relaxing fully against his. The vulnerability of her in this moment struck Darius with unexpected force—this woman who'd fought him at every turn, who'd met his domineering nature with her own fierce independence, now trusted him enough to surrender to sleep in his arms.

Darius shifted slightly to better accommodate her weight against him, careful not to disturb her rest. He studied her face, memorizing the sweep of her lashes against her cheeks, the slight part of her lips as she breathed. The fierce protectiveness that surged through him was both familiar and entirely new—he'd spent his life protecting what was his, but never had the instinct felt so visceral, so consuming.

Three days left in the hunt. Three days until her discovery period ended and the Vale Empire would officially pass to her control or be claimed by another. His eyes hardened at the thought of anyone else attempting to claim what he now considered undeniably his.

Outside, darkness fell completely, casting the room in shadows broken only by the dim glow of the bedside lamp. The world beyond these walls continued its frantic pace—deals being made, threats carried out, fortunes won and lost. For now, none of it mattered. His phone vibrated in his pocket with what were undoubtedly urgent messages, but he made no move to check it.

Instead, he maintained his silent vigil, his powerful frame a shield between Serenity and whatever dangers tomorrow might bring. The connection between them had deepened beyond mere attraction or convenience, beyond even the biological pull of Alpha and Omega. Something fundamental had shifted, a bond forming that would complicate everything—and yet, watchingher peaceful face in sleep, Darius couldn't bring himself to regret it.

The hunt was approaching its conclusion, but Darius knew the real challenge was only beginning.

25

DARKNESS IN PLAIN SIGHT

~LUCIAN~

Lucian gripped the steering wheel of his Aston Martin, knuckles white as he guided the car through the winding roads leading to Oakwood Cemetery. The bouquet of white lilies rested on the back seat, their sweet scent filling the car with memories he'd rather forget.

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