Page 59 of Bound By Crimson
It was a cathedral of silk and velvet.
Shelves curved along the walls, wrapped in golden light. Lace and satin whispered from their hangers. Velvet gowns pooled like spilled ink. Jewelry sparkled in glass cases, catching the glow like captured starlight.
The scent of oud and rose lingered in the air—haunting, decadent, intimate.
Lyric stepped forward, fingers brushing the edge of a midnight blue gown.
“These... these are all mine?”
Kai came up behind her. His arms circled her waist, drawing her against his chest. His breath warmed her neck before his lips brushed her skin.
“I’m so glad you came to me,” he murmured. “Now you fully belong to me. This city, this life—I’ll give you everything.”
A shiver ran through her.
No one’s ever done this much for me,she thought, her throat tightening.
Her phone buzzed softly in her pocket. She slipped it free, expecting some generic notification.
Velora:You deserve this.
Lyric’s breath caught.
Divine timing, she thought. That’s what Velora would call it.
As if the universe was telling her, she was exactly where she was meant to be.
---
She looked out across the skyline, the endless sea of lights, and let the last weight of doubt fall away.
Whatever came next—
She was ready.
Chapter Sixteen
Bittersweet Reunion
The weeks in New York became a dream Lyric never wanted to wake from.
Every day unfolded into something new—glamorous, thrilling, and almost unreal. Kai’s world stretched around her like a glittering, endless stage.
There were galas beneath crystal chandeliers where the ceiling seemed to touch the stars.
Broadway premieres where camera flashes chased her like falling starlight.
Private dinners at restaurants that opened after hours just for them.
Kai placed her hand on his arm and led her into rooms where power was worn like perfume.
And the world noticed.
Her name appeared in articles. Blogs. Tabloids.
Who is the mystery woman at Kai Thorn’s side?
Her wardrobe transformed.
