Page 25 of Claws and Controllers

A chill ran down Zy’s spine. Vince had always been ambitious, eager to climb the corporate ladder. But could he really have stolen proprietary code?

“Keep digging,” Zy instructed, his mind racing with possibilities. “But keep it quiet. If Vince is involved, we don’t want to tip him off.”

Adonis nodded, standing to leave. At the door, he paused, turning back with a softer expression. “Just... be careful, Zy. With Ellie, with all of this. I’ve never seen you like this over a woman before. I’d hate to see you get hurt.”

As the door closed behind Adonis, Zy leaned back in his chair, his thoughts a tangled mess of professional duty and personal desire. His tiger, usually a comforting presence in the back of his mind, paced restlessly, as confused by these new emotions as he was.

The day passed in a blur of meetings and decisions, but Zy found his thoughts constantly drifting back to Ellie. Her warm laugh, the spark of intelligence in her eyes, the way her face lit up when she talked about her game...

Before he knew it, evening had fallen, and it was time for his family dinner. Zy changed into a more casual but still impeccably stylish outfit - dark jeans, a crisp button-down shirt, and a soft leather jacket. As he made his way to the restaurant, he tried to push thoughts of work and Ellie aside. Tonight was about family, about celebrating his sister-in-law’s birthday.

The restaurant was bustling when he arrived, the warm lighting and rich aromas creating an inviting atmosphere. He spotted his family at a large round table near the back - his parents, Mara and Tarian, looking as elegant and timeless as ever; his brother Azure and his wife, both glowing with happiness; and a few other relatives he didn’t see as often.

“There he is!” Azure called out as Zy approached. “The prodigal son finally graces us with his presence.”

Zy rolled his eyes good-naturedly as he took his seat. “Some of us have empires to run, little brother.”

The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and gentle teasing. Zy found himself relaxing, the tensions of the day melting away in the warmth of his family’s presence. And yet... he couldn’t quite shake the feeling that something was missing.

It wasn’t until halfway through the main course that he realized what - or rather, who - it was. A familiar laugh cut through the din of the restaurant, causing Zy’s head to snap up, his tiger suddenly alert.

There, at a table across the room, sat Ellie. She looked stunning in a deep blue dress that brought out the rich tones of her skin, her dark red hair cascading over one shoulder. But it wasn’t her beauty that made Zy’s breath catch in his throat. It was the radiant smile on her face as she laughed at something the man sitting across from her had said.

Zy felt a growl building in his chest, his tiger clawing at his insides. Who was this man? Why was Ellie looking at him like that? The rational part of his brain tried to remind him that Ellie was free to see whoever she wanted and he had no claim on her. But his tiger didn’t care about rationality. It saw Ellie as theirs, and the sight of her with another man was driving it wild.

“Whoa there, big brother,” Azure’s amused voice cut through Zy’s spiraling thoughts. “If looks could kill, that poor guy would be six feet under. What’s got your tail in a twist?”

Zy blinked, realizing he’d been glaring daggers at Ellie’s companion. He forced himself to relax, embarrassed by his lack of control. “It’s nothing,” he muttered, taking a large swig of his wine.

Azure’s eyes darted between Zy and Ellie’s table, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Oh ho! Don’t tell me the mighty Zyan Ashford has finally met his match. And with a human, no less! Mom’s going to flip.”

“Shut it, Azure,” Zy growled.

His brother’s teasing had broken through some of the tension, allowing Zy to see how ridiculous he was being. And yet... he couldn’t quite quell the urge to go over there and stake his claim somehow.

Before he could talk himself out of it, Zy found himself standing. “Excuse me for a moment,” he said to his confused family, striding purposefully towards Ellie’s table.

As he approached, Ellie looked up, her eyes widening in surprise. “Zy! What are you doing here?”

Zy plastered on his most charming smile, trying to ignore the way his heart raced at her nearness. “Ellie, what a pleasant surprise. I’m here with my family, celebrating my sister-in-law’s birthday.” He turned to the man sitting across from her, extending his hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met. Zyan Ashford.”

The man stood, clasping Zy’s hand in a firm handshake. “Jack Madden,” he said with a warm smile. “Ellie’s father. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ashford. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Zy felt a wave of relief wash over him, followed immediately by a surge of embarrassment. Her father. Of course. He’d worked himself into a jealous frenzy over Ellie having dinner with her father.

“All good things, I hope,” Zy said smoothly, trying to cover his momentary discomfort.

Ellie snorted, a sound that shouldn’t have been as adorable as it was. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far. But I may have mentioned your surprisingly decent gaming skills once or twice.”

“High praise indeed,” Zy chuckled, his eyes locked on Ellie’s. For a moment, the rest of the restaurant seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in their own little bubble.

The spell was broken by Jack clearing his throat. “Well, Mr. Ashford, it was nice to meet you. We shouldn’t keep you from your family celebration.”

Zy blinked, coming back to himself. “Of course, you’re right. Enjoy your evening.”

As he turned to go, Ellie called out, “Zy?” He looked back, his breath catching at the soft smile on her face. “It was good to see you.”

“You too, Ellie,” he replied, his voice low and warm. “You too.”

---