Page 14 of Claws and Effect

His phone rang from the bedside table—his mother’s special ringtone.

Zyle stared at the device, torn between answering and finishing dressing. Frances Rubin tolerated many things from her eldest son, but tardiness for important social functions wasn’t among them.

“You should probably get that,” Holden suggested. “Before she activates the tracking device she clearly had implanted while you were sleeping.”

With a grimace, Zyle answered. “Mother.”

“Darling, please tell me you’re dressed.” Frances’s voice crackled with energy. “The car arrives in thirty minutes, and you know how your brother loses track of time when left unsupervised.”

Zyle caught his reflection in the mirror—towel around his waist, shirt barely buttoned, and his expression betraying far more than he typically allowed. “Nearly ready.”

“Good. I’ve had the most fascinating conversation with Juliette Barclay about her daughter’s charitable work. Did you know Princess Laykin runs their entire education foundation? Apparently she’s quite accomplished—martial arts training,fluent in four languages, and Juliette assures me she’s lovely as well.”

Each detail matched what little he knew of the lioness from the road. Martial arts training explained her combat prowess. An accomplished woman of substance, not merely a political pawn.

“I look forward to meeting her,” Zyle said, surprised to find the words sincere.

“As well you should. This alliance benefits both our prides enormously.” A pause. “Is everything all right, darling? You sound distracted.”

The moment stretched before him—the opportunity to reveal what had happened, to ask if the Summit Pride had reported an attack on their princess.

Yet something held him back. The earring in the bathroom. The memory of her eyes meeting his. The private, powerful recognition that had passed between them.

“Everything’s fine. I’ll see you downstairs.”

He ended the call, turning to find Holden watching him with unconcealed interest.

“You didn’t tell her,” Holden observed.

“Tell her what? That I might have rescued my arranged mate from an ambush? That my tiger recognized her as mine before we’ve even been properly introduced?”

The admission hung in the air between them. Zyle hadn’t meant to verbalize it so plainly, but the truth had escaped before he could contain it.

“So it’s like that.” Holden’s voice softened. “When did you know?”

Zyle moved to the window, staring out at the grounds where evening shadows lengthened across manicured lawns. “The moment our eyes met. My tiger...” He struggled to find wordsfor the primal certainty that had surged through him. “My tigerknewher.”

“What if she’s related to or works for the princess?”

“Then fate has a shitty sense of humor.” Zyle turned back to the room, resolute. “Regardless of who she is, tonight proceeds as planned. The alliance moves forward.”

Holden studied him. “But?”

“But for the first time, I’m walking into a business arrangement without being fully committed to it.” Zyle’s voice lowered. “What does that make me?”

“Human, boss.” Holden’s reply carried no judgment, only understanding. “It makes you human.”

The simple words struck deeper than expected. Human—not just alpha, not just CEO, not just the Rubin heir with generations of expectations weighing on his shoulders. A man capable of unexpected connection, of recognition beyond rational explanation.

Zyle returned to the bathroom, retrieving the emerald earring from the counter. His thumb traced the delicate gold filigree, the small stone catching light like a captured piece of forest.

Whatever tonight held, this small token would remain his secret talisman. The irony didn’t escape him. Here he stood, seeking luck from a connection to one mysterious lioness while preparing to meet another who would determine the course of his future.

Zyle slipped the earring into the inner pocket of his suit jacket, close to his heart. The weight nearly imperceptible, yet somehow anchoring.

“Time to meet my fiancée,” he murmured to his reflection. The silver had receded from his eyes, leaving them dark and determined.

Tonight, duty called—but for the first time, his tiger waited with frustration and the thought of canceling the whole event grew into a solid idea.

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