Page 41 of Claws and Effect

“Even then,” she smiled, leaning into his touch. “Though I reserve the right to mock you for that engineering oversight indefinitely.”

His laugh—warm and uninhibited—wrapped around her like an embrace. Laykin had seen many sides of Zyle in their short acquaintance: the ruthless businessman, the protective alpha, the skilled fighter. But this version—relaxed, playful, his guard completely lowered—might be her favorite yet.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what?”

“For dinner. The bath. Making me feel safe.” She hesitated, then added, “For seeing me as a partner, not just something to protect.”

His arm tightened slightly around her. “You’re so much more than that. You’re my person, princess.”

They returned their attention to the movie, but something had shifted between them—a quiet acknowledgment that what was happening transcended politics and pride alliances. That perhaps fate had known better than either of them what they truly needed.

As Laykin drifted toward sleep, secure in Zyle’s embrace, she realized something profound had grown within her. What began as duty had evolved into something infinitely more precious—something that felt dangerously like falling in love.

Tomorrow, she would investigate the bear clan tattoos and the conspiracy targeting their alliance. Tomorrow, she would insist on being part of the solution, not just someone to be protected.

But tonight, just for these hours, she would allow herself to be simply Laykin—not princess, not treaty signatory, not even fierce lioness—just a woman finding unexpected happiness in the arms of a tiger who’d crossed her path by design but captured her heart by choice.

TWENTY-NINE

Dawn crept across the sky in whispers of amber and gold. Zyle hadn’t moved in twenty-three minutes. Usually by this hour, he’d have completed his morning workout, reviewed overnight market reports from Asia, and outlined objectives for the day ahead.

Instead, he lay perfectly still, watching Laykin sleep.

Her golden hair spilled across his chest. The steady rise and fall of her breathing hypnotized him—this fierce warrior-princess who had fought bear shifters with her bare hands now curled against him like a contented house cat.

His tiger stirred beneath his skin.Mate safe. Mate home.

A week ago, thoughts had centered on acquisition strategies and competitor weaknesses. Now they circled around a single golden-haired focal point. The shift in priorities should have alarmed him. It didn’t.

Laykin stirred, her lashes fluttering open. Catching him watching her, she smiled—that slow, confident curve of lips that consistently rewired his neural pathways.

“Taking inventory or plotting world domination this early?” Morning roughened her voice to a husky purr.

“Can’t it be both?” The corner of his mouth twitched upward.

“Multitasking.” She stretched beside him, testing her healing wounds with cautious movements. “Very CEO of you.”

His gaze traced the shadow of a bruise along her ribs. “How do they feel?”

“Better.” She propped herself up to study him, head tilted. “You look different in the morning. Less... starched.”

“Sleep deprivation compromises my starch levels.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Hungry?”

She arched an eyebrow. “Very. You’re cooking again for me?”

He rose, pulling on a shirt. “I’d doanythingfor you.”

The blush that colored her cheeks shot straight to his core, satisfaction rumbling through him as he padded toward the kitchen.

Zyle moved through his gourmet kitchen with the same precision he brought to boardroom negotiations. Coffee beans ground to exact coarseness. Bread sliced to uniform thickness. Fruit arranged by color and size.

Once again, Laykin appeared wearing his shirt in the doorway. The sight short-circuited his brain. His tiger surged with primitive satisfaction—mine, mine, mine—while his human side scrambled to maintain composure.

“I expected staff bustling about,” she said, sliding onto a barstool. “More suits, fewer spatulas.”

“I prefer privacy.” He slid a mug of coffee toward her. “Staff arrives at nine.”

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