Page 15 of Stripe for the Picking
"Miss Calder." Kael extended his hand with genuine warmth. "The work you accomplished today has already proven invaluable. You've bought us precious time against those hackers."
A delicate flush painted Wren's cheeks. "I'm glad I could be of assistance. Your cybersecurity architecture is incredibly sophisticated—it was actually exciting to work with."
The soft pink in her cheeks sent heat racing through Rylan's bloodstream. Everything about her—her modesty, her genuine enthusiasm, the way she fit so naturally into his world—fed the growing conviction that fate had delivered exactly what he needed.
Crystal chimes echoed through the ballroom, signaling the start of dinner service. Rylan guided Wren to their assigned table, his hand settling possessively at the small of her back. The intimate lighting cast golden highlights across her hair and painted her skin with warm radiance.
She's beautiful. And she's mine.
As platters arrived bearing spiced protein fillets, violet fruits that glowed faintly in the candlelight, and translucent nutrient gels that sparkled like liquid diamonds, Rylan found himself unable to focus on anything except watching Wren experience his world. Her eyes widened with delight at each new taste, her genuine curiosity and adaptability on full display.
"This Sidaii wine is incredible," she murmured, taking a careful sip of the fruity red liquid. "It's like drinking starlight."
She's absolutely perfect.
Throughout the meal, her voice remained confident and precise as they discussed their successful collaboration, but underneath lay a playful edge that kept him constantly off-balance. When she asked about Nova Aurora's diverse shifter population, her genuine interest in his world made pride swell in his chest.
"It's a beautiful planet," he said, gesturing toward the moonlit landscape visible through the ballroom windows. "Tiger shifters founded Nexus, but we've welcomed dragons, wolves, lions, bears—anyone willing to contribute to our collective defense. I've spent my entire career protecting this place."
"It shows." Her green eyes studied his face with a burning intensity that made his pulse quicken. "The way you move through Defense Nexus, how your team responds to you—you belong here completely."
And you belong with me.
The thought blazed through him with such certainty it left him breathless. Around them, the Council's elite continued their careful conversations, some casting curious glances at the human woman who'd somehow earned Commander Kaedor's undivided attention. Their speculation didn't matter. What mattered was the growing connection sparking between him and the brilliant, fearless woman at his side.
As dessert plates were cleared and the evening's formal proceedings wound down, Rylan realized that somewhere between their initial handshake and this perfect dinner, something fundamental had shifted. Wren wasn't just his consultant anymore.
She was becoming essential to him.
SEVEN
WREN
As the soft strains of music began floating through the grand ballroom, Wren watched couples drift toward the polished dance floor beneath the shifting holographic lights. The romantic atmosphere should have captivated her attention completely, but instead, her gaze kept drifting to a man at the head table who'd been watching her and Rylan with unnerving intensity throughout the entire evening.
What's his deal?
The stranger's ice-blue eyes tracked every gesture between them, cataloging their interactions with the calculating precision of a predator studying prey. Something about his artificially perfect posture and the way his mouth curved in a smile that never quite reached his eyes made her skin crawl.
"Rylan," she murmured, leaning closer to breathe in his intoxicating scent of cedar and something distinctly masculine. "Who's that man at the head table? The one who's been staring at us all night like we're specimens under a microscope?"
Rylan's jaw tightened as he followed her gaze. "Prime Minister Arvox. He essentially runs Nexus—think mayor but with significantly more power and political influence."
As if sensing their scrutiny, Arvox's eyes locked with Wren's. His smile widened, displaying perfect white teeth, but the calculated gleam in his gaze made her stomach churn. Every instinct honed through years of dealing with corrupt tech executives and manipulative government officials during her college internships screamed danger.
Predator. Manipulator. Potential threat.
"Something about that man seems off," she said quietly, her fingers unconsciously moving closer to Rylan's on the white linen tablecloth. "His whole demeanor radiates manipulation."
Rylan's hand shifted to cover hers, the contact sending electricity shooting through her. "Arvox presents himself as harmless to the Council and Nova Aurora's elite, but you're right to be suspicious. Over the years, he's caused delays that always seem to trip up Defense Nexus operations. I could never prove it was deliberate, but the timing was always too convenient."
The protective edge in Rylan's voice made her heart race. There was something incredibly attractive about his controlled fury, and the way his muscles tensed beneath his perfectly tailored black suit as he discussed threats to his command.
"You think he wants you to fail?" she asked, studying the subtle interplay of power and tension radiating from Rylan's tall frame.
"Sometimes I wonder if he feels threatened by my position. He's definitely expressed concerns about my leadership capabilities to the Council." Rylan's blue eyes darkened with frustration. "I'm especially worried he might try something at the upcoming Protocol Trials so that I don't win again."
"The Protocol Trials?" Wren's pulse quickened with interest. "Gerri mentioned those—said I might be able to help you win this year. But I have no idea what they actually entail or why winning matters so much."
