Sing, Canary - Ashley Amy Page 0,24

but I then woke up.

I woke up to the same Hell I had never escaped.

Seeing the deadly eyes of the men in my life, I felt secure. I shouldn't. Especially around Caine, but I did.

Their monsters were a layer of protection I never knew I needed. Caine thought his bullying bothered me, but the truth was, nothing compared to what I went through inside myself.

Only three men were still living to know that tale. Three remained as the haunting of my past shaded their view of me.

Running my nail over the throbbing vein, I let myself feel the kick in its beat from wanting his attention. His tongue darted out, licking his bottom lip intimately.

I wanted his tongue to feel what my finger was now, but I could never tell that to the man who saw me as a victim. That's the only reason he stayed around.

He needed someone to keep saving.

Shaking his head, he pulled himself out of the daze. Coughing to clear his throat, he jerked his head for me to follow him to the table. "I'll slow down my spells."

Tucking my head, I followed him, knowing he'd never see me as the woman I was rising to become. Growth he couldn't learn with the badge hanging around his neck.

He set up the camera for this meeting after he held me, knowing his brotherly affection couldn't be seen. My eyes raked over the tribal markings that lined his beautiful body. He felt the need to hide them, but I wanted to see them all.

As he sat across from me, I placed my mask back on. The Lyra who felt could never be seen in this life.

"I know the answer, but I need you to give me one. Were you the one who killed your father?"

Instead of answering, I spread my wings, revealing the one grey. With a quick glance, Talon hurried to look away. He hated the reminder of that feather, but it was still my only one.

"Does this answer your question?" I responded to him.

I knew my retort was a little immature, but I hated how he saw me as his damsel. I'd never be anything more than my past with him.

I hated knowing I needed the safety of his hold the most. There wouldn't be a day this dangerously gorgeous good guy didn't cross my mind.

That he made my heart skip a beat when I saw him coming to my rescue.

"Words would've worked just fine, Lyra."

"Yeah, but I wanted the dramatic flair. You already know where that grey feather came from. You were the one who documented it in the police report from my kidnapping."

"Jesus." He scrubbed his face at my words. "Lyra, stop being so crass. Caine already told me Dolion is across from you."

Of course, Caine had to set off Talon's anxiety. All of the sudden, the bags under his eyes made more sense. They weren't from the case. They were from fearing what might be happening to me.

My hand reached out, covering his. Talon didn't cuff me to the table, but his back blocked the view of my touch.

His eyes looked up, searching mine for something I didn't understand. I moved my head to be obstructed by his body too.

"I'm alright, Tal. I am strong enough to survive. You know this better than anyone. August has my back. Do not fret what we cannot change. I will survive."

"It isn't your survival I'm worried about, Lyr. We both know what you're capable of. I'm trying to save you from reaching that point again."

Taken aback, I let go of his hands. I squared my shoulders, hurting from his response. Apparently, he didn't like the Lyra I had to be to survive that day.

Well, that Lyra had already been rising. She wanted to show everyone who could run her father's business.

"Well then, I guess you have your answer. Am I free to go?"

"Lyra..." He tried to backpedal.

"I wish you luck solving my father's murder," I paused, glancing up at the speechless man. He was too beautiful to be real. That was the face I saw when I was finally found, and it looked more angelic than my own. “I need you to tell Gregor I am well. His wife’s been concerned about some of our east trades now that I’m in here.”

“Lyra, please just talk to me. I’m worried about you,” he tried to reason with me. Though, deep within my soul, I knew he held me on a pedestal I shouldn’t be on.

“I am her,