Sing, Canary - Ashley Amy Page 0,25

you know. I recognize you think of me as what my father wanted me to be, but I’m not. I have not seen the light since the death of my mother, Talon. Do not place your ideals on me, for I know I’ll never be able to uphold them.”

Talon understood then. He gained the knowledge of who I planned to be when I left this prison. With a nod, his jaw tightened. He turned off the camera for the rest of this to not be documented.

“Where does that leave us?”

“I don’t know, Tal. I don’t see my future without you in it,” I admitted. For the first time, I let the fear of my discussion weigh in. I revealed my fear to the one person who had been loyal at my side.

I was scared to live in my father's shoes, afraid of failing the family business. Most of all, I was terrified to lose Talon.

Even so, I couldn't change who I wanted to be for a man. I couldn't deny what my heart longed for. Family came first for me. It's why the creator struggled with me the most as an angel still carrying the light.

Talon could accept me, or he could sever our ties completely. Even with him being a cop, I still loved him enough to try.

Talon clucked his tongue as he readied his words. "The guards found Freddy Diego dead yesterday."

"Moles belong below the ground," I quipped.

"Lyra, did you kill him?"

"I just showed you my wings."

"Did you have a part in his death?"

"Do not ask things you don't want to know the answer to, Detective."

"You're really doing it, aren't you?" His sad eyes pleaded with mine for a different answer. He wanted me to change my mind.

"You, of all people, know where my loyalty will always remain." I let the fierceness of my fallen loved ones shine through.

"He'd be proud," Talon whispered, trying not to be proud as well.

I knew he referred to my father. Armoni was a man about his family. He treated Caine and Axel as his own when he taught them the inner workings of our family business.

Getting choked up, I dipped my chin, clearing my throat. Talon could tell my emotional state was softening, so he switched the topic.

"I'll give your message to Gregor. I'm sure it needs to be word for word, so I don't need you to clarify." Talon stood from his chair. I rose from mine as I knew he was calling this interrogation over.

"Thank you." I turned toward the exit.

"And Lyra?"

Meeting his handsome gaze, I held my breath.

He stalked toward me with a new hunger in his eyes. Every inch of my flesh understood what was to come before his calloused hands ever gripped my face.

His firm lips crashed against mine as he told me without words what had been on his mind. I whimpered, trying to keep up with his unadulterated intensity. I could never question again what I meant to him.

I thought I was just the damsel he had to rescue, but the more he controlled our kiss, I learned I was something more to him as well.

The fierceness of his devotion bled through the lines. His teeth caught the edge of my mouth, and my coppery tang settled between our kiss.

He groaned, craving me through his bloodlust. My body molded to his as I grew too weak to stand on my own.

I unveiled myself to him. I let Talon see me without my indifferent mask. Still, my hands were too nervous to move from between us as he held me against him.

When he released me from his snare, I let my head fall against his defined chest. Like Caine, Talon was strong, but naturally so. Axel and Roan held the bodies of beasts that were stockier.

Using his spicy scent to ground me, my head was still dizzy with what just conspired between us. If he wasn't holding me, I'd fall from how faint my legs were. They could not support me after I just gave so much of myself to this man.

I revealed one of my secrets that I’d promised myself I never would.

Dolion's words cut through my head just as I relaxed into the moment. I'd never be free of that man.

Though, his demeaning phrase played through my mind.

Sing, Canary...

I bit back a flinch as Talon kissed my forehead.

"I can't free you until they solve who’s at fault, Lyra, but I'm doing everything I can to keep you safe."

Safe.

That had always been Talon's role in