Chapter 5
Chapter 5 A Gift for You
07
Gedric Wilder had soft, delicate bone structure, his beauty so striking it blurred the line between masculine and feminine. Silky silver hair was loosely tied back, the loose strands spilling over one shoulder.
Perched atop his head were pale pink–tipped white ermine ears, adding a sweet, clumsy charm that clashed gently with his otherworldly good looks.
He lacked Draven’s bold, eye–catching glamour.
Cedric carried his beauty unconsciously; every casual shift of his frame held a quiet, hypnotic pull that drew every gaze.
Right now, his soft, dewy pale eyes stared at Lyra thick with apology.
Blown away by his striking features, Lyra froze for a beat before snapping back to reality and shaking her head quickly.
She slid his folded supplies and handwritten note through the service slot.
He thanked her quietly, taking the bundle with both hands.
His fingers were pale and slender as polished porcelain, flushed soft pink at the fingertips, delicate like layered flower petals.
After scanning the note, he offered his name gently.
“I’m Cedric Wilder.
“Could you grab three bags of dog kibble, four pouches of wet dog food, plus some freeze–dried treats for
me?
“Oh, please stick to the HomeComfort brand–two large–grain kibble sacks and one small–grain bag, the large formula with glucosamine added…
“Also five bags of cat food, preferably the p>
Lyra scribbled furiously, her pen flying across the logbook, unable to keep up with his endless list.
She’d heard soft pattering noises coming from his cell earlier, and now she understood why–he shared his space with dozens of pets.
“I’ll also need staff to deep clean my room; there’s fur everywhere. And I’d like a yard pass to take them all out to run around p>
He paused, thinking it over. “That’s all for now p>
He’d finished listing requests, yet Lyra’s pen still raced across the page.
Seeing she hadn’t caught up, Cedric glanced back and called softly to the large dogs darting and tumbling around his cell, telling them to settle down.
The cell was spacious enough to house him and all his furry companions without crowding.
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Chapter 5 A Gift for You
At last, Lyra set down her pen, shook her sore wrist, and lifted her eyes to him.
Cedric’s face flooded with remorse. “I’m so sorry. Mochi and the others haven’t restocked their food in ages.
Lyra shook her head, then slid a scrap of paper with her name toward him–he’d given his own, so it was only fair she share hers.
“Lyra Kaelin…” Cedric murmured the name softly. “I’ll remember it. Thank you for putting up with all thes supplies. I hate to trouble you so much p>
Lyra shook her head once more and slid the metal window shut.
She’d just turned to push her cart toward the next cell when the pager tucked inside her jacket crackled with
static.
Jessa’s voice hissed low through the speaker. “Lyra? You alright over there p>
A beat passed, then she added, “Any trouble? Tap once if you’re safe p>
Lyra turned to the wall to hide the pager, tapping the device once with the tip of her pen the second Jessa finished speaking.
Jessa’s voice came again. “Lunch will be served soon. You wrapping up your rounds? Tap once if you’re nearly done p>
Lyra glanced up. She’d barely covered this floor, and feral roars echoed nonstop from the cells around her.
If she ran into another uncooperative Sentinel like Rook, she’d fall even further behind.
Tap, tap.
Jessa frowned on the other end of the line.
Half the morning had slipped by, and she still had dozens of cells left?
The veterans before her usually finished and came back in one or two hours at most.
“Then you need to hurry. Lunch delivery is coming up soon. By the time you finish delivering it, the food will be cold p>
Lyra took a deep breath and tapped the pager once more. She stowed the device back in her pocket and quickened her pace.
When she slid open the next service window, a grinning face greeted her.
Sharp crimson fox ears jutted from his hair, and his eyes held the same slitted amber vertical pupils as a fox. Combined with his lean cheekbones, he looked somewhat eerie.
“Sweet girl, you look like you’re running out of time. Want me to help p>
His narrow, uptilted fox eyes crinkled into thin slits when he smiled, reminiscent of the wolf that tricked Little Red Riding Hood.
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Chapter 5 A Gift for You
He’d clearly overheard her quiet conversation with Jessa through the wall.
shook her head firmly and rushed to pass his supplies through the slot.
Finishe
The more she hurried to move on to the next cell, the slower Lucian Hart dragged out his responses.
“Items I need… let me think p>
He fixed Lyra with an innocent, warm grin, yet his narrowed eyes gave him away as a crafty fox through and through.
“I haven’t smelled fresh flowers in ages. Which do you think smells nicer–rose, or snow orchid p>
Lyra had no clue what scent he preferred.
She signed sharply, gesturing they were out of time and he couldn’t hold up the lunch service for everyone else.
To her surprise, Lucian lit up like he’d stumbled onto a fun new game.
“Is this a charades game? I love games.” He tilted his head playfully.
Lyra frowned and glared at the man deliberately teasing her.
She tapped her logbook hard, signaling he needed to speak fast or she’d leave.
Lucian blinked wide, innocent eyes. “I can’t quite figure out what you mean. Why don’t you write it out for me p>
Lyra pressed her lips together and scribbled a quick note on fresh paper.
Lucian only glanced at the words before his gaze locked onto the dark bruise wrapped around her wrist.
“You’ve bruised yourself pretty bad p>
He shifted his hand forward, and Lyra pulled her arm back instantly, sharp wariness in her stare.
Her skittish little expression amused Lucian, and he let out a soft, throaty laugh, eyes crinkling with delight.
“You’re adorable. Stamp your feet and you’d look just like a skittish bunny p>
Lyra furrowed her brows and nodded firmly at the slip of paper for him to read.
Lucian held her gaze for a long moment before slowly picking up the note and reading aloud.
“Please tell me what supplies you need quickly, or I’ll have to come back tomorrow. I still have dozens more cells to tend to, and all the lunch food will grow cold p>
Once he finished reading, his warm amber eyes drifted slowly back to the girl on the other side of the
narrow slot.
She was cute–frustrated, yet still polite enough to use “please p>
The previous attendants had stormed off and tossed supplies through the window without a word the
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Chapter 5 A Gift for You
second they grew annoyed.
Finisher
thought back to the rude staff who’d treated them like beggars, and his lashes fell to shadow his eyes, a flicker of cold malice flashing across his face for a split second.
Tap, tap.
Seeing him lost in thought, Lyra tapped the logbook again to pull his attention back.
Lucian lifted his head, his easy, playful smile fully restored.
“Alright, alright. Grab a bottle of rose body oil for me p>
Lyra shot him an exasperated glance and jotted the request down fast.
She reached to slide the window shut when Lucian spoke once more.
“It’s a gift for you.” His gaze dropped to her bruised wrist, tone laced with quiet meaning. “It boosts circulation, helps fade bruises p>
Lyra gave a flat, wordless nod of thanks and slammed the metal window shut without hesitation.
She glanced down at her discolored wrist, then hurried onward with her cart.
Over two dozen cells still waited–she truly couldn’t afford to waste more time.
After that, aside from one more person who was cute–looking but had a nasty personality and teased her for
a while, the others were cold and indifferent, but did not make things too difficult.
Lyra pushed her cart as fast as she could.
The third floor housed fully beast–shifted high–risk Sentinels, trapped in constant agony from crippling psychic contamination.
They slammed against steel doors and concrete walls, roaring loud enough to shake the corridors.
Lyra had grown desensitized to the noise by now, remaining calm and steady.
The service windows on this level were far narrower, built only to slide flat items through. No extra supply requests were logged for the feral inmates.
She jotted down a list of cracked doors and damaged walls needing repair, checked the time, then rushed back toward the main exit of the cell wing.
Shortly after she left, the endless roaring echoing from the third–floor cells faded into complete silence.
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Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.