In a world where everything and everyone could be used as a bargaining chip, not even bodies or marriages were sacred.
Yet to Lyra, such things held little value.
Beautiful bodies were a dime a dozen, easily replaceable. And the most dangerous enemies were often disguised as friends, partners, hiding in plain sight.
To her, the only way to operate at full strength was to steer clear of emotional entanglements—intimacy was just another set of chains, ones she refused to wear.
...
When Lyra and Aurelius walked into the banquet hall, the shimmering crystal chandeliers overhead bathed the room in warm light, illuminating clusters of well-dressed guests engaged in hushed conversation.
The space was filled with stunning people, but Lyra didn't stand out as the most glamorous. Still, the moment someone called her name, the uniformed soldiers scattered throughout the crowd turned their heads, all eyes now fixed on her.
