The Heiress He Underestimated novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76 In His Arms

She looked at the clock. Four AM. She should try to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be brutal, and she needed to be sharp.

But her mind was racing, playing through scenarios. What if Lyra exposed her? What if Xan made another move? What if someone at the gala recognized her from her brief, disastrous engagement to Xan and started asking questions?

“You’re thinking too loud,” Drakonius’s voice came from the bed, rough with sleep. “I can hear your brain working from here.”

“Sorry,” Elera said, guilt flooding through her. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t. The drugs are wearing off and my hands hurt.” He shifted in the bed, trying to get comfortable. “What’s wrong? And don’t say nothing. I can see your face.”

She could lie. She should lie. Keep the Raven secret buried for just one more day. But looking at him, at the trust in his tired eyes, she couldn’t do it. Not completely.

“Someone sent me a threatening email,” she said carefully. “Anonymous. Saying they know things about me. About my past. They implied they might make trouble at the gala tomorrow.”

Drakonius was fully awake now, pushing himself up against the pillows. “What kind of things?”

“Just… things I haven’t told you yet. Things about who I was before we met. Before I became Mrs. Vex.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m not who people think I am. I never have been. And someone’s figured that out.”

He watched her for a long moment. “Do you think it’s Xan?”

“Maybe. Or your sister.”

“Lyra.” He said her name with such weariness. “Of course. She can’t just let me have this. She has to pick at it, try to unravel it.” He rubbed his face with one hand. “What did the email say exactly?”

He was quiet for a long time, his gray eyes searching hers in the dim light. Then he held out his hand. “Come here.”

She went, climbing onto the bed beside him. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her, and she buried her face in his chest. He smelled like the expensive soap from his shower and something else. something that was just him.

“I do trust you,” he said into her hair. “I don’t know why. You showed up in my life out of nowhere, married me in the middle of a scandal, and brought more chaos with you than I’ve had in years. By all logic, I should be suspicious. But I’m not. I trust you completely. And that’s either the smartest or the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”

Elera felt tears prick her eyes. “I’m not going to betray you,” she whispered. “Whatever happens tomorrow, whatever gets revealed or doesn’t, I’m on your side. Always.”

“I know,” he said simply. “Now stop thinking and sleep. We both need it.”