Chapter 21

TWENTY-ONE

C at’s heart raced as she stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of Keir’s penthouse, gazing out at the twinkling lights of New York City. The events of the day played through her mind like a surreal movie - the launch, the cyber-attack, and the triumph of the Phoenix Protocol. Her fingers traced the cool glass, a smile tugging at her lips.

“Penny for your thoughts, love?” Keir’s warm voice broke through her reverie.

Cat turned, drinking in the sight of him. Even in casual clothes - a soft Henley that hugged his muscular frame and well-worn jeans - he looked like he’d stepped off the cover of a magazine. Sometimes she still couldn’t believe this was her life.

“I’m still processing,” she admitted, crossing the room to curl up next to him on the plush sofa. “Did that really happen? Did we actually pull it off?”

Keir’s rich laugh filled the air as he pulled her close. “We did indeed. You were magnificent, Cat. Absolutely brilliant.”

The pride in his voice made her cheeks warm. She’d always been confident in her abilities, but hearing that praise from Keir - CEO, dragon shifter, centuries-old badass - it hit differently.

“We make a pretty good team,” she murmured, nestling into his side.

“The best,” Keir agreed, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I love you, Cat. More than I ever thought possible.”

Those three words still sent a thrill through her. Cat tilted her head up, meeting his intense hazel gaze. “I love you too, Keir. So much.”

Their lips met in a soft, tender kiss that quickly deepened. Cat poured all her emotions into it - the exhilaration of their victory, the lingering fear from the attacks, and the overwhelming love she felt for this man. When they finally parted, both slightly breathless, Cat couldn’t help but grin.

“You know,” she said, a teasing lilt to her voice, “if we don’t officially move in together soon, I’m going to need to go shopping. My wardrobe’s looking a little sparse these days.”

She expected a chuckle, maybe a playful quip in return. What she got instead was Keir’s sudden stillness, his eyes blazing with an intensity that made her breath catch.

“Why don’t you just rent out your loft?” he asked, his tone casual but his gaze anything but. “Stay here. Permanently.”

Cat blinked, momentarily stunned. “Are... are you asking me to move in with you? For real?”

Keir nodded, a smile spreading across his face. “I am. What do you say, love? Make this our home?”

A thousand thoughts raced through Cat’s mind. It was fast, wasn’t it? But then again, when you knew, you knew. And after everything they’d been through... Cat realized she’d never been more certain of anything in her life.

“Yes,” she breathed, breaking into a radiant smile. “Yes, I’d love to.”

Keir’s answering grin was brilliant. He scooped her up, spinning her around as she laughed in delight. When he set her down, he kept his arms around her waist, his expression softening.

“I want you to feel at home here,” he said. “You can redecorate however you like. I don’t care about the decor, as long as you’re here with me.”

Cat’s heart swelled. She’d never imagined finding someone who understood her so completely, who accepted and cherished every part of her. “Even if I want to put up anime posters?” she teased.

Keir chuckled. “Even then. Though, maybe we can keep those in your office?”

“Deal,” Cat agreed, sealing it with a kiss.

The next morning, Cat’s phone buzzed with a text from Laura.

“Girls’ day out! Amelia and I are kidnapping you for some spa time. No arguments!”

Cat grinned, showing the message to Keir. “Looks like I’m being summoned. Ever since Amelia and Laura met when I was at the clinic they became the best of friends. Now they’re taking me on a spa day.”

Keir laughed. “Far be it from me to stand in the way of sister bonding. Go, enjoy yourself. I’ve got some work to catch up on anyway.”

A few hours later, Cat found herself ensconced in luxury at a high-end spa, being pampered within an inch of her life. As she lounged in a fluffy robe, sipping champagne between treatments, she marveled at how quickly Laura and Amelia had become like sisters to her.

“So,” Amelia drawled, a mischievous glint in her eye. “How are things with my dear brother? Still disgustingly in love?”

Cat felt her cheeks heat. “He asked me to move in. Officially.”

Laura squealed, clapping her hands. “That’s fantastic! Oh, we have to celebrate. Dinner tonight?”

Cat shook her head. “Rain check? Keir’s taking me out to Manhatta. Some sort of surprise.”

Amelia and Laura exchanged a loaded glance that Cat couldn’t quite decipher. Before she could question it, a spa attendant whisked her away for her next treatment.

By the time Cat returned to the penthouse to get ready, she felt like a new woman. Relaxed, pampered, and excited for her evening with Keir. She slipped into a slinky emerald dress that hugged her curves, pairing it with strappy heels and subtle jewelry. Her curls fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and she kept her makeup natural, knowing Keir preferred her that way.

When she emerged from the bedroom, Keir’s reaction made all the effort worthwhile. His eyes widened, raking over her with unconcealed appreciation.

“My god,” he breathed. “You are a vision, love.”

Cat did a little twirl, enjoying the way his gaze followed her movement. “You clean up pretty nice yourself, handsome.”

And he did. The tailored black suit accentuated his broad shoulders and trim waist, and the emerald tie that matched her dress made his eyes pop. Cat’s breath caught as she realized how perfectly in sync they were, even in this.

The ride to Manhatta passed in a blur of heated glances and gentle touches. When they arrived, Cat gasped at the breathtaking view of the city spread out before them. The entire restaurant had been cleared out, a single table set for two by the window.

“Keir,” she whispered, awed. “This is incredible.”

He smiled, leading her to the table. “Only the best for you, love.”

As they dined on exquisite food and sipped fine wine, Cat found herself lost in conversation with Keir. They rehashed the events of the launch, laughing over some of the more ridiculous moments and marveling at how well the Phoenix Protocol had performed.

“I still can’t quite believe it,” Cat admitted, shaking her head. “We actually did it. We took down Obsidian Tech.”

Keir reached across the table, taking her hand in his. “We did. You did. I’ve never been prouder or more in awe of anyone in my life, Cat.”

The intensity in his gaze made her breath catch. “Keir...”

He stood suddenly, pulling her to her feet. Cat’s brow furrowed in confusion as he led her to the window, the lights of the city twinkling below them.

“Catrina Reeves,” Keir began, his voice low and fervent. “From the moment I met you, I knew you were special. You’ve challenged me, inspired me, and shown me a depth of love I never thought possible.”

Cat’s eyes widened as Keir sank to one knee, producing a small velvet box from his pocket. Her heart thundered in her chest as he opened it, revealing a stunning emerald and diamond ring.

“You are my mate, my partner, my everything,” Keir continued, his eyes shining with emotion. “Will you do me the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife?”

For a moment, Cat couldn’t speak past the lump in her throat. Tears blurred her vision as she nodded emphatically. “Yes,” she managed to choke out. “Yes, absolutely yes!”

Keir’s face split into a radiant grin as he slid the ring onto her finger. He stood, pulling her into a passionate kiss that left her breathless. When they finally parted, Cat couldn’t stop staring at the ring on her finger, a tangible symbol of their love and commitment.

“It’s beautiful,” she murmured.

“Not half as beautiful as you,” Keir replied, his voice husky. He took a deep breath, his expression growing serious.

“Keir,” she said softly, squeezing his hand. “The idea of spending eternity with you is beautiful. It’s everything I never knew I wanted.”

He pulled her into a fierce embrace, burying his face in her hair. “I love you so much, kitten. I promise to make every moment of our long life together count.”

As they held each other, basking in the glow of their engagement and the promise of their future, a commotion from the entrance caught Cat’s attention. She turned, her jaw dropping as she saw a crowd of familiar faces pouring into the restaurant.

“Surprise!” Laura called out, grinning widely.

Cat’s parents, Michael and Laura, Beck, Amelia and her family, and the rest of Keir’s family, including his parents and a host of their friends and colleagues filled the space, all beaming at the newly engaged couple.

“You knew about this?” Cat asked Keir, laughing in disbelief.

He shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. “I may have planned a little celebration.”

The next hour passed in a whirlwind of congratulations, toasts, and laughter. Cat’s cheeks hurt from smiling so much, her heart full to bursting with love and joy. As she looked around at the faces of her family - both blood and chosen - she marveled at how much her life had changed in such a short time.

Eventually, the party began to wind down. Cat found herself back by the window, Keir’s arms wrapped around her from behind as they looked out over the city.

“Happy?” he murmured in her ear.

Cat turned in his embrace, reaching up to cup his face in her hands. “Deliriously,” she replied before pulling him down into a deep, passionate kiss.

In that moment, with the taste of champagne on her lips and the promise of eternity stretching out before them, Cat knew she’d found her happily ever after. And it was only the beginning.