The Devil's Bargain

Kieran's POV

I kissed her.

I actually kissed her.

I stared at the closed elevator doors, my lips still tingling, my mind racing. What the hell had I been thinking?

I hadn't been thinking. That was the problem.

The moment Aurelia looked at me with those vulnerable eyes, asking about my pain, something in me cracked. I'd spent twenty years building walls, keeping everyone at arm's length, never letting anyone close enough to hurt me again.

Then this girl—this brave, broken, beautiful girl walked into my bar and shattered every defense I had.

"Fuck," I muttered, pouring myself three fingers of scotch despite the late hour.

This was supposed to be simple. Use Aria to break up Vivienne's engagement. Save my daughter from making the same mistake I did—marrying for power instead of love. Get revenge on Ethan Ross for reasons that had nothing to do with Vivienne and everything to do with old debts and older wounds.

Falling for Aria wasn't part of the plan.

My phone buzzed. A text from Marcus, my head of security.

“The bail has been processed. Michael Mercer will be released at 9 AM as scheduled. His lawyer has been briefed.”

I responded quickly. “Good. Have someone watch him. I want to know if anyone approaches him, threatens him, or even looks at him wrong

“Already on it. Boss, are you sure about this girl? The optics aren't great.”

“Since when do I care about optics?”

“Since you started kissing women young enough to be your daughter in your penthouse at 3 AM. The security footage—“

I deleted the message and called him directly. "Delete that footage. Now."

"Already done." Marcus's voice held barely concealed amusement. "But Kieran, you need to be careful. This isn't just about Vivienne anymore, is it?"

"I don't pay you to psychoanalyze me."

"No, you pay me to keep you from making catastrophic mistakes. And getting involved with Aria Mercer? That's looking pretty catastrophic."

I ended the call and downed the scotch in one burning gulp.

He wasn't wrong.

Aria was twenty-two. I was forty. She was vulnerable, heartbroken, and desperate to save her family. I was using that desperation to fuel my own agenda. The power dynamic was completely unbalanced.

And yet.

When she looked at me, she didn't see the Lycan Chairman. She didn't see the billionaire or the political powerhouse or the man who could destroy lives with a phone call. She saw someone who understood pain. Someone who'd been betrayed by someone they trusted.

She saw me.

The sun was starting to rise, painting the city in shades of gold and pink. I hadn't slept at all. I stood at the window, watching the city wake up, and thought about the interview in three hours.

The reporter, Jessica Miles, was known for her hard-hitting questions and complete lack of tact. She would dig into everything—the age difference, the connection to Ethan, the suspicious timing of my involvement with Aria's family troubles.

We needed to be prepared. United and pretty convincing.

My phone rang. Charlotte.

I almost didn't answer. But ignoring my ex-wife only made her more persistent.

"What do you want, Charlotte?"

"Good morning to you too, darling." Her voice was saccharine sweet, which meant she was furious. "I heard the most interesting rumor last night. Something about you attending Vivienne's engagement party with a date. A very young date."

"Aria Mercer is twenty-two. Hardly scandalous."

"Aria Mercer is Ethan's rejected mate. Which makes this whole situation incredibly inappropriate." I could practically hear her pacing. "What are you doing, Kieran? Is this some pathetic attempt to sabotage our daughter's happiness?"

"Our daughter isn't happy. She's being manipulated by you into a marriage that benefits everyone except her."

"Ethan loves her—"

"Ethan loves power. Just like you do." I kept my voice level, refusing to give her the satisfaction of my anger. "He rejected his fated mate to marry a Thornhart. That's not love, Charlotte. That's ambition."

"And you would know all about choosing ambition over love, wouldn't you?"

The barb hit its mark. She knew it would.

"This conversation is over—"

"Stay away from that girl, Kieran. You're making a fool of yourself. Everyone's talking about your midlife crisis, your desperate grab for youth and relevance. Is that really how you want to be remembered?"

"I don't particularly care how I'm remembered."

"Liar." Her voice went soft, dangerous. "You care desperately. You always have. That's why you're doing this—you can't stand the idea of Vivienne choosing Ethan over you. This isn't about saving her, it's about your ego."

I hung up before I said something I would regret.

She was wrong. This wasn't about ego. This was about protecting my daughter from making the same mistakes I did. About making sure she chose love over power, partnership over political advancement.

And if destroying Ethan Ross in the process brought me some satisfaction? Well, that was just a bonus.

I showered, shaved, and put on another expensive suit. By the time I was dressed, a text from Aria appeared.

“Ready as I'll ever be. See you in the lobby.”

I arrived first, positioning myself where I could watch the elevators. When Aria stepped out, my breath stopped.

She wore a simple cream dress, elegant and understated, with her hair pulled back in a soft knot. No dramatic makeup, no designer heels. She looked young and genuine and absolutely beautiful.

She also looked terrified.

"Breathe," I said when she reached me. "You look perfect."

"I look like I'm about to throw up."

"That too." I offered my arm. "But we're selling a love story, remember? Nobody falls in love with someone who doesn't make them nervous."

She took my arm, and I felt her trembling. "Kieran, about last night—"

"It was a mistake," I said firmly. "We both know that. It won't happen again."

She looked hurt or maybe relieved. I couldn't tell.

"Right. Of course. Professional."

"Exactly."

The car was waiting. We rode in silence to the Chronicle's offices. I wanted to apologize, to explain, to…

To what? Tell her that I couldn't stop thinking about her. That I had replayed that kiss a hundred times? That I was terrified I was becoming exactly what everyone accused me of—an older man taking advantage of a vulnerable young woman?

"Mr. Thornhart, Ms. Mercer, welcome." Jessica Miles met us in the lobby, her smile sharp. "Shall we?"

The interview room was set up with two chairs facing each other, cameras positioned to catch every micro-expression. Jessica settled into her chair with predatory grace.

"So," she began, "let's address the elephant in the room. Mr. Thornhart, you're forty years old. Aria is twenty-two. That's quite an age gap."

"We're both adults," I said calmly. "Age is just a number."

"Is it? Or is it a power dynamic? You're one of the most powerful Lycans in North America. Aria is a college student whose father was just arrested for embezzlement. Some might say she's dependent on you."

Aria stiffened beside me. I felt her anger even though she tried to hide it.

"Some might say that," Aria said, her voice cold, "but they would be wrong. I'm with Kieran because he treats me like an equal. Because he sees me as more than just someone's rejected mate or someone's daughter. He sees me."

The conviction in her voice surprised me. She was defending our fake relationship like it was real.

The interview continued for another thirty minutes, Jessica digging for scandal and finding none. By the time we left, I was exhausted from maintaining the facade.

In the car, Aria finally spoke. "Did you mean that? What you said about me being brave?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because it's true." I looked at her. "You walked into that engagement party knowing everyone would judge you. You did it anyway. That's bravery."

We drove to the jail to meet her father. Michael Mercer was a broken man—gray-faced, exhausted, confused by his sudden release. When he saw Aria, he nearly wept.

"Baby girl, what did you do?"

"What I had to." She hugged him tightly. "Come on, Dad. Let's go home."

I watched them leave, having arranged everything—driver, groceries, security.

My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

“I know what you're doing. It won't work. Vivienne is mine. And when I'm done with you, you'll wish you'd stayed out of this. - Ethan”

I stared at the message, fury building.

I texted back: “Come for me if you want. But touch Aria again and I'll destroy everything you've ever cared about. Starting with your political career.”

His response was immediate. “You're threatening me? I'm about to be Alpha. I'm marrying your daughter. You have no power over me.”

“Don't I? Want to test that theory? Because I've got eighteen years of dirt on you, boy. Every shady deal, every bribe, every corner you've cut to get where you are. Push me and I'll bury you.”

No response.

Good. Let him sweat.