The book lay untouched in Lyra's lap, its weight pulling her down as if opening it would drag her into a world she wasn't ready to face. The silence in the cabin pressed on her, only broken by the soft crackle of the dying fire. The space between her and Kael felt charged, each passing second heightening the tension that had been simmering for days.
Lyra stared at the cover of the ancient book, her fingertips grazing the edges, but her thoughts were tangled elsewhere. She could feel Kael's presence—his watchful eyes, the heat of him, the way the air seemed to shift when he moved. Every part of her was aware of him, and it both terrified and fascinated her.
"I don't understand," Lyra whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackling flames. "Why does this all fall on me? What do they want from me?"
