Lyra tossed and turned in her bed, sleep evading her like a distant memory. Her mind was a whirl of emotions—fear, anger, confusion, and an ache she couldn't name. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Kael—his intense gaze, the heat of his kiss, the way his hands had moved over her as if she belonged to him.
Her pulse quickened at the thought, and she hated how easily he affected her. She couldn't think straight when he was near, couldn't separate what was real from the tangled mess of feelings he stirred inside her. There was no denying the bond between them, but with each kiss, each touch, she felt herself slipping further into something she wasn't sure she could control.
The cabin was silent, save for the occasional crackle of the dying fire, but Lyra's heart pounded loudly in her ears. Tomorrow was the day Kael had promised they'd finish her training—the day she would have to face the full extent of her power.
