Chapter 42: The Seeds of Doubt
The cold stone beneath Lyra's knees seemed to sap the warmth from her bones. The air in the cavern was thick with tension, every breath she took heavy and suffocating. The weight of Marcus's presence pressed down on her, the dark magic of the ritual site seeping into her very skin.
She looked up at him, her wrists still bound in chains, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and defiance. Marcus stood tall, his eyes gleaming with triumph as he slowly circled her, like a predator savoring its prey.
"You've been so focused on Kael," Marcus began, his voice smooth, mocking. "So determined to believe that he's your savior. Your protector. But tell me, Lyra, have you ever stopped to wonder what he's really after?"
