Lyra’s POV
I laid on my bed, staring up at the wooden beams of the ceiling, my mind lost in the whirlwind of recent days. The memory of the dance, of Rhyker’s hand on mine and the warmth of his gaze, lingered like an echo, but so did Zara’s words, haunting and cold. I thought of the way she looked at me, how I felt like an intruder, and yet... there was something deeper drawing me to stay.
I closed my eyes, searching for peace, but instead, I found myself spiraling further into uncertainty, lost in questions that had no easy answers.
“Lyra.”
The voice in my mind startled me, soft yet powerful, familiar as my own heartbeat.
Tera.
She had been silent for days, allowing me to navigate this strange new world on my own. I’d almost forgotten the solace her presence brought.
“Are you ther
