Lyra’s POV
The silvery rays of the moon poured its icy glow in the middle of the mansion as it peeked through the clouds, portions of it leaked on the outside of Rhyker's window. I could see his beige curtains from where I stood. I watched from a distance, my mind swirling with thoughts that tangled and knotted, leaving me restless. Every day spent here, every glance shared with Rhyker, chipped away at my defenses, but tonight, my emotions felt as raw as an open wound. But I couldn't quite decipher what I was feeling. What was I feeling?
I’d been avoiding him—keeping our conversations light, our moments brief, always pulling back before the warmth of his presence could seep too far into me. But the truth was, I didn’t trust myself around him. There was a hunger in his gaze, an intensity
