Rhyker’s POV
The sun was low on the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over the clearing as I stood by the window in my study, lost in thought. Lyra had been on my mind, more than I wanted to admit. There was a softness to her, a resilience beneath her quiet demeanor that stirred something in me, a sense of hope I hadn’t felt in years.
The knock on my door brought me out of my thoughts. “Come in.”
The door opened, and Zara stepped in, her gaze searching my face as she closed the door behind her. There was something in her expression—an intensity, a purpose—that piqued my curiosity.
“Zara,” I greeted, gesturing to the chair across from me. “What brings you here?”
She took a seat, crossing her legs with a grace I’d always admired. Her eyes lingered on me for a moment before she spoke.
