Lyra returned to her chambers in a daze, Seraphina's words still clinging to her like cobwebs she couldn't brush away. Every step felt heavier than the last, her mind echoing with the Queen's syrupy voice and veiled warnings.
But the moment she pushed open the door, a voice met her—sharp, taut with tension.
"Where have you been?"
She flinched, her eyes snapping toward the sound.
Cassian stood near the tall window, arms crossed over his chest. The fading light of the setting sun etched sharp lines across his face, casting his expression in shadow and gold. He looked every bit the alpha—imposing, commanding, and stormy.
Lyra froze, breath catching in her throat. She hadn't expected him. Not now. Not like this.