Nadia’s POV:

"Tick-tock, Luna. You’re down to the wire," Lyra taunted, her smirk widening as she ignored my mother. Mom stood there shaking, her face flushed with a lethal rage after the slap she’d just delivered.

"You should thank your lucky stars," Lyra continued, cackling like a madwoman. "You get a front-row seat to the rise of a god."

Before anyone could move, Mother’s hand connected again. The crack of the second slap echoed across the clearing. "You are a disposable pawn, Lyra. Why are you acting like you’ve already won?"

Lyra tilted her head, her tongue tracing the blood on her lip where the blow had landed. "I’ll let...