POV: Lyra

The blade came within an inch of my throat.

I caught the wrist and twisted. The knife clattered to the stone floor. I drove my elbow into the attacker's chest and heard the breath leave their lungs in a rush.

They hit the ground hard.

I pinned them with my knee and looked down at their face.

Vara.

She stared up at me with wide eyes and blood on her lip.

"You," I said.

She did not struggle.

"I had to know."

I pressed my knee harder into her chest.

"Know what?"

She met my eyes.

"If you could be killed."

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I held her there for a...