Lyra's Pov

I was sitting by the window, staring at the woods as the cool evening breeze brushed against my face, bringing a rare moment of calm. A small smile crept onto my lips as I thought about Varg and the kiss we’d shared. The memory made me blush, and I absentmindedly tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his words to me replaying in my head as I continued to stare.

That peaceful moment shattered when the door flung open with a loud bang. My heart leaped into my throat, and for a terrifying second, I thought Lucian had come to take me away. But when I...