The sanctuary was eerily silent that night. The wolves slept under a blanket of fog, the air still, as if holding its breath. But Lyra couldn't sleep. Not with the weight of the prophecy, not with the increasing tension between her and the men in her life.
The flames in her hearth flickered low, casting long shadows across her chamber. She sat, staring at the maps spread out before her—maps of the valley, of the surrounding territories, and the network of paths that led to the Council's gates.
The path ahead seemed so clear, yet every step felt like walking into the unknown.
Her thoughts kept circling back to Kael. He was back. He was here, in her life again, and with him came the ghosts of their past. They both carried so much history, so much pain. He had betrayed her once. But so had the Council.
And then there was Cassian. The man who had stayed by her side, fought beside her, and bled for her. The man whose loyalty had never wavered. But in the last few days, things had shifted. He had distanced himself, his words sharp, his actions colder.
Was it Kael's return? Or was it something deeper? Something he hadn't yet told her?
A knock on the door broke her from her thoughts. "Lyra?"
Cassian's voice.
She stood up quickly, smoothing her gown. "Come in."
He entered, eyes shadowed by weariness, but something else lingered beneath his gaze—a coldness, something distant.
She couldn't shake the feeling that the distance between them had grown too wide to bridge.
"You've been awake all night," he said, his voice softer than usual, but it still carried an edge.
"I had a lot to think about," Lyra replied, her fingers brushing against the map. "The Council's next move, the ritual, and… Kael."
Cassian's eyes narrowed at the mention of Kael's name. "So you've decided to trust him."
Lyra sighed. "I don't know if I can trust him. But I don't have a choice. He's part of this now."
Cassian's lips pressed into a tight line. "You're not sure about him, and yet you're willing to risk everything on a chance?"
"It's not a chance," she said firmly. "It's a decision. A chance at freedom. If Kael's still alive, it means the prophecy is more than just words."
His gaze dropped to the map before him. "You really believe that? That the prophecy is some kind of divine fate?"
"I don't know what I believe anymore," Lyra said, her voice quieter. "But I'm not willing to ignore it."
Cassian's eyes darkened. "You shouldn't be trusting him."
Lyra stepped forward, meeting his gaze head-on. "You think I don't know that? You think I haven't considered that Kael might betray me again? But I can't just run from him. I can't pretend he didn't matter to me."
Cassian's fists clenched at his sides. "I'm not asking you to run from him. I'm asking you to stop putting your faith in someone who lied to you. Who abandoned you."
Lyra's heart clenched. The truth was, she didn't know what she wanted. She didn't know if Kael was the right choice. She didn't know if trusting him would bring her peace or destruction.
Cassian was right about one thing. She couldn't pretend Kael hadn't betrayed her. She couldn't ignore the wounds he'd left behind.
And yet… she still felt something for him. A bond that refused to fade, no matter how hard she tried to erase it.
Cassian took a step back, his voice low but forceful. "I've always been here for you, Lyra. You know that. I've never asked you for anything, but you owe me your trust. You owe me your loyalty."
Lyra felt a pang in her chest. The words stung because she knew they were true. She had promised him her trust, her loyalty. But when she thought of Kael, of their past together, it felt like a thread she couldn't cut.
"I know," she whispered. "I just don't know what to do."
Cassian's face softened, but only for a moment. Then his expression hardened again. "There's something I need to show you."
Lyra frowned. "What is it?"
Cassian held out a small scroll, sealed with dark wax. He handed it to her, and she broke the seal, unfurling the parchment.
Her heart stopped.
It was a map. The same map she had been studying, but this one had different markings. A trail leading from the sanctuary to the heart of the Council's territory. And next to it, a small note.
"Weakness found. Your people are already in danger. The time to act is now. The third betrayal will come from within."
Lyra's breath caught. "This came from the Council?"
Cassian didn't answer, but his jaw tightened.
She looked up at him, her chest heavy. "You knew about this?"
"I didn't know who sent it," he said. "But I'm certain it's not a trick. We've been compromised."
Lyra stared at the map. The third betrayal will come from within.
It was happening.
The enemy was already inside their walls.
"Who sent this?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Cassian didn't meet her eyes. "I don't know. But we have to prepare. The Council will strike when we least expect it."
And that's when she knew.
It wasn't Kael.
It wasn't the Council.
The traitor was someone they trusted.
---
Later that night, Lyra stood in the shadowed corridors, her heart pounding. She had spoken with Seris, who confirmed that the wards around the sanctuary had been tampered with. The betrayal was already underway.
But who?
She had spent hours thinking about who might be responsible. And the more she thought, the more she realized one undeniable truth: the third betrayal wasn't just a plot to destroy her—it was a test. A test of loyalty.
And someone had already failed.
She moved through the dark hallways, her eyes scanning every corner. She had to find them. Before they found her.
Suddenly, she heard a soft rustling behind her.
Lyra spun, her heart racing.
Kael.
His eyes were dark, his face a mask of concern.
"Lyra," he said softly. "You can't do this alone."
"I'm not alone," she snapped. "But I'm not trusting anyone who hasn't proven their loyalty."
Kael took a step closer. "Then prove it to me. Let me help you."
Her mind screamed at her to stay away. To be cautious. To protect herself from the one person who had hurt her more than anyone.
But then she remembered the prophecy. The bond that was broken must heal.
Her gaze softened. "You have no idea how much I want to trust you."
Kael stepped forward, his voice low. "Then let me show you. Let me be the one to protect you this time."
Lyra hesitated.
And that's when she heard it.
Footsteps. Rapid. And too many to count.
She turned toward the sound, her heart racing.
Cassian appeared in the hallway, his face tense, his hands bloodied.
"They're here," he said, his voice harsh. "We've been compromised."
Before Lyra could respond, the sound of a door crashing open echoed down the hall.
The traitor had made their move.