The chamber felt colder after he left.
Lyra stood frozen, the echo of his words still burning through her veins.
Nothing will be the same... not us.
She pressed her palm to her chest, trying to steady her breath-but the power inside her responded instead. The air trembled. Shadows along the stone walls twisted unnaturally, stretching toward her like they recognized her pain
"Control yourself," she whispered.
But control had never truly belonged to her.
Ever since him.
She turned toward the balcony, watching the horizon bleed into dusk. The kingdom below
looked peaceful-too peaceful-for a place built on lies. Somewhere beyond those walls, he was walking away to protect her... or to destroy them both.
.. .
Lyra's fingers curled into a fist.
She could still feel him-his presence lingering like a forbidden mark on her soul. The bond between them hadn't weakened. If anything, it
had grown sharper, more dangerous.
A sudden pain sliced through her head.
Visions flooded her mind-fire swallowing the throne, blood on marble floors, and him standing at the center of it all... eyes glowing with a power that mirrored her own.
"No," she gasped, stumbling back.
This wasn't just desire anymore.
This was destiny.
A soft knock broke the silence.
"My lady," a voice called from behind the door.
"The Council summons you. They say... they know."
Lyra's heart dropped.
They knew about her powers.
Or worse—about him.
She straightened her posture, shadows obeying her movement like loyal soldiers. Fear still pulsed through her-but beneath it, something darker awakened.
Resolve.
"If the kingdom wants a monster," she murmured, "then I'll decide which side it fears."
As she stepped toward the door, far away in the darkness, he paused-his chest tightening as if he'd heard her thoughts.
The bond burned.
And for the first time, he realized the truth:
Walking away hadn't saved her.
It had only begun the war.