Lyra didn't trust him.
Not his calm voice.
Not his knowing eyes.
And definitely not the way he spoke about her like she was something… important.
Something dangerous.
But she didn't walk away.
Because deep down—
She knew he was right.
"You're staring," Cassian said lightly, folding his arms as he leaned against a tree.
Lyra didn't bother denying it.
"I'm deciding if you're a threat."
A small smile curved his lips. "And?"
Her gaze hardened. "The jury's still out."
He chuckled softly.
That annoyed her.
"Everything about you is suspicious," she added. "You show up out of nowhere, you know things you shouldn't, and now you're offering to help me like it's nothing."
Cassian tilted his head slightly.
"It's not nothing."
"Then what is it?" she pressed.
For a moment, he didn't answer.
And that—
That told her everything she needed to know.
"There's something in it for you," she said.
"Of course there is," he replied easily.
At least he was honest.
Lyra crossed her arms, ignoring the slight pull in her injured arm.
"And that would be?"
Cassian pushed off the tree, stepping closer—but not too close this time.
"Keeping you alive benefits me," he said.
"Still not a real answer."
"It's the only one you're getting for now."
Lyra exhaled sharply, frustration bubbling under her skin.
She hated this.
Hated not knowing.
Hated feeling like everyone else understood something about her that she didn't.
Her fingers curled slightly.
"What do you know about the bond?" she asked suddenly.
Cassian's expression shifted—just slightly.
Interest.
"Ah," he said. "So you've noticed that part."
Lyra's jaw tightened.
"It didn't break."
"No," he agreed calmly. "It wouldn't."
Her breath hitched.
"You knew that?"
"I suspected it."
"That's not the same thing."
"It's close enough."
Lyra took a step forward, her frustration rising.
"Then explain it," she demanded. "Because from everything I've been told my whole life, a rejection should sever the bond completely."
Cassian studied her carefully.
Like he was measuring how much to say.
"How much do you know about true bonds?" he asked.
Lyra frowned.
"Enough to know they're not supposed to act like this."
He smiled faintly.
"That's because what you have… isn't a normal bond."
Her heart skipped.
Of course it wasn't.
Nothing about this was normal.
"Then what is it?" she asked quietly.
Cassian hesitated.
And that hesitation—
It made her uneasy.
"It's something older," he said finally. "Stronger. Rarer."
"That still doesn't answer my question."
"It's not supposed to be broken," he added.
Lyra stilled.
The words hit differently.
Not supposed to be broken.
Her hand drifted unconsciously to her chest.
To the bond.
"That's not possible," she whispered.
Cassian's gaze softened—just a little.
"It is for you."
Silence fell between them.
Heavy.
Unsettling.
Because part of her—
Part of her believed him.
"But he rejected me," she said, her voice quieter now. "I heard him. I felt it."
"And yet," Cassian said, "you're still connected."
The truth of that pressed in on her.
Unavoidable.
Unchangeable.
Lyra looked away, her thoughts racing.
If the bond couldn't be broken…
Then what did that mean?
For her?
For Kael?
For everything?
Her chest tightened.
Because no matter how much she tried to deny it—
She could still feel him.
Faint now.
But there.
Always there.
"You're thinking about him," Cassian observed.
Lyra's head snapped back up.
"I'm thinking about the situation."
"Which involves him."
She didn't respond.
Because he wasn't wrong.
Cassian watched her for a moment longer.
Then—
"You can't outrun this," he said quietly.
Lyra's expression hardened.
"Watch me."
He shook his head slightly.
"You can run from people. From places. Even from danger for a while." His gaze locked onto hers. "But not from something that's part of you."
Her chest tightened again.
She hated how his words made sense.
Hated how they echoed things she didn't want to face.
"I don't need him," she said.
Cassian didn't argue.
That was worse.
"Maybe not," he said after a moment. "But that doesn't mean he doesn't need you."
Lyra froze.
Her heart skipped.
"No," she said immediately. "That's not—"
"You're wrong," Cassian cut in, his tone calm but firm.
She stared at him.
"You don't know him."
Cassian's expression didn't change.
"No," he agreed. "But I know bonds like yours."
Lyra shook her head.
"You don't understand—he rejected me."
"And yet," Cassian said again, "he keeps showing up."
That—
That hit harder than anything else.
Because it was true.
He had come for her.
Twice.
Despite everything.
Despite what he said.
Despite what he claimed.
Lyra looked away again, her emotions tangling into something she didn't want to name.
Confusion.
Hope.
Fear.
All of it mixed together into something dangerous.
"I don't care," she said finally.
The words felt weaker than she wanted them to.
Cassian didn't call her out on it.
But she could tell—
He didn't believe her.
"Fine," he said simply.
The ease of his response made her frown.
"You're not going to argue?"
"No."
That threw her off.
"Why not?"
"Because you'll figure it out eventually," he said.
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"You're very confident."
"I'm very observant."
Silence settled again.
But this time, it wasn't as tense.
Not as sharp.
Lyra shifted slightly, adjusting her bag.
"So what now?" she asked.
Cassian raised a brow.
"Now?"
"If I don't trust you," she said, "and you clearly don't plan on telling me everything… what exactly are we doing?"
He smiled.
"Surviving."
Not helpful.
At all.
Lyra sighed.
"I'm serious."
"So am I," he replied. "You're being hunted. You don't fully understand your abilities. And whether you like it or not—" he paused, his gaze sharpening slightly, "—you need someone who does."
Lyra hesitated.
Because he was right.
Again.
And she hated that.
"What's the catch?" she asked.
"There's always a catch."
Cassian's smile faded slightly.
"Trust me enough not to run the second things get complicated."
Lyra let out a short laugh.
"That's a big ask."
"I know."
Silence lingered.
Then—
"Fine," she said.
Cassian blinked once.
"Fine?"
"For now," she clarified quickly. "I'm not promising anything long-term."
"That's more than I expected."
"Don't get used to it."
He chuckled softly.
Lyra ignored it, though her grip on her bag loosened slightly.
This was risky.
Dangerous.
Possibly a mistake.
But staying alone—
That was worse.
And deep down…
She knew it.
"Alright," she said, meeting his gaze. "We work together."
Cassian nodded once.
"Good."
Lyra exhaled slowly.
"Then you can start by telling me where we're going."
His expression shifted slightly.
Something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
"Somewhere safe," he said.
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"That's vague."
"It's intentional."
Of course it was.
She shook her head slightly.
"Figures."
But she didn't argue.
Didn't walk away.
Didn't run.
Because for the first time since everything began—
She wasn't alone.
And whether that was a good thing or not…
She was about to find out.