LYRA’S POV
The boots I wore felt heavier than usual. Every step through the stone halls of the Academy was a reminder that I was still walking in a dead man's shoes. Or rather, my brother’s. The binder was tight around my chest again, making my breath short, and the heavy cloak I wore felt like a cage.
I was tired of being Rowan. I was tired of the grit, the dirt, and the deep, rough voice I had to use.
"Follow me," Killian said.
He didn't look back. He didn't even slow down. He was walking ahead of me, his shoulders broad and his gait full of that Alpha power that used to scare me. But now, it just felt like a tether. He was leading me away from the dorms, away from the training grounds, and toward the old observatory tower that had been boarded up for years.
"Killian, where are we g
