Chapter 20
The moment the portal opened, Lyra heard it.
A cry.
A painful, desperate cry that sent a chill through her entire body.
“Grandma…”
She moved toward the portal.
Lucien caught her hand.
“Wait.”
“That’s her.”
“Lyra, we don’t know what’s on the other side.”
“I know that voice.”
Another cry came through.
This time, there was no doubt.
It was Mira.
Lyra pulled her hand free.
“I’m going.”
Lucien followed immediately.
The moment they stepped through the portal, Lyra’s breath caught.
They weren’t physically inside the prison.
Instead, they were standing in some strange shadowy space, almost like they were watching the scene through a thin wall of glass.
And on the other side—
Mira was chained to a stone chair.
Her hair was disheveled.
Her face was bruised.
Blood s
