CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:
Morning light cut sharp across the mountain safehold. Lyra stood at the kitchen counter pouring cereal for June and Theo, her hands steadier than she felt. The threatening call from last night still echoed in her head.
“More milk?” she asked June, forcing a smile.
June nodded, kicking her feet under the table. “Is Dimitri okay? He looked hurt yesterday.”
“He’s tough,” Lyra said. “We all are.”
Theo spooned cereal quietly, then looked up. “That man on the phone last night… he sounded mean. Are we gonna have to run again?”
Dimitri walked in before Lyra could answer, freshly bandaged shoulder hidden under a dark shirt. “No more running, kid. Today we push back.” He ruffled Theo’s hair and dropped a kiss on Lyra’s temple. “Morning.”
“Morning,” she murmured. “Kids, fi
