Chapter 3: The Thing In The Trees
1472 Words
Lyra couldn't take her eyes off the window.
Something had moved between the trees.
She was sure of it.
Kael stood a few feet in front of her, his body tense as he watched the darkness outside.
“Did you see it?” Lyra asked.
“Yes.”
His answer was quiet.
That somehow frightened her more.
The High Seer moved toward the door.
“Don't.”
Kael stopped her.
“Stay here.”
“Kael—”
“I said stay here.”
The old woman looked at him for a moment before stepping back.
Lyra's eyes remained fixed on the forest.
“Was it one of the wolves?”
Kael shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“You said it wasn't normal.”
“I said I don't know what it was.”
“That's not very reassuring.”
His gaze shifted toward her.
“You're right.”
It was such a simple answer that Lyra didn't know what to say.
Another sound came from outside.
A branch breaking.
Then another.
Closer.
Kael moved toward the door.
Lyra grabbed his arm.
He stopped.
“You're not going out there alone.”
His eyes dropped to her hand.
The moment she realized what she'd done, she let go.
“I can protect myself.”
“I know.”
“Then stop looking at me like I'm going to break.”
Kael's expression tightened.
“That's not what I'm doing.”
“Then what are you doing?”
He didn't answer.
Lyra crossed her arms.
“You keep saying you know things about me, but you won't tell me what any of them are.”
“I told you I'm trying to figure it out.”
“And while you figure it out, what am I supposed to do?”
“Stay alive.”
Lyra stared at him.
“That wasn't funny.”
“I wasn't joking.”
For a moment, their eyes met.
The mark on Lyra's wrist pulsed.
Kael noticed.
His attention immediately dropped to it.
“Does it hurt?”
“A little.”
He stepped closer.
“How much?”
“I don't know. It's not exactly a normal kind of pain.”
His brow furrowed.
“Show me.”
Lyra hesitated before holding out her wrist.
Kael reached for her hand.
The moment his fingers touched her skin, the pain disappeared.
Both of them froze.
Lyra looked up.
Kael was staring at their hands.
Neither moved.
The warmth she'd felt when she'd first seen him returned.
But this time, it wasn't overwhelming.
It was quieter.
Almost comforting.
Kael slowly released her.
“Did it stop?”
Lyra nodded.
“Yes.”
He looked troubled.
“That's never happened before.”
“You've seen this mark before?”
“No.”
“But you knew something was wrong.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Kael looked toward the High Seer.
The woman lowered her eyes.
Lyra followed his gaze.
“What aren't you telling me?”
Before either of them could answer, something slammed against the outside wall.
Maya screamed from the other room.
Lyra spun around.
“Maya!”
She ran toward the door.
Kael caught her arm.
“Wait.”
“She's outside!”
“I know.”
He pulled the door open.
Maya stood several feet away, frozen.
Her face was pale.
“Lyra.”
“What happened?”
Maya pointed toward the trees.
“I saw someone.”
Kael stepped outside.
“Where?”
“There.”
She pointed again.
“I thought it was a wolf, but it stood like a person.”
Kael's expression hardened.
“Did it see you?”
Maya nodded.
“It looked at me.”
“And?”
“It smiled.”
Lyra felt a chill move down her back.
“Then it disappeared.”
Kael stepped forward.
“Stay inside.”
Maya shook her head.
“I'm coming with you.”
“No.”
“Kael—”
“I need you to stay with Lyra.”
Maya looked at Lyra.
For once, she didn't argue.
Kael walked toward the trees.
Lyra watched him disappear into the darkness.
Something about the way he moved made her uneasy.
Not because he looked afraid.
Because he didn't.
He looked prepared.
Like he'd been expecting this.
She turned toward the High Seer.
“You know what that thing is.”
The woman didn't answer.
“You do.”
The High Seer sighed.
“There are things about your mother that I never told you.”
Lyra's patience thinned.
“That's becoming a pattern.”
“I know.”
“Then stop.”
The High Seer looked at her.
“Your mother wasn't hiding because she was afraid for herself.”
Lyra's stomach tightened.
“She was afraid for me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because someone wanted you.”
“Who?”
The woman shook her head.
“We never found out.”
Lyra stared at her.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
“Then why does everyone act like they know exactly what I am?”
The High Seer glanced at her wrist.
“Because your mother told us what might happen if your mark ever appeared.”
Lyra's breath caught.
“What did she say?”
The woman hesitated.
“She said that if the mark appeared before you found your mate, you would be vulnerable.”
Lyra frowned.
“Vulnerable to what?”
“The people who were looking for you.”
“And now they've found me?”
The High Seer didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Lyra looked toward the forest.
Kael had been gone for too long.
“Where is he?”
The High Seer looked worried.
“I don't know.”
Lyra stepped toward the door.
Maya grabbed her hand.
“Lyra, wait.”
“I need to find him.”
“You can't just run into the forest.”
“He went out there because of me.”
“That doesn't mean you have to follow him.”
Lyra looked at her.
“He's my mate.”
Maya's expression softened.
“I know.”
Lyra swallowed.
She hated how much those words still affected her.
Especially now.
A loud roar shook the trees.
Maya flinched.
The High Seer went completely still.
Lyra's heart began pounding.
“That's Kael.”
She pulled away from Maya and ran.
“Lyra!”
She didn't stop.
Branches caught at her dress as she pushed through them.
“Kael!”
No answer.
She ran deeper.
The forest was darker than she'd expected.
Then she saw him.
Kael stood in a small clearing.
His back was toward her.
Blood covered one side of his shirt.
Lyra stopped.
“Kael?”
He turned.
His eyes were gold.
Not the warm gold she'd noticed earlier.
Something darker.
Something wild.
“Get back.”
Lyra froze.
“What happened?”
“Go back to the house.”
“Are you hurt?”
“Lyra.”
His voice carried a warning.
She took another step.
“I can help.”
“No.”
She looked past him.
Something had been carved into the trunk of a nearby tree.
Three words.
Her stomach dropped.
WE FOUND YOU.
Lyra stared at the message.
Kael moved in front of it.
“You weren't supposed to see that.”
She looked up at him.
“Who wrote it?”
He didn't answer.
“Kael.”
His jaw tightened.
“I don't know.”
“But they know where I am.”
“Yes.”
“Then who are they?”
He looked at her for a long moment.
“I don't know.”
Lyra shook her head.
“You're lying.”
His expression changed.
“I wish I was.”
A cold breeze moved through the clearing.
Then Lyra heard it.
A whisper.
So faint she almost missed it.
“Lyra.”
Her whole body went still.
She knew that voice.
She had heard it in dreams.
Remembered it from childhood.
Her mother's voice.
Lyra turned toward the trees.
“Mom?”
Kael's face changed.
“What did you hear?”
She barely heard him.
The voice came again.
“Lyra…”
She took a step forward.
Kael grabbed her wrist.
“Don't.”
Lyra looked at him.
“It's my mother.”
“I know.”
Her eyes widened.
“You heard her too?”
Kael didn't answer.
He was staring into the darkness.
Then something moved behind the trees.
A shadow.
Fast.
Gone before Lyra could see it clearly.
Kael pulled her behind him.
“Stay close.”
Lyra's heart raced.
“Why?”
He didn't look back.
“Because whatever is out there…”
His voice dropped.
“…knows your name.”
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