Lyra’s POV
I woke up slowly and stared at the ceiling for a while. My body felt weak and sore, and my head felt heavy. I pushed myself up and looked around the room, confused for a moment, until I realized I was back in my own bed. My room smelled normal again and the sheets were clean. Someone had changed me into a fresh nightgown, and my hair was undone and messy around my shoulders.
My cheeks burned as memories rushed back into my head. Flashes of Kael and his touch and the way I had begged. I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing the bed would swallow me. I wanted to disappear and stay hidden forever. I didn’t want to face him. I didn’t want to think about what I had done. I had turned into a wild thing, and it wasn’t just embarrassing, it felt shameful and confusing.
I placed a hand agai
