I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the signature.
Just a name, really. Ink scrawled over old paper. Still, it rattled me more than any blade ever had.
Kael went quiet—like, really quiet.
“Who is he?” I asked.
No answer. Not even a blink.
I looked up. “Kael.”
His jaw clenched.
“I need time,” he said.
“No,” I shot back, standing up. “You’ve had more than enough time.”
He tried again. “Lyra—”
“You knew.”
I saw it in his eyes.
“You knew people thought I was dead.” My voice accused him.
“Yes.” The word barely carried.
My chest squeezed. “How long?”
He turned away. “Years.”
“Years?” I echoed, raw and stunned.
He nodded, quiet and unbearably steady.
I let out a bitter laugh. “So, let me get this straight. The world moves on because Lyra’s dead, and you just—what? You knew?”
He h
