“What’s behind that door?”
The question settled like smoke between us.
Kael stood close—just a few paces away—but somehow, he’d never felt more distant.
The restricted door loomed behind him. Still locked. Still silent. Still guarding answers I didn’t even know I’d been missing until now.
His eyes held mine. Unmoving.
“You need to leave this corridor.”
“No.”
His jaw tensed.
“Lyra.”
I shook my head. “No.”
I stepped forward.
“You said I was in danger and brought me here. Fine. I went with you. You saved my life, so I trusted you—at least enough not to run.”
He didn’t answer.
“But every time I ask you something, you just toss another secret in my face.”
“That door isn’t safe.”
“Ignorance isn’t, either.”
Now his eyes hardened.
“You have no idea what you’re asking, Lyra.”
“The
