ROCKAN’S POV
The darkness within me repeatedly whispered her name as I watched her slip away from the dining table. It was one of those nights of avoidance. Her footsteps were quick and purposeful in their retreat, like she would rather be elsewhere than share a space with me for any second longer. Or perhaps, she’d rather be with Tyris.
She had been avoiding me for two weeks with the skill of a seasoned hunter, and I found myself both impressed and frustrated by her determination. The mating bond thrummed beneath my skin, a constant reminder of what lay between us, acknowledged yet unexplored.
Lyra stayed away from my path like I was a dreadful beast whose presence heralded fear. We only saw each other at breakfast or dinner or during council meetings, where she kept mute and mostly o
