Morning did not rush in.
It settled.
Soft light filtered through the tall windows, touching the edges of the chamber in quiet gold—but inside, nothing felt light.
Lyra was awake.
Not just awake...restless.
She sat at the edge of the bed, one hand braced against the mattress, the other resting over her stomach as if holding herself in place.
Stillness didn’t suit her.
It never had.
Behind her, the door opened quietly.
Kael stepped in.
He paused the moment he saw her sitting up.
Not lying down.
Not resting.
Sitting.
Waiting.
That alone shifted something in his expression.
“You shouldn’t be up,” he said immediately.
Lyra didn’t turn.
“I’ve been lying down since yesterday.”
“That’s because you fainted yesterday.”
“I recovered.”
“That doesn’t change what happened.”
Lyra ex
