The council chamber was already tense before Lyra entered.
Voices overlapped.
Arguments.
Control slipping,
slowly.
She stepped in beside Kael without hesitation.
And just like that
the room shifted.
Not silent.
But aware.
Selene was the first to speak.
“This is getting worse,” she said sharply.
“And we are still pretending we have control.”
Lyra’s gaze moved to her.
“We do have control,” Lyra replied calmly.
“We’re choosing not to act blindly.”
Selene’s lips curved slightly.
“Or we’re hesitating because the threat feels… familiar.”
The implication landed.
Intentional.
The room stilled slightly.
Kael’s voice cut in.
“Say what you mean.”
Selene didn’t look at him.
Her eyes stayed on Lyra.
“I mean,” she said slowly,
“That our enemy seems to know her past very well.”
