Lyra woke with a scream lodged in her throat.
The mist realm shattered like glass, and she slammed back into her body. Her eyes flew open to the dim glow of the moon filtering through the canopy of pines above. Her lungs seized, dragging in the damp forest air like she was drowning.
Her storm hadn’t calmed. It thrashed inside her chest, wild and hungry, lightning racing beneath her skin. She rolled onto her hands and knees, coughing, the taste of silver still burning her tongue.
A hand grabbed her arm—Kael’s. His golden eyes glowed with panic, his voice ragged. “Lyra. Gods, you’re back. I thought—” His words broke as he pulled her into his chest, clutching her like she might vanish again.
But another hand yanked her free.
Orion. Shadows curled around his fingers as his grip tightened
