For a heartbeat, the forest was nothing but silence and the sound of Lyra’s pulse crashing in her ears.
Darius stood there—alive. Scarred, gaunt, his silver eyes burning with something wild, something not entirely his own. The shadows clung to him like a second skin, pulsing with unnatural energy.
Her breath broke on his name. “Darius…”
He flinched as if the word hurt, his gaze snapping to hers. For an instant, recognition flickered across his face, soft and raw. Then it was gone, swallowed by the feral gleam in his eyes.
Kael moved first. His body coiled, every muscle taut, golden eyes blazing as he planted himself between them. “That isn’t him.” His voice shook with fury. “Whatever you think you see—it’s a trick.”
But Lyra couldn’t look away. Her storm surged against her ribs, achin
