~Lyra~
"Lyra, it’s me. I’ve changed my mind. I’m at Evergreen Herb Shop now."
The moment I read this text, I rushed to fresh up and get dressed.
I hadn’t stepped foot in the shop in weeks. Since moving into Silvercrest, I’d handed everything over to Eli and Gideon. Not just to lighten my load—but to keep Kael from catching wind of how often I returned to that place.
The less he knew, the fewer questions he’d ask.
But Kaelis showing up at Evergreen now? That set off every alarm in my head.
As soon as I arrived, I spotted her—seated like a queen in exile, blindfolded with a strip of black cloth, a plane ticket in her hand, and an expression as cold as frostbite.
So the text was not from Kaelis herself.
Eli stood off to the side and shrugged helplessly. “A black car dropped her off
