Chapter 34—A Surprise Rescue From
Lyra's Point of View
The forest had gotten used to my footsteps by now.
Every branch that broke under my boots sounded like a warning, and every rustle of leaves sounded like someone holding their breath too long. The moon hung low and pale above the trees, like a thin blade, giving off just enough light to remind me how alone I was.
I shouldn't have come out here alone.
I was aware of that. Raine had said it twice before the meeting ended. His voice was calm, but there was something sharp underneath it. Maybe worry. Power. Or both.
But the patrol routes needed to be checked. After Marcus's betrayal and the sabotage we barely caught in time, I couldn't sit behind stone walls and act like danger only came with news.
Danger never came knocking.
So I
