nding in a dense, oppressive forest. All around, towering trees stood like silent sentinels, their gnarled branches formi

s in the

were neither hostile nor benevolent, but their intensity transfixed her, awakening a visceral fear

..come

hiver ran down his spine as a heartbreaking howl split the air. She wanted to run, but her l

sorb the light, and his red eyes stared at her with an almost unbeara

start, panting, h

ra ran a trembling hand over her face, trying to calm her breathing. It wasn't

, the moon shone high in the sky, flooding the room with a pale, calming light. She approached th

t go out alon

mediately going to the s

door, his face barely visible in the dim li

ere? » she asked, her voice

ent on the floor. "I wanted to

hest. "And you're doing this by sneaking

nd immediately. His eyes lingered on her

e finally said, a statem

cold invade her.

that? » she stammered,

ile appeared on Kael's lip

What are you talking about ? You'

mple. There's a connection between us, Lyra. A connection I don't yet

nfusion and apprehension. She wanted to protest, deman

feel? » she finally asked,

But enough to know that you are tro

ll of emotions. Lyra looked away, st

spered, more to he

elt his presence, imposing and

egain some semblance of normalcy, Elias appea

anyone?" » he

le too interested in her. But part of her was curious. Maybe he had an

grabbing a jacket befo

r skin, but Elias seemed at ease, wa

o tell me? » Lyra asked

houlder, smirking. "You'

patiently. "I don't ha

pression. "Kael is not who you think. He hides thing

art speed up. "E

face her. "Have you ever h

her head

st forgotten, but terribly powerful. They are said to have ties to

what does that ha

g in the moonlight. "I don't know yet. But Ka

sion rise within her. Why would Kael

whispered. "Here, everyt

er chest. Elias' revelations only reinforced his doubts, and his

inst the wood. Her mother's diary was still there, on the beds

dn't ignore the tr