Sleep didn’t come easily.
It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t uncertainty. It was the kind of awareness that kept Lyra awake, her mind moving through possibilities, outcomes, and consequences that were now too close to ignore. Tomorrow wasn’t just another step. It was a shift that would affect everything after it.
She stood by the window, looking out into the quiet darkness of the territory. It wasn’t truly still. There were guards posted, movements at the edges, subtle signs that everyone was more alert than usual.
“You’re not even trying to sleep.”
Kael’s voice came from behind her, low and steady.
Lyra didn’t turn immediately. “I could say the same thing.”
He walked closer, stopping just behind her. “I already know I won’t.”
That almost made her smile, but not quite.
“Tomorrow changes thi
