Lyra didn’t move.
Not even after Daniel disappeared from sight.
It felt like if she stood there long enough—
He might come back.
But he didn’t.
The silence that followed was different.
Not the quiet she had felt before.
This one—
Felt empty.
“Lyra.”
She flinched slightly.
Kael.
Of course.
She turned slowly, her chest still tight, her thoughts still caught somewhere between what just happened and what she hadn’t processed yet.
Kael studied her expression for a moment. “What happened?”
She didn’t answer immediately.
Because saying it out loud would make it real.
“He knows,” she said finally.
Kael didn’t look surprised. “I figured.”
“That’s not the problem.”
His gaze sharpened slightly. “Then what is?”
Lyra swallowed. “He’s leaving.”
Silence.
Not long.
But enough.
Kae
