“Who’s there?” Lyra twisted toward the sound.
“You can see me,” came the reply, a woman’s voice, soft and haunting. “You don’t even need to take off the blindfold. I’m not truly here.”
Lyra’s brow pulled together. “I don’t… I don’t understand.”
“Focus on my voice,” the woman whispered. “Let go of what your eyes want. Look with your soul instead.”
“How?” Her voice cracked.
“You already know.” The woman’s words curled around her like a warm bath. “Find me the way you found the peace you gave Jake. Or the strength you offered young Kiernan.”
Lyra let her shoulders fall. She took a long, trembling breath and turned inward. All the emotions she normally caged off - grief, fear, love - swirled inside her like a violent storm, threatening to devour her. She pushed deeper, surrendering to th
