Lyra's POV
The world was still trembling when Kaelan finally released the last remnants of the curse choking him.
The clearing was a graveyard of shadows, every blade of grass limp, the soil cracked where the corruption had crawled. The Riverbend warriors kept their distance now not out of fear, but out of respect for the raw, electric pull simmering between me and Kaelan.
He was on one knee in front of me, chest rising and falling, his skin still glowing faintly where the darkness had tried to root itself. His hands were shaking not from weakness, but from holding himself back. From keeping the curse from reaching me.
And I realized. He would rather die than let anything touch me.
My throat tightened. "Lyra…" His voice was rough, gravel scraped against metal. "I didn't want you to see me like that."
