The silence between Lyra and Adrian was almost deafening, filled with all the things they couldn’t bring themselves to say. The clearing felt suffocating despite the open sky above, the air thick with tension.
Lyra’s hands trembled slightly as she clasped them in front of her, the weight of the question pressing down on her chest.
“What happened to Misery’s baby?” she asked finally, her voice soft but steady.
Adrian froze. His crimson eyes darkened as he stiffened, his posture straightening like a man bracing himself for a blow. He opened his mouth to respond, but no sound came out. His jaw tightened, and he looked away as though the truth were too heavy to voice.
“She’s—” he began, his voice breaking, but before he could finish, a low, guttural growl cut through the air.
Lyra spun around, her heart lurching as the sound of snapping branches grew louder. Her instincts flared, every nerve in her body screaming danger.
Cassian stepped into the clearing, his golden eyes blazing with fury, his wolf form flickering beneath his skin. His presence was overwhelming, a storm waiting to break.
“What the hell is this?” he snarled, his voice low and dangerous, echoing through the clearing.
Lyra’s breath hitched, her chest tightening as she instinctively took a step back. Cassian’s gaze flicked between her and Adrian, his expression a mixture of rage and betrayal. His fists were clenched at his sides, his knuckles white, as his powerful frame seemed to vibrate with barely restrained violence.
“Cassian,” Lyra began, her voice trembling. She raised her hands in a calming gesture. “This isn’t what it looks like.”
His sharp gaze snapped to her, his nostrils flaring.
“Isn’t what it looks like?” he repeated, his voice rising. His golden eyes burned with unspoken fury. “Then explain to me why I find you sneaking off into the woods to meet him.”
Adrian remained silent, his crimson eyes steady but watchful. He stood his ground, his hands loosely at his sides, his body poised but non-threatening. Yet the calmness in his demeanor seemed only to fuel Cassian’s anger.
“You don’t belong here, vampire,” Cassian growled, his voice venomous as he turned his full fury on Adrian. “You’ve got some nerve coming back after everything you’ve done.”
“I came to tell her the truth,” Adrian said evenly, his voice low but firm. “That’s all.