Lyra sat in the pack’s common room, her hands resting protectively over the curve of her belly. The murmurs of warriors preparing for their next mission hummed around her, the clang of weapons and the low voices blending into an unceasing rhythm. But Lyra wasn’t listening. Her gaze drifted across the room, landing on Eryon.
He sat alone in the farthest corner, hunched forward with his elbows on his knees, his amber eyes fixed on the ground. Once, Eryon had been a pillar of strength, a commanding force that radiated power and confidence. Now, his shoulders sagged under the weight of grief and guilt, and his presence was almost a ghost of what it had been.
Lyra’s heart twisted as she stood and made her way toward him. “Eryon,” she called softly.
At first, he didn’t respond, as though her voice couldn’t penetrate the fog surrounding him. When he finally looked up, his eyes were dull, his voice heavy. “What do you want, Lyra?”
She hesitated, her fingers fidgeting against the hem of her tunic.
“I was thinking,” she began, her tone tentative, “about the baby Adrian took. If we can find a way back to the portal—”
Eryon’s head snapped up, his voice cutting through her words like a blade. “It’s not my baby.”
Lyra blinked, startled by the sharpness in his tone. “What do you mean? Adrian said—”
“I know the scent of my child,” Eryon interrupted, his amber eyes blazing with conviction. “The baby Adrian carried wasn’t mine. He tricked the King and everyone else, but he didn’t fool me.”
Lyra stared at him, her heart pounding. “So… you’re saying your child is still here? In this world?”
Eryon leaned back, his jaw tight.
“Yes. My daughter is somewhere out there. And I will scour the earth to find her.” His voice was low, but the raw determination in his tone made Lyra’s chest ache.
“But how?” she asked, her voice trembling. “If she’s been out there all this time, how will you find her?”
Eryon’s gaze turned distant again, though the fire in his eyes didn’t waver.
“I’ll find a way,” he said firmly. “I’ll search every corner of this world if I have to.”
Lyra reached out, resting her hand lightly on his arm. “You won’t do it alone,” she said softly. “We’ll help you.”
Eryon looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded, though he didn’t say another word. Lyra squeezed his arm gently before standing, her thoughts heavy as she returned to her seat.