chapter 8

Lyra's Confession

I found myself back in the kitchen, unable to go to him. The familiar surroundings did nothing to calm the storm inside me. The walls felt like they were closing in, making every doubt and fear louder in my mind. My feet felt glued to the floor, and even though I wanted to leave, I couldn’t move. I was stuck, not just physically, but mentally, caught in my thoughts.

The kettle on the stove whistled, the sound shrill and jarring. I hadn’t even realized I’d put it on. My hands shook as I reached for it, the hot metal searing my skin. I yelped, dropping the kettle, and the water spilled across the counter, soaking everything in its path.

“Dammit!” I cursed, cradling my burnt hand against my chest.

The pain was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart. I could still feel Kurtis’s presence, the warmth of his body, the way his eyes had softened when he looked at me before everything went to hell. The memory of his touch sent a shiver down my spin