Lyra woke to the sound of glass humming softly in the distance—city noise muted by height and distance.
For a moment she didn't move. Her body felt drained but not in the same hollow way as before. This exhaustion was different.
It felt like she had run miles without knowing she had moved.
She blinked slowly.
Kaelen was sitting beside the couch.
When he realized she was awake, he poured a glass of water.
"You are awake," he said quietly.
She pushed herself up slowly and he handed her the water without another word.
"Drink," he instructed and she did.
The coolness steadied her slightly. Then it came back, the memory, the scream and the way Gia's body had lifted.
Lyra's fingers tightened around the glass.
"The girl," she said quickly. "The one I—"
"She will recover," Kaelen replied. "Nothing permanent."
Relief flooded her but it didn't erase the guilt.
"I couldn't control it," she admitted, staring down at her hands. "No matter how hard I tried."
