Nyx scowls at the term. He’s always despised the pet names I have for her; they rile him up so easily. Lyra takes a sip from her glass then shifts her focus to Nyx.
“I really want us all to get along and work together,” she starts, her voice threading through the silence. “Nyx, I know I’ve hurt you, and I know you two have your differences... your history...but you are brothers. Please,” she pleads, hervoice punctuated by several long pauses, her nervousness evident.
Nyx looks down at his plate, as if weighing his words carefully. Before he can respond, I quickly interject, not wanting him to say anything that might hurt Lyra. “Nyx was in the midst of some important work when I found him this evening. Perhaps now isn’t the best time for this discussion. He seems eager to return to it,” I say, giving him no room to maneuver.
He shoots me a sharp look, his gray eyes flickering with a light that suggests his irritation at my insinuation. Knowing that I can now hold this over him brings a twisted sort of satisfaction—after all, Lyra chose me, and yet he clings to a desperate hope of swaying her.
“Maybe we should talk without him,” Nyx suggests directly to Lyra, ignoring my commentary. “You could come back with me for a nightcap.”
I can’t help but laugh at his audacity, which earns me a sharp look from Lyra. I close my mouth, offering her an apologetic glance.
“There’s something I need to do, and this would all be much simpler if we could rely on each other. We don’t have to enjoy each other’s company, but can we at least be civil and discuss the future of Eguina? We all have crucial roles to play,” she insists, her tone firm yet imploring.
My interest is piqued. What does she need to do? What is she up to?
“Lyra, you can always count on me, no matter where we stand. What is it?” Nyx says, his voice smooth, always ready to play the devoted ally.
“You both are well aware of the military camps being established in Vision Valley. Colton has been collaborating with Bim and Dorian, and it seems everyone has been tiptoeing around the two of you, so let’s lay it all out now,” she states,rising to her feet with a resolve that marks her readiness to dive deep into the discussion.
“I know you both try to shield me from the realities of my situation, but I do not need it. I do not want it, so stop,” she declares, pausing dramatically to let her words sink in before she begins to pace the room. Nyx’s eyes follow her every move, and I can’t stand the way he watches her, knowing his history with her.
“I’m fully aware that Kaine is fostering animosity among my people. I know Samael has reclaimed the throne, and I understand that violent attacks are escalating across the realms for reasons yet to be discerned. I am not oblivious to any of this, despite your incessant efforts to shield me from my own life,” she continues, her voice climbing with each revelation.
Her frustration is palpable, and I remain silent, giving her the space to express all that’s been weighing on her.
“My nineteenth birthday is quickly approaching, and I know I need to be ready to fight for my throne. I need to ensure we are aligned, that I can count on both of you when the time comes,” Lyra declares, her gaze shifting rapidly between me and Nyx. Her eyes linger on mine a moment longer. She knows she has my allegiance.
“Lyra, a major reason I am even assembling my army is that we’ve been teetering on the brink of war for far too long. You can trust that, no matter what, I am on your side, and my forces will fight for you,” Nyx says.
“Thank you.” She nods at him and resumes pacing. “I need to return to Cloudrum, to see my people and assess how dire the situation is in the Sorcerer Realm. Not only that, but I will also be returning to Zomea for a short time,” she adds.
“What?” Nyx and I interrupt in unison, our voices sharp with concern.
She pauses, her eyes scanning our faces. “I’ve been plaguedby distressing dreams, visions that come to me in the night. My midnight mind is… Understand this is something I need to do, and I will be doing it alone,” she explains.
I immediately want to protest but decide it’s better to discuss this privately after Nyx leaves, so I bite back my words.
Nyx looks from her to me, incredulous. “You’re going to let her go back to Cloudrum, knowing the hatred brewing there for her? And back to Zomea, where only the gods know what dangers await, alone?”
Lyra is beside him in an instant. “Don’t look at him. He doesn’t control me. I am my own person, and it’s high time you both stop treating me like I’m fragile. I will not break,” she asserts fiercely, her stance resolute.
Her declaration reminds me of a time when she was much more vulnerable, at least internally. She has grown significantly since then, though I know deep wounds still linger under her resilient exterior.
“Colton will accompany me to Cloudrum, but I must go alone to Zomea. I can’t explain now. Trust that it’s something I need to do by myself, and I’ll be alright,” she says.
To my surprise, Nyx nods, accepting her decision without further argument.
“I look forward to seeing you when you return. Until then, my people will continue to monitor the situation with Samael, as well as the increasing Sarrol attacks in Nighthold and across all the realms,” Nyx says amicably.
“Have the attacks been mostly Sarrols?” Lyra inquires.
“Mostly, yes. There have been Monstrauths and other creatures involved, but the Sarrols seem to have the most numbers for now,” he replies.
Lyra tucks her hair behind her ear then lets her hand glide down her neck—a clear sign of her concern.Catching Nyx’s expression, which holds a different kind of intensity, I decide it’s time for him to direct that gaze elsewhere.
“Great, so we can do this again soon. I look forward to it,” I interject with a hint of sarcasm, drawing a slight smile from Lyra.
Nyx rises, and rather than channeling directly out of the dining room, he opts to walk to the back door—a show of decorum, as always. I roll my eyes subtly, which Lyra catches with a quick.
