Chapter Twenty

Caspian's POV

Alexandria had definitely sent us out on purpose.

She didn't say it outright though, she never does. She simply glanced at the others, waving a dismissive hand and was like:

“You lot stay, these two can handle themselves”

And those two..

Being Lyra and me...

The forest was quieter this far east and the trees older, with its large roots curled upwards. Sunlight peered through the canopy of trees. Somewhere distant the sounds of howls echoed but not too close to care about anyway.

Lyra walked ahead of me, her boots scrunching against the battered rocks and sticks.

Her curly auburn hair whooshing in the slight wind as the sun shone on her sun kissed freckles.

She had improved.

It was... Noticeable.

Her steps were lighter and now more deliberate, she didn't trip on roots anymore.

Even her magic, usually an uncontrollable storm now felt more tamed.

“You're staring again” she said without staring back.

“I'm observing”

“Tch... That's just glaring with extra syllables”

I scoffed, “If I were glaring, you'd feel it”

She glanced over her shoulder, her greenish eyes bright in the sunlight. “Is that a promise or a threat?“

I stopped walking and she stopped too, turning around to fully look at me as she clasped her hands behind her back, lips twitching as if daring me to say something .

“You're insufferable” I whispered and she grinned.

“You don't sound convinced”

I moved past her, bumping her shoulder deliberately, “Focus, we're here to find cobra lily and iron root, not your entertainment”

She hurried to keep up, “You said that but you are the one who agreed to come didn't you?“

“I was volunteered”

“I didn't hear you protesting”

I ignored that.

We reached a small clearing where the earth was a bit caved in and the air was slightly cooler and damp with cobra lily growing around the edge.

Lyra crouched instantly, “Oh this are perfect” she reached for one.

“Careful, they snap”

She paused, “More like... Bite?”

“More like explode”

She slowly withdrew her hand, “Maybe you should have led with that”

I knelt beside her showing her how to cut the stem properly without disturbing the root of the plant. She mirrored my movement, her tongue caught between her teeth in concentration.

I shifted back slightly and she noticed, she always did, “You okay?“ she asked immediately.

“I'm fine”

“Because you're doing that thing again”

“What thing?“

“Where you act like the air around me is on fire”

I stiffened slightly, “You're just imagining things”

“Right, and you're imagining nothing”

She finished cutting the plant off and brushed the dirt off her trouser standing erect. Alexandria said the iron root grows near old battlegrounds. Places where bloods are soaked on the land deeply.

I grimaced, “Of course she did”

Lyra slightly tilted her head, “That's uncomfortable for you, isn't it?“

“No”

“That was very fast”

“It’s practical,” I corrected her “Ironroot is potent and it draws on residual energy like blood. Violence and death”

She nods her head slowly.“That sounds familiar”

“Careful”

She met my gaze evenly. “I am”

We moved deeper into the forest, the air thickening, magic hummed faintly beneath my feet. Then—

I felt it.

A shift.

I turned just as Lyra lunged at me, instinct took over. I caught her wrist, twisted, pulled her off balance and slammed her gently but firmly against a tree.

Her back hit the bark with a soft thud as my hands were braced beside her head. Her pulse fluttered wildly beneath my grip.

She tilted her head and blinked up at me.

Then she laughed.

“You should see your face”

I released her immediately, stepping back.

“What are you doing?”

“Training” she said innocently. “You always tell me to attack when you least expect it”

“That doesn’t mean ambush”

“That is exactly what it means”

She pushed off the tree, eyes glowing faintly purple as she summoned a controlled burst of magic, the air around her rippling.

“Again” she said full of excited energy.

I sighed. “You’re going to get yourself hurt”

“Then don’t let me”

She came at me again, faster this time.

I blocked it, spun, ducked a clumsy kick, caught her elbow and twisted, but she rolled with it, breaking free with a laugh.

“You’re holding back” she accused.

“You’re reckless, you can't fight a vampire like me yet”

“And you’re boring when you’re careful”

That earned her a sharp look.

She froze, realizing she’d pushed a line, but instead of retreating, she squared her shoulders.

“Come on, Caspian” she said quietly. “I can take it”

Something dark stirred in my chest.

“You have no idea what you’re asking Lyra”

“Then teach me”

The silence stretched between us then I nodded once.

The next exchange was brutal, but controlled. I stopped pulling my strikes short, forcing her to react faster, and think sharper. She stumbled, cursed, and recovered. Magic flared when she misstepped, but she reined it in each time.

Progress.

She slipped on loose gravel and went down hard, breath knocked from her lungs.

I was at her side instantly. “Enough”

She lay there for a moment, then groaned. “Ow”

I offered a hand and she took it.

When I pulled her up, she didn’t let go right away.

“I’m getting better aren't I?“ she said softly.

“Yes” I admitted.

Her smile was small but proud. “You sound surprised”

“I am”

We found ironroot shortly after, thick, twisted, and veins dark with old magic around it. As she dug carefully, she glanced up at me.

“Caspian?”

“Mm?”

“Thank you. For… this”

“For what?”

She gestured vaguely between us. “Not treating me like glass”

I hesitated for a second, “You’re not glass”

She smiled at that.

When we turned back toward camp, the forest felt different.

Not quieter, just… closer.

And for the first time since we met, walking beside her didn’t feel like a risk. It felt... inevitable.