Chapter 14 (Job Hunt)

Lyra's POV

As I prepared to retire for the night, I was in the bathroom when I caught a whiff of George's scent, signalling his presence in my room. The gentle squeaking of my parrot confirmed it. I emerged from the bathroom and saw him standing.

"Hey, looks like you're ready for bed," George remarked.

Unable to find the right words, I simply hummed in response and turned my attention to the dressing mirror.

"I don't want us to argue, though it seems inevitable. We should try to resolve things before bed," he continued, taking a seat on the couch.

"I agree. But this is something I need to do," I replied, smoothing oil onto my skin.

There was a moment of silence as if George was waiting for me to finish. When I stood up, he patted the space beside him, gesturing for me to join him.

"I only want what's best for you, and I need to be sure I can protect you out there. I don't know what might happen," he explained calmly.

"I understand, but I need to learn to navigate this world on my o