9. Lyra

Striding away from Corina I am distracted and irritated. Losing my stash of monk pepper flowers has left me vulnerable. I have to avoid succumbing to the Black Hall. I am afraid if I let go, lose control everything will fall apart.

I will crumble and fail

Or sass Corina. The temptation to put the bucket on her head was so strong I could taste it. It only quenched when Declan appeared. Then a whole other form of temptation reared its head.

How can someone possibly ooze fear and safety at the same time? His broad body, clad in a dark charcoal top is terrifyingly strong. He could kill me without blinking, those brown eyes dragging me into a willing trance.

At night I still replay the memory of him stroking my cheek. Then I scold myself for being pathetic.

After all, he did nothing to protect me today. He let Corina banish me to the laundry. Frustrated at how easily I let me guard down around him, I didn’t notice her following me.

“Lyra.”

I stop in my tracks, head bowed, braced f