Chapter 36

Lyra’s POV

Molly and I had just finished a brief chat in the main hall before I waved her off, letting her return to her own duties. She’s clever and warm—already I felt I’d found a friend in this vast, otherwise empty mansion. I turned away from her and began to head back inside, my footsteps echoing on the marble floor, when I literally ran into something solid.

“Ouch!” I murmured, more surprised than hurt, and lifted my eyes to apologize—only to meet Alistair’s dark, intense gaze. He was standing so close, his broad shoulders filling my entire field of vision, it felt as though I’d crashed into a living wall.

“I—I was bored,” I stumbled over my words. “So I, uh, decided to stretch my legs.” My heart thudded against my ribs as I tried to step around him, but he didn’t budge. Instead, he slipped an arm around my waist, holding me gently but firmly against him.

My cheeks warmed as I glanced down, hoping to hide my blush, but he reached up, tipped my chin, and