Chapter 85

Lyra’s POV

I stepped softly down the corridor, my footsteps muted against the polished stone. The long hallway lay silent, as though everyone had vanished. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I descended carefully, each step creaking beneath me. A sigh of relief escaped my lips—at least I wasn’t alone in the main hall, but out here in the garden, solitude would be a luxury.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, I entered the garden and inhaled deeply. A riot of floral scents assaulted my senses: some so cloying they made my stomach turn, others so subtle and sweet they lifted my spirits. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the mingled perfumes soothe my nerves.

A familiar voice broke my reverie. “I knew you wouldn’t be by yourself. That’s why I stayed.”

My eyes snapped open. Valerie stood just a few feet away, arms crossed, a mocking tilt to her smile. My heart sank. She was exactly the person I’d been trying to avoid.

I refused to meet her