Chapter 40. The Ugly Truth

Lyra POV

The further we walk, the more I feel like a child who just got in trouble for breaking my mother’s favorite dinnerware. I start to lag behind Mother, feeling the stretch in our arms as the gap widens between us.

My mother has always been supportive, or so I thought. But now, it feels like everything is different. She’s clearly upset about… something.

Cassian walks beside me, his hand firmly holding mine. Aisla strides alongside Mother, sneaking a look behind her to meet my eyes with sympathy and… well, confusion.

She doesn’t know what’s going on, either.

Strangely, we stop in front of a small hotel, and Mother turns to her guardsmen. “Return to the ship,” she orders them.

I furrow my brow, confused. Her Royal Guard never leaves her.