Book 3: Won’t Leandros Turn Up?

Lyra’s POV 

As I lay down to sleep, I was in a dilemma. There was no other way out than to agree to return home the next morning. If Uncle Felixe could find out my mentor’s phone number, he could also get me out of this hotel. 

I wondered if Leandros were coming at all. Had they not invited him? Had my uncle insulted him for what he did to me? What other reason could be for him not to turn up for Hera’s birthday? He was quite close to Hera. 

After a fitful sleep the next morning, I trudged home. It was Saturday and my office was closed for the weekend. With Hera’s birthday the next day, I had no way of escape. 

The moment I parked the car, the chaos inside the house made me dread going inside. I had no contact with my friends from Lucania for the last four years. What if they bore a grudge against me? I was socially awkward and couldn’t do small talk to salvage a situation. 

Still, I trudged in gingerly, smiling