Lyra's heart pounded as she held her son close. She had waited what felt like forever to see him again, and now, at last, she had her precious child and Mina back. Relief mixed with a renewed sense of determination. But even as she tried to calm herself, one thought kept burning in her mind: she couldn't stay here. She had to leave, to protect her child from Alaric and his intentions.
Alaric had granted her request, but only because he was confident that she would now be bound to him. She saw the look in his eyes—he thought he'd won her trust and her loyalty. But Lyra's loyalty was elsewhere; it was with Kael, even in his absence, and with her son's safety.
As the evening settled in, Lyra quietly prepared. She gathered what few belongings she could manage, placing them in a small bag. She didn't want to raise suspicion, so she made sure everything looked normal, as if she'd be staying just as Alaric expected.