Lyra POV

I stood in front of the cottage for a long moment, unable to move. The strange woman had left a while ago, disappearing into the forest like she was never real at all, her presence fading. It took me time to gather myself enough to step outside. My body still felt weak, my breath unsteady. I should have left earlier, but fear held me frozen. Fear of what waited for me outside. Fear of what waited in the capital. Fear of who I had to pretend to be.

But I had no choice.

I finally forced ...