Lyra learned very quickly that recovery did not mean peace.

The morning after the dream, she woke with the strange sense that something had already been watching her for hours. The light filtering into the sanctuary was soft and pale, but it did nothing to ease the tightness in her chest. She stayed still for a long moment, listening, counting her breaths, trying to decide whether the feeling was fear or instinct.

It felt like neither.

It felt like awareness.

She sat up slowly and swung her ...