Mira’s POV

I didn’t know Lyra was struggling. Didn’t know her rebellion had fractured or that Darius had taken half her forces. I was too busy trying not to drown.

The river had spit me out two miles downstream, hypothermic and barely conscious. Cyrus’s wolves found me before Darius’s scouts did. They wrapped me in blankets, carried me to a safe house, and asked where Kael was. I couldn’t answer through the shaking.

Three days passed before I could stand. Three days of not knowing if Kael survived the rapids. The mate bond hummed faintly, alive but distant.

Cyrus arrived on the fourth day and pulled me into his arms without a word. “I got your message,” I whispered. “About Seraphine.”

“Later,” he said. “Rest first.” But I couldn’t rest. I couldn’t stop seeing Kael’s face as the water tore us apart.

That night, he sat beside my bed. “The messenger said you jumped off a cliff with Kael.” “We didn’t have a choice.”

“You always have a choice, Mira,” he said softly. “You chose him.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry for what you feel. Be honest about it.” We both knew the truth we’d avoided for six years. “I love you,” I said. “But.”

“Not the way you love him,” he finished. “I’ve always known.”

“Then why did you stay?”

“Because some of you were better than none of you. And I hoped time would change things.”

“Cyrus.”

“It’s alright.” He squeezed my hand. “Find your daughter. Find Kael.” He left at dawn, no goodbye, just a note: You’re released from our bond by mutual agreement. Be happy, Mira. I cried for the man who’d loved me better than I deserved.

On the fifth day, something changed. A pulling sensation, unfamiliar, insistent. Not the mate bond. Something newer. One of Cyrus’s wolves noticed me clutching my ribs. “You feel that? The pull?”

“What is it?”

“Blood calling to blood,” she said. “Your daughter’s close.” The pull pointed toward the mountains, stronger each hour. Like Lyra took a step toward me, then away, then toward again.

Two days later, she arrived. I felt her before I saw her. The bond flared hot and certain. She stood fifty yards away, then stepped into the open. No weapon drawn, but not trusting either.

“I came for answers,” she said. “I’ll tell you everything.” “Where’s Kael?” she asked, his name, not father. “We were separated in the river,” I said. “But the bond is still there. Faint.”

She nodded, then studied my face. “You look like hell.” I laughed. “Cliff jumping and drowning will do that.” “Why did you jump?”

“Because he broke chains with his bare hands to get to me,” I said. “We weren’t staying to be executed.” “Darius wanted you dead,” she murmured. “I didn’t stop you from leaving.”

“I know. Thank you.” “Don’t,” she said sharply. “I didn’t do it for you.”

“Then why?”

She hesitated. “Curiosity. Wanted to see if you’d actually fight.” “And now that you’ve seen it?”

“Now I have questions. Starting with: Did you really search for me?” “Every day for six years,” I said. “I nearly died following false leads.”

“Darius said you moved on.”

“Cyrus saved my life when I had nothing left. But I never forgot you.”

She breathed out slowly. “This bond—this pull. Is it real? Or biology?”

“I don’t know. I feel it too.”

“I hate it,” she whispered. “Hate that my body knows where you are when my head doesn’t want to care.”

“You can feel both,” I said. “Hate the situation and still feel the connection.”

“Can you choose family? Or does blood decide for you?”

“Blood gives the option. Choice decides the rest.”

She looked toward the mountains. “I can feel him, too. Fainter. But there.” Relief hit so hard I swayed. “You’re sure?”

“The pull doesn’t lie.”

We stood in silence.

“I found documents,” she said. “Letters between Darius and Seraphine. They planned my abduction.”

“Seraphine’s dead,” I said. “Blackridge executed her.”

Lyra absorbed that. “So everyone involved is dead or standing in front of me.”

“I didn’t steal you,” I said quietly. “I lost you.”

“From where I’m standing, the result is the same.” But her voice had softened.

“What do you want?”

“I want to know if you actually wanted me or if I was just a consequence of a bond.” “I wanted you so much it broke something in me when you were gone.”

“Until Cyrus,” she said.

“Surviving isn’t healing,” I told her. “Every birthday you had, I imagined where you were. If you were scared. If you hated me.” Her throat tightened. “I did hate you. Darius made sure of that.”

“You’re allowed to,” I said. “Your feelings are yours.” She studied me. “You’re not what I expected.”

“What did you expect?” “Someone weak. Someone who’d beg. But you jumped off a cliff and survived a river that should’ve killed you.” “I had a reason. I had to find you.”

The bond tightened, her resistance cracking. “I split from Darius,” she said. “Half the rebellion is with me. The rest plan to attack Blackridge.”

My blood chilled. “When?”

“Days, maybe.”

She watched me carefully. “I need to stop him. But I also need answers.” “You’re whoever you choose to be,” I said. “Blood doesn’t write your story.” “Even if blood brought me here?”

“Especially then.” I stepped closer. She didn’t move. “I need to find Kael,” she said. “The pull will lead me.”

“Then we go together.” “Why would you trust me?” she asked. “I could be leading you into a trap.” “Because you’re my daughter,” I said simply. “And that means something.” She blinked hard. “Don’t expect me to call you mother.”

“I don’t expect anything except honesty. And maybe a chance.” Lyra nodded. “We find him. Then you both explain everything.”

“Deal.”

She turned toward the mountains. I fell into step beside her. My daughter and I were walking toward the man who’d broken us both in different ways. Walking toward answers neither of us was ready for.

But walking together. And that counted for something.