Mira's POV.

I didn't witness what happened in the stronghold after we escaped. But later,much later, Lyra would tell me everything, and I'd understand why she looked at us the way she did.

She stood at the cliff edge where we'd jumped, staring down at the white water that had swallowed us whole. Darius paced beside her, fury rolling off him in waves.

"You let them escape." His voice was controlled but barely. "You had a clear shot, and you hesitated."

"I wanted to see what they'd do." Lyra kept ...