~LYRA'S POV~

For several seconds, I stood transfixed, gaping at Rylan like he just emanated out of the moon.

Seriously, did he just tell Isla to excuse us? Or perhaps, my ears had magically conjured what I'd wanted him to say?

But the mortified look on Isla's face was proof that it wasn't what my ears magically conjured. He really said it. He really told her to give us some privacy.

Heck, that wasn't like him.

The Rylan of these recent years would even bark at me for suggesting that she ...