LYRA

The days blurred together after the poisoning. Training every morning where I kept my skills carefully hidden, etiquette lessons in the afternoon where Madame Corvina seemed perpetually surprised I could improve, evening meals where I checked every dish three times before eating. A routine that should have been boring but was actually exhausting.

Kael watched me during training sessions. Not obviously, not in a way anyone else would notice, but I felt his attention like a target on my ...