Page 169 of In Violent Waves

There must be at least ten of them, which meant they were outnumbered, and with her still recovering from being drugged, she would be more of a hindrance than a help.

Maelys nicked Cyrus’ throat with her blade. A drop of darkened blood welled up and dribbled down the strong column of his throat.

His eyes flashed open, and he opened his mouth.

“She’s his, and he will take her. He will?—”

Goosebumps erupted on Lyra’s exposed skin, and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. But Cyrus never got the chance to finish.

Maelys split his throat from ear to ear at the same time Wilder lunged forward, piercing his heart.

They had both killed him—for her.

Wilder turned and looked at her. There was something unreadable on his face.

But when Maelys looked at her, there was only pure rage, not at Lyra, but at what had been done to her.

“I am sorry,” Wilder began, stepping closer to her. “I should have realized.” His voice cracked.

Otto, Maelys, and Ridge stared wide-eyed at him.

Tears welled in Lyra’s eyes when he reached a hand out towards her face. He froze, not daring to touch her without her permission first. When she nodded, he sighed, and his fingertips grazed her cheek.

“I need you to get in the carriage and stay there until I call for you. Do you understand?” His voice was low, an order to be obeyed.

“I can—can try to …” Lyra began.

“No. You will stay in that carriage. I will not ask you to meddle with powers you have no control over. We can handle this without you.”

The howls grew closer now, and Lyra could see Wilder’s pupils narrow in the dim light.

Dust and Oak shifted in her peripheral view, their armor glinting in the moonlight.

“Get in the carriage. Stay there,” Wilder commanded.

Maelys gripped Lyra under her elbow.

“Here, I’ll help you in.”

Lyra acquiesced and let Maelys tug her back to safety. She wobbled on her feet but did not fall.

The carriage door creaked open as Maelys held it for Lyra to slip inside.

“Take this,” Maelys said, holding out the dagger she had killed Cyrus with. “If someone other than us breaches those doors, I implore you to use it if you won’t use your power.”

Lyra took it, and her bottom lip quivered. It was more dangerous than she thought if Maelys was arming her.

“I know you know how to use it. Aim for the soft bits and the major arteries. Neck, thighs, and even the wrists if they reach for you, okay?”

Lyra nodded, still staring at the dagger in her grip.

“If it comes down to it—you need to save yourself first, Lyra. Do you understand?”

With those words, Lyra’s head whipped up. A question bubbled up, but popped with the slamming of the door.

She couldn’t hear anything outside the carriage. It had fallen inexplicably silent.

There was not a clang of metal, a crack of a twig, or even the whistle of wind. It’s as if the entire world had fallen away outside.