Page 128 of The Last Guardian

“Very well then,” Nefeli said with a strange smile, noticing Lyra’s lack of attention. “If you need anything, just ask. I will leave you to get settled, and we will meet for dinner.”

“Thank you, Nef,” I replied.

Nefeli gave me a soft look before turning her back. Her footsteps faded against the wooden floor.

Right as I was about to speak, Lyra closed the door and pressed her back against it, her voice low and serious. “We need to talk.”

“WHY IN THE seven hells did you accept the help of Commander Kaenington?” Lyra reprimanded as she pushed herself from the door.

She gave me a knowing look. Waiting.

My breath hitched. “I—” I furrowed my brow. “How are you here exactly?”

She clicked her tongue, her fists on her hips. “Don’t change the subject. I’ll get to that later.” With light steps, she reached me, her hands tightening around my arms. “What happened to you, Alya?” she whispered. Her amber gaze shone with everything she tried to hide. “You fainted at the ball, then you just disappeared the next day without a word.”

I opened my mouth, but no words escaped my lips. What could I say to her?

The mark was off limits—I would not share anything about it until I knew the meaning behind it.

Nevan… the thought of talking about him for even a minute made me feel sick. If I mentioned the erased memories, I would need to come clean about my mother’s death.

“Haedeon attacked me,” I said at last, my voice nothing more than a murmur. “He…” My skin prickled where he had sunk his teeth into my neck. I swallowed. “He bit me—drank my blood.”

“What in the Seven Hells did you just say?” Lyra gasped, widening her eyes.

I told her everything about that night. Haedeon, the wolf, the rot in the forest. And who saved me.

Lyra’s face had become white as we sat on one of the beds. Her hand tightened around mine as I explained why I left—why I couldn’t stay in Lorath.

“What sort of person bites people? Is he a sort of vampire? Is that a thing?” Lyra grumbled with a shudder when I mentioned Haedeon’s attack. “Did this—” she narrowed her eyes, “this wizard mention vampires?”

I’d mentioned everything I learned with Arystan—the species, magic, Keraneeth. And the Guardians—which she had already learned during her travel with Arthur.

I shook my head. “Apparently it’s one of his… abilities.”

She shuddered; disgust crossed her features.

I swallowed hard. “Zaid had explained to me the High Mages could control blood, bones⁠—”

Lyra interrupted me with a dark look. “Zaid?”

I stopped, staring at my friend. She pinned me with her gaze.

“Alya, how can you trust him? How could you leave with him?”

“Do you think I didn’t debate before I agreed?” I argued, arching my eyebrow. “But it was that or being alone in Vallen⁠—”

“I would have come with you,” Lyra interrupted me, her voice low.

“I couldn’t stay there a minute longer,” I explained. “Haedeon or my father would have found me if I sought you out. I needed to leave to understand—” I stopped mid-sentence, crossing my legs on the bed. Lyra imitated me. “I needed answers. Zaid offered to help.”

“We don’t know him. I don’t trust him,” Lyra whispered, “any of them.”

At least that explained her behavior towards Nefeli.

I didn’t mention that if any of the people we were discussing were in the house, they could hear us.

“There is something only he can help me with, Lyra,” I said, trying to explain my motivation. Drawing circles on the sheets with my finger, I added, “He’s already helped me. He saved me from Haedeon and…”