Lyra’s breath stuttered when I shifted and pinched her chin between my thumb and finger, and gestured my retort near her cheek. That is for me to decide. Not you.

“Is this my fate, then, Sentry Ashwood?” Her words were warm against my bare skin. “Never being free to go where I like, or do what I like, without you?”

I understood her meaning, but despised the cinch it brought to my own chest at the thought of days not filled with the sight of Lyra Bien. I was a wretch, a fool, and an embarrassment to my position.

This draw to the woman was a hindrance.

But I wasn’t so certain I was alone in it. Lyra spoke like I was a nuisance, but she had not pulled away either.

A ram’s horn sounded from the tower and my stomach bottomed out. No.

“What is it?” Lyra looked about when Stav shot into action.

One possessive hand held on to Lyra’s waist. Fear lanced through me like a molten blade. The prince had not returned from his feckless trip outside Stonegate, and a warning was rising from the gates.

I whistled, drawing the attention of a few Stav, and ordered pairs to form a line at the gates.

“Roark.” Lyra looked at me with wide eyes.

I waited to speak until she was carefully focused on both my hands. This is that moment when you go straight to your tower. Lock the door. Do not leave unless you hear three knocks, a pause, then two short knocks.

“What is it?” She dug her fingers into my forearm when I turned to go.

She would find out soon enough. Dravens. Go.

28

Lyra

Any desire to stand against Roark’s orders faded when Stonegate erupted into a wild frenzy. Stav Guard seemed to appear from the walls, from every corner, sealing in Queen Ingir and King Damir.

Thoughts about Kael lifting another blade for more than practice filled my head with worry. I half expected Prince Thane to round the corner and demand I join him in the tree hut to slaughter with our arrows.

The prince never came.

I hurried up the wide staircase to my chamber. More than one drifting thought of the Sentry stole its way into my head.

“Lyra!” Hilda, skirt clutched in her grip, raced up the stairs at my back.

“Thank the gods.” I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. “Has Edvin gone with the Stav?”

“Only to the inner gates.” Her eyes were blown wide. “Do you know what’s happening?”

“Roar—the Sentry said it means Dravens were spotted.”

Hilda kissed her fingertips and pressed them to her head in a swift prayer. “Stav were headed into the wood. No doubt, they’ll keep them as far from the walls as possible, like they did last time. Gods, I thought Stonegate was meant to be the safest refuge in the kingdom.”