Chapter 27 The Old Temple

• The night sky hung heavy with stars as Lyra, Kylan, and Kellan stood beside Ryan, who lay resting against the base of the Eldertree. The warm glow of the ancient tree still surrounded them, but a deep unease had settled over Lyra. Serin had been driven back, but her words echoed in Lyra’s mind like a haunting promise.
• “This isn’t over,” she had said, her voice laced with fury and something else—a chilling certainty.
• Lyra’s hands trembled as she sat beside Ryan, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. His breathing was steady now, his face pale but peaceful. She had saved him, but the effort had drained her, and the strain of the battle left her body heavy with exhaustion. She gazed into the dark forest, her heart pounding with a mixture of relief and dread.