"This time, Lyra…"
The voice faded.
The shadows around her wrist loosened.
**I'm coming for you.**
Then silence.
Lyra stared at the empty space between the two ancient stones.
The Veiled Gate was gone.
Only the forest remained.
Rainwater dripped from the branches above. The trees stood dark and motionless around her, as if nothing impossible had happened there.
But everything had changed.
Lyra slowly touched her wrist.
The mark no longer burned.
That somehow frightened her more.
*Kael?*
Nothing.
She frowned.
*Kael.*
Still nothing.
Seris stepped away from her.
"We need to leave."
Lyra ignored her.
*Kael.*
Silence.
Her jaw tightened.
*You don't get to say you're coming for me and then disappear.*
Nothing.
"Lyra."
She finally looked at Seris.
"What?"
Seris stared at her carefully.
"Who are you speaking to?"
Lyra crossed her arms.
"You know exactly who."
A flicker of tension crossed Seris's face.
"That connection is unstable."
"Convenient."
"Lyra—"
"No."
The word came out sharper than she intended.
But she didn't take it back.
"You don't get to keep telling me what to do."
Seris's eyes narrowed.
"This isn't the time."
"You've had sixteen years."
Something moved behind them.
Lyra stopped.
Seris noticed immediately.
Her hand moved toward the knife at her side.
The forest had become quiet.
Too quiet.
Lyra felt the familiar cold crawl across her skin.
*Kael?*
This time, the answer came.
**Don't move.**
Lyra froze.
Her eyes widened.
*What?*
**Do not turn around.**
Naturally, Lyra immediately wanted to turn around.
*Why?*
For several seconds, Kael said nothing.
Then—
**Because something is watching you.**
A branch cracked behind her.
Seris slowly reached for Lyra.
"Don't move," she whispered.
Lyra's heart began to pound.
*What is it?*
Kael's voice was quieter now.
Tense.
**Something that should not have followed you through the Gate.**
Lyra swallowed.
*Followed me?*
A low sound moved through the trees.
Not quite a growl.
Not quite a voice.
Seris stepped in front of Lyra.
"Stay behind me."
"I hate that sentence."
"Lyra."
"Right. Staying."
The darkness between the trees shifted.
Something stepped forward.
It was taller than any man.
Its body seemed to be made from shadow, but unlike the creature that had attacked Lyra earlier, this one had a shape.
A face.
Or something close to one.
Two pale eyes glowed from within the darkness.
Lyra stopped breathing.
The creature tilted its head.
Then it smiled.
Lyra wished it hadn't.
"Well," it said.
Its voice sounded like several voices speaking at once.
"How interesting