Lyra's POV
Standing before the front entrance, my vision wavered slightly. I gulped hard and nearly bolted until Ash's solid chest pressed against my spine. His warm breath caressed my ear while his hands found my waist.
"You're safe," he murmured softly. "I'm right here."
A tremor ran through me like cascading water. Without thinking, I melted back against Ash. I couldn't suppress my smile when I felt his lips curve against my ear. Drawing in another steadying breath, I dove headfirst into the chaos of the party.
The overwhelming noise hit me just as brutally as my first college party experience. A symphony of shouting voices mixed with pounding bass and countless other sounds. But watching Poppy start dancing sparked something liberating in me. I began swaying my hips, then picked up the pace as Poppy seized my hand and pulled me toward the center.
