Chapter 15 – The Glow Before the Burn
[LYRA'S POV]
It started as a pulse in her ribcage.
Soft. Measured. Like a second heartbeat.
She thought it might stop.
It didn't.
By the time she stepped into the clearing with Elyna for the daily patrol, the pulse had become a hum.
She paused at the edge of the forest, clutching her chest.
The mark burned under her skin — not painful… just demanding.
---
Elyna turned. "You good?"
"I—" Lyra took a breath. "It's… glowing again."
Elyna stepped closer, eyes narrowing.
"Girl, it's not just glowing. It's flaring."
---
Before Lyra could ask what she meant, the trees rattled.
Wind whipped the air around them.
The sky, once clear, turned dark gray in seconds.
A gust of wind shot through the clearing—
And every torch lit itself with blue fire.
---
All at once, the warriors near the training circle turned to face her.
Some dropped to their knees.
Some stepped back, whispering.
A few reached for weapons.
Elyna cursed under her breath.
"Okay. Okay. We're just gonna breathe, yeah?"
---
And then Selene stepped into the clearing.
As calm as a storm before lightning strikes.
---
[SELENE'S POV]
She watched the flames lick the torches.
Watched the mark shimmer through Lyra's thin shirt.
So the prophecy was real.
The girl was blooming.
And that meant only one thing.
> "The Council will come for her."
Selene spoke the words softly, like a truth wrapped in velvet.
Elyna spun around. "So stop tempting fate."
But Selene ignored her, eyes on Lyra.
"She's not ready."
---
[KAIRO'S POV]
He appeared a second later — scent wild, eyes near-golden, his control cracking.
"Lyra!" he shouted.
Her head snapped toward him.
Their eyes met.
And in that moment — the chaos faded.
Only the hum remained.
---
Kairo stepped forward.
He didn't see the pack.
He didn't see Selene.
He saw her.
Glowing.
Terrified.
But divine.
---
"Breathe with me," he said.
One step.
"Match me."
Another.
She tried.
And the fire flickered lower.
---
Until Selene said, cool and calculated:
> "You're just proving my point. She needs a handler, not a lover."
---
Kairo turned on her, eyes flashing.
"I'm not her handler."
Selene didn't flinch. "No. But you'll burn for her, won't you?"
---
Silence fell.
Everyone watched him.
Watched her.
The mark dimmed.
But the truth… had already burned into their minds.
---
Kairo took Lyra's hand in front of them all.
And the flames didn't rise.
They settled.
---
[LATER – INSIDE THE CABIN]
She sat on the edge of the bed.
Still shaking.
Kairo paced like a caged beast.
"She challenged me," he muttered. "In front of everyone."
"She thinks I'll ruin everything," Lyra whispered.
"She's wrong."
---
Pause.
Then she said the words:
> "Would you really burn for me?"
He turned.
Eyes soft. Tormented.
> "I already am."