Page 13 of Elemental Becoming

But there is something else in his gaze now. Something like intrigue.

Lyra approaches us with Garrick on her heels.

“Gods almighty, woman! Go easy! You were on death’s door only hours ago,” Garrick barks, exasperated.

His hands hover at either side of her, ready to catch her if she so much as wobbles. Thane cocks an eyebrow at his childhood friend, clearly surprised to see him hovering like a mother hen. Garrick rolls his eyes in response.

Lyra waves him off with a lopsided smile and slides into the conversation like she’s been here all along.

“I like to make an entrance,” she says easily.

“More like a disruption,” Garrick mutters, standing at her side with a hand braced against the small of her back.

Lyra grins. “Isn’t that the same thing?”

Rowena’s face brightens instantly. “Ah, you must be Lyra.”

“That depends.” Lyra crosses her arms, angling her head. “Am I famous or infamous?”

Lyra sways a bit, and Garrick immediately reaches for her. His jaw clenches as she nearly stumbles, and for a moment worry outpaces the irritation on his face. He wraps an arm around her waist to brace her.

She’s still so pale. The only color on her face is the purple shadows beneath her eyes. Even her usually pink lips are almost colorless. Her copper hair looks too bright against the white of her skin.

But the weakness weighing on her body doesn’t touch her spirit. That’s Lyra, always up for anything, no matter what.

Lyra looks up at Garrick and scrunches her nose in appreciation before pressing a kiss to his cheek. Garrick only groans.

I suppress a grin. He’s clearly only now realizing what he’s gotten himself into with her.

“It seems like maybe you’re both,” Rowena ventures.

“Good,” Lyra says, grinning. “Then half my work here is already done.”

Sera sighs, smiling. “You and Row are going to get along superbly.”

Rowena’s eyes bounce between Garrick and Lyra, noting this new development in his life. She wags a finger between them.

“So . . . what’s happening here?” she asks, a mischievous glint in her eye.

For someone her size—someone who has to tilt her head back to look up at Garrick and Thane—her presence somehow makes both men seem smaller.

Thane chuckles, probably grateful to have Rowena’s attention directed anywhere but at him. Garrick groans again, rubbing his face with his free hand.

“Oh! He’s my man,” Lyra responds brightly, resting a hand onGarrick’s chest.

I gape when I see color rising in Garrick’s cheeks. Thane discreetly elbows me, and I snap my mouth shut. Between us, the bond thrums with . . . amusement.

I peek at Thane—he’s working so hard not to laugh, the corners of his eyes twinkling.

“Is that so?” Rowena presses.

Sera places a hand on Rowena’s shoulder. “Now don’t start harassing Garrick just because you’ve known him since he was in nappies.”

Lyra actually guffaws as the tips of Garrick’s ears turn red.

Thane can’t hold it in anymore and bursts into a full belly laugh. My eyes widen with delight as I look around; Valen, Rowena, and Sera are laughing too. Only Malek stands quietly, a small smile on his face.

That’s when I notice two men and a woman walking down the steps of the Ember Throne.