Page 153 of In Violent Waves

“Quite.”

Otto chuckled. “Could have fooled me.”

“Sorry—I wasn’t expecting to fight with him.” Lyra grimaced.

“I was.”

She rolled her eyes but stepped on his toe. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. It won’t always be like this,” he murmured, and his voice was soft.

“It gets better?”

“Do you really want to know?”

Lyra thought about Wilder’s feelings on hearing his future and shook her head.

“Just tell me one thing?”

Otto nodded. “Of course.”

“Does it hurt?”

There was a grimace on his face that made her stomach sink.

She heaved a sigh as the music drew to yet another close.

“Physically or emotionally?” she asked low enough so that the crowd could not hear her.

“Both. But not forever. And you become stronger, Lyra. Stronger than your wildest dreams.”

There was a small bit of comfort in his words that she clung to.

“Go find Maelys. She’s ready for you,” Otto ordered before slipping back into the crowd.

Lyra searched the room for Maelys and swept past the glares and sneers of displeasure.

Oberon and Aine were murmuring between themselves, heads bent together. Lyra caught Aine’s eye before the queen turned.

That was unusual. And Lyra felt as if they had been speaking about her.

“There you are!” Maelys called, two goblets of wine in her hands.

“I was looking for you,” Lyra replied, taking the glass Maelys handed her.

She was ready to flee from this place, and if she hadn’t found Maelys soon, she would have left without a word. Everything hurt, and her time here was up.

“You weren’t looking hard enough,” Maelys teased. “How was the dancing?”

“It was fine. You and Ridge looked graceful.”

Maelys laughed, and it was such a lovely sound that Lyra smiled despite herself.

“Years of practice. You and Wilder looked better than we did.”

Lyra’s heart fell into her stomach, and with it, her smile.

“You ready for the real fun?”