Page 111 of In Rising Tides

“No. Estria gave her the tonic a little while ago, but she said it could be another day,” a woman’s voice replied.

Lyra thought it might be Nerida.

A hand grazed Lyra’s arm, and goosebumps trailed in its wake.

“I’ve been speaking to her. It seems to calm her down from what I can tell.”

Someone picked up something on her vanity and then set it down. The glass clinked against the coral table.

“She’s always been a fitful sleeper,” Drystan replied, his voice coming from the opposite side of her room.

“I don’t think this is sleep,” Nerida replied.

Her voice was soft, tender, almost. She brushed a lock of hair off Lyra’s face.

“Magic is balance,” she said so quietly Lyra almost didn’t hear it. “Rigel said she wielded magic he’d never seen before.”

Drystan snorted. “I’ve heard rumors that your husband often seeks your guidance within his territory. I didn’t realize he might also share vital council information.”

There was a pause, and Lyra strained.

Nerida brushed another hand across hers. Lyra tried to hold her sister’s hand, but all she could manage was a twitch of her fingers.

“He knows what she means to me, means to all of us. It goes without saying that I would protect her with my life.”

Lyra’s chest ached. She had no idea what she meant to her sister, had never felt sisterly bonds with any of them.

“Then why did you feel the need to say it?” Drystan asked.

Lyra knew by the tone of his voice what kind of disgruntled look was upon his face.

“I know what she means to me. But other than a bargaining chip for your throne, I can’t quite figure out why you’re here. Looking as if she means more to you.”

Lyra would flinch if her body had allowed it. Her sister’s words were very direct.

“It’s no secret, my affections for Lyra,” his reply was bland. It sounded rehearsed.

But she felt his presence stir as if he were drawing near to her. “I don’t know how to be what she needs.”

If Lyra could pull her eyes out of her skull to see his face right now, she would.

Nerida chuckled. “Unfortunately, I don’t think you could ever be what she needs. No one can.”

Lyra imagined Drystan looking confused, the way his brows would draw together and the slight plumpness of his lips.

“What do you mean?”

“My sister is for this world.”

There was a long pause.

So long, in fact, Lyra had thought they had left, and she had tumbled further into the nothingness.

“She should be awake by now,” Drystan grumbled.

She could feel him floating from one side of her room to the other. He was pacing again.

“There’s so much about bargains we don’t know,” Nerida began, her voice sounding distant and near. “But what we doknow is not good. It will claim her life if she does not complete it.”