Lyra took that to mean that it wasn’t writing that was gnawing at her mother. “Is it the press? The tabloids? Are the paparazzi bothering you guys?”
“A couple of themmighthave stepped foot on the property, but it just so happens it’s water balloon season here at Mile’s End.”
“Cooper?”
“Having the time of his life.”
Lyra’s lips betrayed her by curving very slightly upward. She couldn’t help feeling like even that, even a moment’s distraction on her part, was the worst sort of betrayal. “Dad—”
“You’re my girl. You know that, right?”
A knot formed in Lyra’s throat. “I’ve always known that.”
“You’reourgirl, Lyra, your mom’s and mine. But there’s something I need to—”
Another call was coming in.Grayson.Lyra’s heart stopped. “Dad? I have to go.” Lyra switched calls and answered in the same breath. “Grayson?”
“You aren’tmyLyra.” His voice was familiar in all the right ways. It had been, somehow, even the very first time she’d heard it. “That’s what I kept thinking to myself when we listened to that message of the old man’s, when I heard him refer to Alice over and over again ashisAlice. You aren’tmyLyra, because you are no one’s to possess. You simplyare.”
Questions—so many of them—flashed through Lyra’s head at the exact same time.
What happened?
Do you have Avery?
Are the others okay?
Are you?
But what came out of Lyra’s mouth was: “Why does this sound like a good-bye?”
This thing between Lyra and Grayson had started with phone calls. His voice and hers and just a few words exchanged on the phone. It had only been nine days since they’d met in person.
Nine days.
“Things went south.” That voice, that voice, that voice. “Xander and I got out. Jameson didn’t. The men who were supposed to be waiting for us on Rohan’s boat—they’re gone. All of them are gone. I knocked Xander out so the duchess can get him the rest of the way to safety, but I’m—”
“You’re going back in.” Lyra didn’t even make that a question. How could she when she knew damn well who he was? When it felt like somehow she hadalwaysknown?
“Alice’s ring is yours to keep,” Grayson said quietly. “Nan gave it to Nash. Nash gave it to me. And I gave it to you. Promise me you won’t try to give it back.”
“I’m not keeping the damn ring,” Lyra choked out.
“Perhaps I misspoke. You aren’tkeepingit. You’re accepting it as a gift, selling it, and saving Mile’s End.”
This is good-bye.“Is that an order?” The words caught in Lyra’s throat. “Or a suggestion?”
“Let it be an order. Just this once, Lyra. Let me go back in knowing—”
“Don’t.”
“I have to, sweetheart.” He was real. He was so damn real, and Lyra knew exactly who he was. And she knew whoshewas, too.
“This isn’t me telling you not to go back in, asshole. I am orderingyouto stop acting like there is even the remotest chance that you won’t come out on top of this.”Nine days, only nine days, but I know.“I am ordering you to remember that you are the kind of irritating, frustrating, maddening, mind-blowing, sure-of-himself, capable-of-anythingassholewho can move mountains with the flick of a single brow.” Lyra’s whole body vibrated with the force of those words. “You want me to accept the gift of that ring? So I can sell it and save Mile’s End? Then I guess you better find a way to come back, asshole.”
She could hear Grayson’s next breath on the other end of the line. She could practically feel him, right there next to her.
“Threeassholesin four sentences,” he said. “I believe that’s a personal best.”
