A Sprinkle of Stardust

Chapter 34 - Implosion

The guards' eyes widened as Lyrani burst out onto the landing outside Nash's apartment. Excitement had fluttered through her when she arrived here earlier, but now her legs couldn't move quickly enough to get her away from it.

Ignoring the guards, Lyrani raced down the stairs. She winced at the piercing cold of the steps against her bare feet but kept running, the hem of her cloak flapping behind her, even though she couldn't hear whether Nash was in pursuit.

No, not Nash. Rayn.

Lyrani had fled the spirit before, but she didn't think the queen would let her go so easily this time.

She meant those threats she had made while she pinned Lyrani to Nash's bed. If there was one thing Lyrani knew about Rayn, it was that she kept her violent promises. It was the only reason she had known what Veyali looked like just before she died.

She had been there. She must've been the reason Veyali jumped off the balcony.

Rayn knew Lyrani was Veyali's daughter. Was that why she had attacked her? Or did she know what Lyrani had come to Vlitavia to do?

Either way, Lyrani was in danger.

Her heart's thumping slowed as she came to the porch surrounding the apartment she shared with Trelle. Warm light glowed in its windows, a beacon of hope and safety that beckoned to her.

Lyrani fumbled for her key in her cloak, but her fingers only grasped fresh air. It must've fallen out of her pocket when she was running.

Frantic with the fear that coursed through her, she banged her knuckles against the door. Trelle opened it, and Lyrani stumbled inside, into the safety it provided.

"Trelle, lock the door," she panted, resting a hand on the wall as she doubled over to catch her breath.

Her dry throat burned as she swallowed, pushing the stray strands of her black hair away from her eyes.

"Where are you coming from, all hot and bothered?" Trelle cocked her head. "And where are your clothes?"

Lyrani pulled her cloak tighter around her, but that only emphasised the curves and lines of her bare body.

Trelle looked her up and down, her mouth in her typical smirk, but there was a coldness in it that Lyrani had never seen before.

"Trelle, just lock the door."

"You have no right to order me around." The other agent stood beside the door, her fists clenched at her sides. "I saw everything."

"Lock it! Please!" Lyrani begged. "We don't have time for this. I'll tell you whatever you want to know later, but there won't be a later if you don't lock that door."

If Rayn was still pursuing Lyrani, she would be here soon. The door may not keep her out, but it would buy time, perhaps allow Nash to overpower Rayn before she reached Lyrani.

Trelle folded her arms over her chest as if Lyrani hadn't spoken. "I should've known you would ruin this mission."

Lyrani frowned. "What are you talking about?"

The mission wasn't ruined. At least not yet.

Trelle's voice shook with suppressed anger. "You told me you weren't coming to dinner because you were sick. Instead, you had other plans."

"I—"

"I saw you with the king, Lyrani! What happened to your rule not to get close to your targets? You were never planning on killing him, were you?"

"No." Lyrani looked down. "I couldn't."

"And you lied about not caring about him." Trelle bit out her words. "You lied that you were only getting close to him for the sake of the mission."