Lyra's POV
The vial felt icy against my palm, yet somehow the tiny container seared my flesh. This was the delayed-action toxin my father had entrusted to me.
I found myself wondering how much time would pass before the poison finally claimed the king's life. A month, perhaps?
Two months? Maybe an entire year?
How ready were those conspirators to overthrow the monarch?
My mind churned with countless questions, but ultimately, I faced only one real issue; I craved Caelum's death for the torment he'd inflicted upon me.
I'd be eternally grateful if he simply left me be, yet he persistently returned, subjecting me to fresh anguish.
He mirrored Killian perfectly.
And perhaps, though the odds remained virtually nonexistent, someday I might get the opportunity to eliminate Killian as well.
For now, though, I'd handle the king first.
