Lyra's POV
They had countless tasks ahead with zero time for delays, making their swift departure essential.
"Quit gawking like that—it's unseemly," Alaric cautioned her. That yearning expression was all too familiar to him.
"Forgive me, I never intended..." Clara instantly dropped her gaze, looking away from the king's back. She returned a short while later to swap out the meal, but when she entered, I was still asleep, though someone had already dressed me in my nightgown. It seemed Caelum had taken care of that.
Some time passed before I finally began to wake. Clara rushed to my side, helping me sit upright.
"Are you alright, my queen?" Clara fluffed the pillows behind me before offering a glass of water.
"I'm fine," I responded glumly, my body still aching from everything Caelum had done throughout the night. He hadn't stopped until sunrise painted the horizon. "Where's the king?"
"I'm not certain, but I believe he's meeting with the gamma again."
