Page 65 of The Onyx Covenant

And Lyra saved me. I actually fucking died, and she brought me back. I’m still dealing with the reality of that.

Stepping outside, the cool morning air hits my skin. The river flows below, calmer now as the sun starts to rise over the horizon. The Darkbone Peaks loom closer than I expected—the cliff and river cut a significant chunk off our journey. At least something’s working in our favor.

My stomach growls, reminding me that neither of us has eaten since the shitshow dinner. I can fix that.

Moving silently through the underbrush takes focus, but hunting has been drilled into me since childhood. It doesn’t take long to spot a fat rabbit, oblivious to the predator tracking it. One quick chase, and it’s over—neck snapped cleanly.

I skin and clean it outside the cave. No need to make a mess inside.

When I return to the cave, Lyra’s still sleeping, her blonde hair splayed across the blanket, one arm stretched to where I’d been lying. Something tightens in my chest at the sight, a feeling I’ve spent the last year trying to bury.

I spear a branch through the rabbit and hold it over the flames, then sit down near my Omega. The cave fills with the scent of roasting meat. My mouth waters, reminding me how long it’s been since I’ve eaten.

Soon, Lyra stirs, her nose twitching slightly. Her eyes open, immediately alert and focused on me.

“Hey, beautiful,” I say with a grin.

She stretches, unconcerned with her nakedness, then sits up.

“You’re looking better than the last time I saw you conscious.”

“Hard not to, considering I died and was bleeding out.”

She scans my body, lingering on my forehead. “Your wound’s gone. Fast healing.”

“Still sore as hell, though. Feels like I got kicked by a fucking horse.”

She wraps the blanket loosely around herself as she moves closer to inspect my head. “The moondust you drank probably helped accelerate the healing.”

“Whatever it was, it worked.” I turn the rabbit over the flames. “Hungry?”

“Starving,” she admits, tucking her legs beneath her. “I didn’t realize how much energy it takes to drag your heavy ass out of a river.”

I snort. “Could’ve left me there.”

“And miss the opportunity to lord it over you for the rest of your life? Not a chance.”

I tilt my head, smirking. “Pretty sure the real reason you’re drained is from riding my face like you were chasing God… and the way we fucked afterward.” I glance at her flushed cheeks. “Dragging me out of the river was just the start.”

She snorts. “Keep talking, and I’ll shove you back in the river.”

“You didn’t deny it.”

“Too tired to argue. Next time, you get to drown.”

There’s the sass I remember, the sharp wit that caught my attention when we first met. I watch as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. Even half wrapped in a blanket, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

“The rabbit’s going to take longer, but we don’t have time,” I say, tearing my gaze away. “But it’s edible. Then we need to get going.”

“Any idea where the others might be?” she asks, her tone shifting to something more concerned.

“River probably carried them downstream. Hopefully, they made it to shore.” I check the rabbit again, the skin crisping over the flames at least. “Kieran’s been through worse. That damn wolf has more lives than a shadow cat.”

“What about Aria and Orion?” Lyra’s brow furrows. “Aria’s a strong swimmer, but if she was injured from the fall…”

“Rachel would look after her,” I say, trying to sound reassuring. “And Orion strikes me as the responsible type.”

Lyra sighs, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. “Aria’s like a sister to me. She’s an orphan, you know. No one knows who her parents are.”

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