Chapter 5: Border Crisis
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Lyra nodded. "How long do I have to prepare?"
"Ten minutes." Rayne looked slightly surprised. "Aren't you afraid?"
"Why would I be afraid?" Lyra countered, already gathering her things.
Rayne studied her thoughtfully. "Your sister said you never leave family territory—that you fear the outside world."
Lyra gave a cold laugh. "It seems my sister doesn't know me as well as she thinks."
An hour later, they rode toward the border. On the way, Lyra noticed a strange scar on Rayne's wrist—something she'd never seen in her previous life.
"What's that scar?" she asked.
Rayne's expression instantly darkened. "An old wound... from protecting someone important."
He offered no further explanation, and Lyra didn't press him.
When they reached the border, Karen was already waiting. Seeing him, Lyra's heart turned cold. In her previous life, it was Karen who had told her Rayne planned to kill her.
"Rayne, Lyra," Karen smiled as he approached. "I'm so glad you could come. The situation is more complicated than we imagined."
Lyra caught a fleeting look of surprise and wariness in Karen's eyes when he glanced at her.
"We should split up," Karen suggested. "Rayne, you check the attack site to the north. Lyra, I'll take you to see the wounded."
Rayne hesitated. "We'll stay together."
Karen frowned. "Time is short. Splitting up would be more efficient."
"I said, we stay together." Rayne's tone brooked no argument, his eyes showing a vigilance Lyra had never seen before.
Karen forced a smile. "Fine. Have it your way."
As he walked away, Lyra and Rayne exchanged glances. In that moment, Lyra felt a strange connection—as if they both shared the same suspicion.
Or rather, the same person.
This contradicted her past-life memories completely. Wasn't Rayne supposed to be close as brothers with Karen? Why was he now so wary of him?
Lyra's revenge plans began to waver. The truth, she realized, might be far more complex than she'd imagined.
And this was only the beginning.
