Chapter 6: Undercurrents
363words
"What is he planning?" Lyra murmured to herself.
"You seem to have deep reservations about Karen," Rayne's voice came from behind, startling Lyra slightly.
She didn't turn around: "Just intuition."
Rayne walked up beside her and handed her a cup of hot tea: "In the Greyson Family, we value intuition highly, especially Luna's intuition."
Lyra took the teacup, her fingers inadvertently touching Rayne's, sending a warm current instantly spreading throughout her body. In her previous life, she never had the opportunity to stand so peacefully beside Rayne.
"What do you think about the border attacks?" Lyra asked tentatively.
Rayne's gaze sharpened: "On the surface it looks like wild wolves causing trouble, but the traces are too deliberate. Someone wants us to believe this was a natural attack."
Lyra nodded: "As if someone deliberately led us here."
Rayne gave her a surprised look: "You're very perceptive."
"I just... have decent observation skills," Lyra answered carefully.
In the distance, Karen approached them with a friendly smile. Lyra felt Rayne's body instantly tense up.
"Tomorrow we need to split up to investigate several locations," Karen said. "Lyra can come with me to the village in the east, there are several injured people who need care there."
Rayne's voice grew colder: "I said, we move together."
Karen shrugged: "Suit yourself. But, some things always need to be faced, don't they?" He gave Lyra a meaningful look, then turned and left.
"What did he mean?" Lyra frowned.
Rayne's expression became complicated: "Don't mind him. Rest well tonight, tomorrow might be dangerous."
When Rayne turned to leave, Lyra noticed his hand unconsciously brushing over the scar on his wrist.
The contrast between her past life's memories and the present reality plunged Lyra into deep thought. Karen had told her that Rayne was a cold-blooded manipulator, but the Rayne before her had repeatedly shown protection towards her.
Who was lying? Who was the real enemy?
