The Betrayal Within

up. "Lyra, I'm so glad you're awake," she sa

I don't understand. What's really going on here

to be confused. "Y

I do

were you

ain, but nothing came out. She

ably doesn't remember, due to th

g to remember even the faintest thing

ur hours ago we met at the bar, and you were a

remember a thing. She felt a splitting headache zin

g up and disappearing from the ward. H

eel better after sometime,"

e and wiped her mouth, still loo

n the floor, at the bar. By the way, why w

know nothing about dri

ave drunk in the first

nded, then turned to look at Elsa. "Remin

ckle at the drama that was unfolding before her. "

No

I'm ready whenever you are," Orion interrup

" she asked again, touching her

and then she stood and stormed to where Orion sat,

?" Orion asked once they

the blue, tending to my best friend, in the

e's your b

en think of doing anything fun. I still don't under

ok his head. "What do

s do this some other time,

things left to talk

n do that another time. Maybe when she remembers who yo

bed her wrist. "You know, I misse

m his hand. "I didn't think you c

alked in. He hadn't gotten around to telling Lyra what he had to tell he

at him. He didn't nee

on. But he wasn't sure Lyra would be willing to meet him again. He'd come to realize she'd been drunk when he called, and she'd

e. His phone rang, and he took it out of his pocket, checking the caller ID. He groaned an

istently, and he had

ey

e are

stepped out for

ion. Get back home this instant. Th

all ended. He wondered

within a few minutes, he wa

mantha, at the front door. "Orion, you're ba

her lightly on the cheek. "Y

hook her head. "Always a charmer. Go on

e," Orion said, smil

ched him go, wondering when

in. He'd always run into his father's study occasionally, without invitation, as a boy, but he'd stopped after bumpin

from inside the study, drawi

d stepped into the study, his eyes immediately going to work, sea

ing, f

hen he saw the man sitting adja