Chapter Sixty Five: Time To Go

It could have been minutes later, or hours, when Lyra ’s eyes flew open in

the darkness. She realized she hadn’t just given her virginity to Viktor

tonight.

She’d given him her heart.

So this was how it was to fall in love. In all the books she’d read, all the

movies she’d seen, she’d dreamed and wondered how it would be. What it

would feel like, when she gave herself to a man completely.

It was like this. Overwhelming. Powerful. Sweet and full of longing. But

also...

Terrifying.

Because loving him was an astoundingly simple thing to do. She’d been

dazzled by him from the moment they’d met. Infatuated before they were

wed. But now...she was in love. Truly and deeply in love for the first time.

Lyra swallowed, slowly turning to look at the handsome face of the man

sleeping beside her. One side of his face was turned toward the silver

moonlight glowing softly through the white canvas. The other side of his

face was in shadow, dark and harsh.

And that was Viktor ’s soul. This was the man