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Zane releases his hold on me, and as I move, it feels as though the magic is dancing around me like thin fabric draped from the ceiling. Her desk area is set, her chair twisted out, but there’s no sign that she’s already been here.

It’s not until I turn toward the far left that I see the secret entry to her private area of the office is also slightly open. My feet carry me toward the little hole in the wall before I can consider my options and the magic seems to thicken around me.

“I feel like it’s hard to breathe,” I state, my hand lifting to my chest as I struggle to take a deep breath. Glancing back at the others, I find them frowning.

“It seems fine to me,” Eldon offers, concern flitting in his eyes as the others nod in agreement with him.

Forcing the strongest inhale I can, my lungs almost feel like they’re burning. I push against the door tentatively, my vision blurring as the magic becomes unbearable, and it only takes one second of peering inside for me to realize why.

“Oh my gosh,” I rasp, falling to my knees. The magic around us becomes dizzying, but I fight through it, crawling on my hands and knees to where the body lies.

Not just any body… Lyra’s.

Hands grab my waist before I can get to her, hoisting me into the air, and I all but collapse in their hold as they shift me around to carry me.

Colors flash around me as we move until everything seems to calm down, but that’s when I realize I’m no longer in Lyra’s secret room. I’m slowly lowered to Lyra’s desk, and I manage a deep breath, my body trembling with relief as a hand brushes down my back comfortingly.

“I need to help her,” I state when I can focus properly, my eyes landing on Brax’s, and he grimaces.

“I don’t think that’s going to be possible, Shadow.”

“Why?” I bark, trying to scramble to my feet again, but he pins me in place.

“Because only you can sense or feel the effects of the magic swirling in the room, which is conveniently keeping you away from her,” he grinds out, the anger not aimed at me, but it still sends a shiver down my spine.

Who would do this?

“Is she…”

His eyes darken as he nods once, and a strangled sob parts my lips as my heart races so fast, I’m certain I’m going to pass out.

“How… I… There must be something I can do,” I say with a gasp, my eyes darting back to the room just as Zane steps out, followed swiftly by Eldon and Creed, who carry Lyra’s body between them.

I shuffle off the desk, moving everything with me as they lay her down on the glass top, and I’m relieved to find that I’m not overcome with the same disorientation I had been when I stepped into the room a moment ago.

“I’m okay here with her; I can help,” I state, running my hand down her arm as the others take a step back, but it’s just like Genie; my magic finds nothing to cling to.

Lyra’s eyes are still open, glossed over, and void of any life, making my gut twist with pain.

“How did this happen?” I ask, hoping someone can piece this together better than I can, and it’s Creed who speaks.

“I think the room was coated in some kind of ward or spell that would only have the ability to affect you and no one else. I don’t know what or how, but it clearly took hold of you while leaving us unscathed,” he explains, but that doesn’t really get to the reason why Lyra is lying lifeless like this.

“And her?” I push, sweeping a hand over her hair before closing her eyelids, unshed tears filling my eyes.

Fuck, I hate how emotional I can be. I’ve seen death enough times for it not to hurt like this, or it didn’t used to, at least.

“I don’t know, Raven. There’s no physical sign of pain, and I can’t access her mind.”

“I can’t find a single piece of her to hold on to, to try and bring her back,” I admit, pressing my lips together as I try to stop the tears from falling down my face.

“What do we do now?” Zane asks, the room growing quiet for a moment as we realize everything that was planned for this morning isn’t going to happen.

“Whoever did this did it to impact you, Shadow,” Brax bites, hands clenched at his sides, and I nod in agreement.

“Which means they likely know about Sebastian, ” Eldon adds, and I curse under my breath.

This is exactly why we should have moved yesterday, then we could have saved her.