Riven’s deep voice carried down the thrumming stone hallway.
”I’m not letting you go this time, Sera.” Sera froze in place.
The breath trapped right in her throat.
She couldn’t look away from him.
Kairos and Lucien went tense instantly.
The air in the corridor turned razor-cold.
Caelum didn’t say a word.
His dark eyes simply drifted between Riven and Sera, full of unasked questions.
Kairos broke the stifling silence.
”Ashford.
What are you even doing here?” Riven turned around slowly, looking totally unbothered.
”The exact same thing you three are attempting,” he murmured.
”Keeping her safe.” Lucien forced a dry smirk onto his face.
Though it didn’t reach his eyes at all.
”How thoughtful.
A bit late, aren’t you?” Riven ignored the taunt completely.
His gaze snapped right back to Sera.
”You’ve got three days left, Sera.” ”Duke Malric isn’t joking around.” Sera managed to pull air back into her lungs.
”I know that.” ”No, you don’t,” Riven stepped a bit closer.
”He doesn’t wait around for people to break down.” ”He sets a timer.” ”Then lets your own panic ruin you from within.” ”We can discuss Malric later,” Caelum cut in smoothly.
”Let’s get Sera back inside her room first.” At her door, Kairos blocked the entry.
”One at a time from now on,” he stated.
Lucien leaned against the wall to watch the hall.
Riven walked off to the far end of the corridor, watching like a sentinel.
Sera stepped inside and shut the door behind her.
Leaning her back against the wood, her heart beat wild in her chest.
Three days.
Just three short days.
Her eyes fell on the desk.
The dark envelope sat there like an ugly mark.
She picked it up quickly and tossed it deep inside the drawer.
Out of sight, yet lingering in her head.
A sudden knock made her jump.
”Who is it?” ”It’s Kairos,” came his steady voice.
”A delivery just came for you.” She pulled the door open.
Kairos held out a thick cream envelope.
Her name was inked on the front Seraphina Voss marked by her family’s red wax seal.
Sera’s hands started shaking.
”Is it…
from home?” Kairos gave a slow nod.
”A runner dropped it off.
Read it alone if you need to, I’ll guard the door.” Sera closed the door softly and sat on the edge of the mattress.
She stared at the wax for a moment, then snapped it open.
Her father’s stiff handwriting covered the page.
Seraphina, Your stepmother brought up your recent trouble at the academy.
I won’t let you drag our family name down.
My decision is final.
You are returning home by next week.
I have set up your marriage with Duke Aldric Kestrel.
He knows your condition and agreed anyway.
Think about your sister Livia before doing anything foolish.
Do not disobey me.
King Voss Sera crushed the paper in her fist.
A forced marriage.
To Duke Aldric Kestrel.
A gilded cage waiting back home.
She scanned the lines again, but the text stayed the same.
Her stepmother had been leaking news all along, and her father’s quick fix was simple: sell her off.
Rage burned in her chest, immediately crushed by helplessness.
Deep inside, her dragon power woke up again.
An icy shock rushed up from her palm to her shoulder, holding on longer than usual.
Knock!
Knock!
”Sera?” Lucien called out from the hallway.
”Kairos said you got a letter.
You alright in there?” Sera’s throat was too dry to answer.
”Coming in,” Lucien warned.
The door swung open.
Lucien walked in first, Kairos right behind him.
Riven and Caelum stood near the entrance.
Lucien saw her pale face and the crushed paper instantly.
”What does it say?” Sera held out the paper without a word.
Kairos read over his shoulder, his face turning ghostly pale.
All the playful smirk wiped completely off Lucien’s face, replaced by pure anger.
”A marriage?” Lucien whispered, his voice dropping low.
”To some random Duke?
Have they lost their minds?” Caelum grabbed the letter, scanning it with a tight jaw.
”Duke Aldric Kestrel…
I know him.
He’s dirty.” Riven added from the doorway, “Kestrel deals in dragon bloodlines.
He’s just like Malric, only better at hiding it.” Sera looked at the four of them, her voice trembling.
”My father made his choice.” ”He expects me back next week…” ”You’re not going,” Kairos said firmly.
”Not a chance,” Lucien spat out.
“Over my dead body.” Caelum spoke up quietly.
“King Voss isn’t acting alone.
Isolde is setting all of this up.” ”And using her sister as leverage,” Riven added.
Sera clutched the note to her chest.
”I don’t want to go back.” ”But if I don’t, Isolde will hurt Livia” ”Then we deal with it together,” Kairos said, stepping up to her.
”You aren’t on your own anymore.” Lucien stood beside him.
“He’s right.
You aren’t alone.” Sera looked at the four men standing around her, ready to fight her family for her.
A warm feeling spread in her chest, pushing back the cold fear.
Knock!
A breathless messenger stopped at the doorway.
”Miss Seraphina!
The Headmaster sent me!” ”Another parcel arrived from your family estate.” ”It’s marked private…
for you only.” Everyone turned to look.
In the runner’s hands was a worn wooden box.
No royal seals just a single line written in soft, neat script: For Seraphina.
Only when she is ready.
Sera froze.
The entire room went silent as they stared at it.
”Sera…” Lucien asked softly.
“Is that your mother’s?” Sera gave a tiny nod and took the box into her hands.
It felt light, yet holding it felt heavier than anything else.
”Do you want to open it now?” Kairos asked gently.
Sera looked at the old wood, then up at the four of them.
”No,” she whispered, her gaze sharpening.
”Not yet.” Time was running out fast.
Duke Malric’s three-day deadline was ticking away.
Her father was forcing her into a marriage.
And her late mother’s secret was sitting right in her hands.
Sera pulled the box tight against her chest.
Inside her soul, the dragon power flared up this time like a warm wave.
I hear you, it seemed to whisper in her blood.
It’s time to fight back.