Theodore returned upstairs to Seraphina’s bedchamber. She was sitting before the vanity, slowly brushing her long blonde hair, and he dismissed the maids before closing the door behind them.
The moment he did, the smile on his face vanished. It was almost as though the cheerful expression had been meant for everyone downstairs, not her. His lips pressed together, and his movements became controlled, as if he had become a different person.
He took the brush from her hand and began running it through her hair himself.
It was a familiar little ritual between them. Theodore always did this when they spent the night together, and Seraphina usually enjoyed the quiet intimacy of it.
Tonight, however, she found herself watching their reflection in the mirror with little interest. His fingers moved through her hair in the same practiced manner, pausing at the same places, and when he leaned down to press a kiss against her neck, she barely reacted.
"You enjoyed your day out?" he asked.
"Mm."
She answered automatically, her gaze still fixed on their reflection. Theodore continued brushing her hair, seemingly content with her quiet response.
After three years of marriage, she knew his habits, his favorite touches, the way he would look at her before kissing her, even the exact teasing words he would murmur when they were finally alone.
When he finished, he placed the brush on the vanity and leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear.
"Shall we?"
The same words.
The same invitation.
Seraphina almost laughed, though she wasn’t sure whether it was amusement or resignation. She nodded anyway, and Theodore slipped an arm beneath her knees and lifted her from the chair as though she weighed nothing.
He placed her on the bed like a gentle porcelain vase and climbed onto the mattress beside her. Their eyes met, and for a moment, something warm stirred in Seraphina’s chest.
Phew!
Theodore blew out the candle, and a comfortable darkness filled the room. His fingers entwined with hers as he peppered kisses across her face. Seraphina took a deep breath. The darkness, the warmth of him, the familiar closeness, and the quiet yearning for his lips made her heart flutter despite herself.
Finally, his lips landed on hers.
And from then on, it was practiced. Their bodies moved together, breath mingling with breath, as naturally as a well-rehearsed dance. There was warmth in it, affection, and the unmistakable comfort of two people who knew each other intimately.
Yet that was also what made something inside Seraphina ache.
She knew every step before he took it.
Every touch felt familiar. Every movement followed a pattern they had repeated so many times that neither of them needed to think about it anymore.
Theodore seemed perfectly content, and that was what struck her most. For Seraphina, though, tonight felt different. Maybe she was asking for too much.
She still loved him. She still wanted his arms around her. There was nothing wrong with the warmth between them.
She simply couldn’t remember the last time it had surprised her.
And as she lay in his embrace, she wondered when something that had once made her heart race had become something she could almost follow from memory.
A tear slipped silently down Seraphina’s cheek while Theodore held her, unaware of the ache settling inside her.
Meanwhile, Peregrine had reached Valois House.
He had spent the journey thinking about everything Theodore had said. In the end, he had to admit that Theodore had made a fine point. Peregrine still didn’t understand why Theodore considered his wife being "earthy" a negative thing, but he knew one thing for certain.
Bianca was the one person who would never even consider serving in the Temple.
She simply wasn’t built for it.
And Julian Pembroke... Well, he knew how to handle him.
Before he realized it, Peregrine was standing outside the door of Bianca’s bedchamber.
Peregrine hesitated, then returned to his study and picked up the box he had brought back from the King. With it in hand, he entered her bedchamber.
His steps slowed as he approached the bed.
He stared at her for a moment, and his lips curved unconsciously.
She was sleeping peacefully, bundled up beneath the blankets like a cute little bumblebee.
"Wake her up. Talk to her," Iggy whispered.
Peregrine ignored him.
Before he knew it, he had moved closer. He leaned toward her lips, then suddenly stopped. He gulped and drew back.
"She’s your wife. It’s not wrong to kiss her!" Iggy protested.
Peregrine shook his head.
"I’ll scare her."
Iggy let out such a deep sigh that his little flame almost went out completely, leaving only a tiny spark flickering beside Peregrine.
Peregrine placed the box on the table beside her bed and carefully set the little parchment on top. His gaze returned to Bianca.
Without realizing it, he reached out and gently touched the tip of her nose.
Her nose scrunched.
Peregrine couldn’t help but giggle.
She had scrunched her nose exactly the same way when they first met. She had been what... three years old?
It has been two decades since we first met, and you’re still the same, my little Bumble Bee...
"Happy twenty-third birthday, my Duchess," he whispered.
His smile never faded as he imagined her reaction when she saw the pearls.
Then Bianca shifted in her sleep. Peregrine immediately straightened and left the room.
"Yeah, run away. That’ll solve everything," Iggy muttered.
But Peregrine ignored the little flame floating beside him, just as he had ignored him all night.
After returning to her chambers, Bianca dismissed all the maids and asked to be left alone. She heard the carriage leaving the house and remained where she was, listening until the sound gradually faded into the distance.
She wasn’t sure whether Peregrine had read the consent form or not. But surely, he knew. His Sprite familiar had seen it, and there was no way Iggy would keep something like that from him.
Peregrine must have known exactly what she had done.
She had expected him to confront her. Instead, he had simply left. He hadn’t even care enough to confront her.
Her tears eventually dried, leaving her staring blankly at the floor. Even the books that usually offered her a place to escape could not comfort her tonight. She picked one up, opened it, and stared at the familiar words, but tonight even her favorite stories could not hold her attention.
Eventually, Bianca climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling.
She didn’t know how long she remained like that. Minutes passed, then perhaps an hour, perhaps more. She kept hoping against hope that Peregrine would change his mind and return. That perhaps, despite everything she had said and done, he would come to her room and offer her the warmth she had wanted from him for three long years.
But the door remained closed.
The house remained silent.
And little by little, the hope that he’d return... faded.
Still staring at the ceiling, Bianca eventually drifted into an uneasy sleep.
She was somewhere dark, yet strangely peaceful. The gentle sound of water splashing nearby lulled her into stillness, even as an inexplicable sense of dread settled over her.
*Hiss*
Her brows furrowed as she peered into the darkness. Her heart nearly stopped when a dark, serpentine form emerged from the shadows and began slithering toward her.
Bianca tried to retreat, but her feet wouldn’t move. Something had wrapped around them, dragging them downward as though the ground itself had turned into a pit.
Then she saw it.
Behind the serpentine creature, something glinted in the darkness. One blade appeared, then another, and another, until a cluster of swords was pointed directly at her.
Her chest tightened. The peaceful surroundings suddenly felt suffocating. The air grew heavy around her, pressing down until even breathing became difficult.
Help!
She tried to scream, but no sound came out.
The serpentine creature continued toward her, its tongue flicking between its fangs.