SERA'S POV
Kael's face cycled through emotions too fast to track. Shock. Disbelief. Hope. Anguish. Joy. Horror.
His hand was still reaching for me when I heard running footsteps.
Multiple guards. Coming fast.
I shoved the contacts back in with fumbling fingers and pulled up my hood in one smooth motion.
Commander! A guard skidded around the corner, nearly losing his footing on the marble floor. Duke Casimir demands your presence. Now.
Kael's eyes never left mine. His hand was still extended, frozen in the air between us like he'd been turned to stone.
Sir? The guard looked between us, confused by the tension.
I'm busy, Kael said, his voice rough.
Sir, it's about the blood messages. He says it's urgent.
I used the distraction to slip away into the shadows, moving with the stealth Mira had taught me. Years of training. Years of learning to disappear.
Behind me, I heard Kael curse violently. Heard him arguing with the guard. Heard his footsteps starting to follow
Then stopping. Duty calling. Always duty.
I ran through servant corridors, through hidden passages, until I reached the gardens and the gate I'd left unlocked earlier. My escape route. Always have an escape route.
Mira was waiting at the hotel, pacing like a caged tiger. She grabbed me the second I walked in.
Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you for hours!
The library. Kael was there. He I couldn't finish. Couldn't explain what had just happened.
He knows, Mira said flatly. Doesn't he?
I nodded, sinking onto the couch. My hands were still shaking.
Damn it, Sera! Mira threw her hands up. This is exactly what I was afraid of. Now what? He's going to report you. Casimir will
He won't report me.
How do you know?
Because I saw his face. I looked up at her. He's known for days. Been investigating me. And he hasn't said anything. Not to Casimir. Not to anyone.
Mira stared at me. Why?
Because he still loves me.
The words hung in the air.
And you? Mira asked gently. Do you still love him?
I couldn't answer. Didn't have an answer. Wasn't sure I wanted one.
Tomorrow, I said instead, changing the subject. Tomorrow, the real game begins. Tomorrow, I destroy Lord Viktor.
But Viktor was already dead. That night. Suicide, they said. Found hanging in his study with a confession note admitting to embezzlement.
Too convenient. Too clean.
Casimir was cleaning house. Eliminating loose ends.
And tomorrow, at the Council meeting, I'd walk into the lion's den and prove that Lord Viktor had been stealing from the kingdom.
Except he couldn't defend himself anymore.
Because dead men tell no tales.
The Council chamber buzzed with nervous energy. Every noble in the kingdom had gathered for my 'security assessment.' Word had spread about the blood messages. About the dead maid. About the conspiracy theorist who thought the princess was alive.
If only they knew.
I stood at the front of the chamber, a folder of documents in my hands. Evidence Mira and I had spent weeks gathering. Everything we needed to destroy Lord Viktor's reputation and implicate Casimir by association.
Except Viktor was dead now. Which changed things.
Kael stood against the wall, arms crossed. Watching me like a hawk. We hadn't spoken since last night. Since I'd shown him my violet eyes and confirmed what he'd already suspected.
His face was carefully blank. Professional. But his eyes... his eyes burned.
Duke Casimir called the meeting to order, looking particularly satisfied this morning. Like a cat who'd caught the canary.
Miss Frost will now present her findings on palace security, he announced.
I opened my folder. Smiled coldly. Gentlemen, we have a thief among us.
The room went silent.
Over the past five years, someone has been stealing from military supply contracts. Skimming funds. Redirecting money meant for soldiers into private accounts. I pulled out the first document. The total stolen? Three million gold crowns.
Gasps echoed through the chamber.
Lord Bertram turned red. This is outrageous! Who dares
Lord Viktor Cross, I said simply.
More gasps. Heads turning toward Viktor's empty chair. He should have been here. Everyone knew he should have been here.
Unfortunately, Casimir said smoothly, rising to his feet, Lord Viktor took his own life last night. Overcome, apparently, by guilt over his crimes.
How convenient, I thought.
Yes, I continued, Lord Viktor was the thief. But he wasn't working alone.
Casimir's smile froze.
I pulled out more documents. The stolen funds were transferred through a shell company owned by I paused for effect, meeting Casimir's eyes directly, a member of the royal family.
The chamber erupted.
Lies! someone shouted.
Proof! demanded another.
I laid out the paper trail. The shell company. The transfers. The final recipient.
Everything pointed to... Princess Lyanna.
The gasps turned to shocked silence.
Lyanna, who was sitting in her throne, went white. I... I don't understand. I never
Your Majesty, Casimir interrupted smoothly, his hand on her shoulder. This is clearly a forgery. Someone is trying to frame you.
Is it? I asked. Because the signatures are authentic. The accounts are real. The money exists.
Then someone forged Her Majesty's signature, Casimir said. Someone with access to her private accounts. Someone with a grudge against the crown.
He was looking at me when he said it.
The trap was springing. But not the way I'd expected.
Miss Frost, Casimir continued, his voice dripping with false concern. I'm afraid I must ask: where did you obtain these documents?
Dangerous question. If I admitted to stealing them, I'd be the criminal.
They were provided anonymously, I lied.
Anonymous sources. Casimir smiled. How convenient. Tell me, Miss Frost, why should we trust documents from an unknown source? Documents that conveniently appear right after Lord Viktor's death? Documents that accuse our beloved queen?
The Council members were murmuring now. Suspicion turning from Lyanna to me.
Unless, Casimir continued, Miss Frost has ulterior motives for discrediting the crown.
What are you suggesting? I kept my voice level.
I'm suggesting that you're not who you claim to be.
The chamber fell silent.
I'm suggesting, Casimir continued, moving toward me like a predator approaching prey, that Elena Frost is an assumed identity. That you have a personal vendetta against this kingdom. Against this royal family.
That's absurd, I said.
Is it? He pulled out his phone. Showed the screen to the Council. Facial recognition analysis shows a ninety-four percent match between Elena Frost and
He paused for dramatic effect.
Princess Seraphina Valorian.
The chamber exploded.
Nobles were on their feet. Guards moving forward. Lyanna staring at me with wide, horrified eyes.
The dead princess? Lord Bertram shouted. That's insane!
Is it? Casimir smiled. Miss Frost, would you mind removing those contact lenses? Let us see your real eye color?
Kael moved. I saw him shift his position, hand on his weapon. Ready to protect me or arrest me. I couldn't tell which.
This is ridiculous, I said. I'm not
Then prove it, Casimir interrupted. Remove the contacts. Show us your eyes.
I was trapped. If I removed them, I confirmed his accusation. If I refused, I looked guilty.
Do it, Casimir ordered. Or I'll have the guards remove them by force.
Kael's voice cut through the chaos. That won't be necessary.
Everyone turned to look at him.
He stepped forward, each footfall deliberate. I've been conducting my own investigation into Miss Frost's background. And I can confirm he met my eyes, that she is exactly who she claims to be.
Casimir's smile faltered. Commander, you've seen the facial recognition
I've seen it, Kael interrupted. I've also seen her credentials. Her references. Her work history. Everything checks out.
Then explain the resemblance
Coincidence. There are only so many facial structures in the world. A ninety-four percent match isn't conclusive.
Casimir's eyes narrowed. Are you contradicting me, Commander?
I'm presenting facts, Your Grace.
The two men stared at each other. A battle of wills. Kael had just chosen sides.
He'd chosen me.
But before Casimir could respond, alarms blared throughout the palace.
Security breach. All guards to defensive positions.
Kael's radio crackled: Commander, we have armed intruders in the East Wing. Multiple hostiles. Shots fired.
Everything happened at once.
Guards rushed to secure the Council chamber. Nobles panicked. Lyanna was ushered away by her security detail.
And in the chaos, someone grabbed my arm.
Mira.
Time to go, she whispered.
We slipped out through a side door while everyone was distracted. Ran through corridors. Reached the courtyard
And found ourselves surrounded.
Not by palace guards.
By mercenaries. Professional killers. At least twenty of them.
Duke Casimir stepped out from behind them, no longer bothering to pretend concern or civility.
Did you really think I'd let you walk away, Your Highness? He smiled. I killed you once. I can do it again.
He raised his hand.
The mercenaries raised their weapons.
And I realized with crystal clarity: this was it. The end. Five years of planning, and I was about to die in a palace courtyard, surrounded by my enemies.
Mira grabbed my hand. Together?
Together.
The mercenaries took aim.
And Kael Draven appeared on the wall above us, with his entire Shadow Legion behind him.
I don't think so, he said, weapon trained on Casimir.
The courtyard erupted into gunfire.
The siege had begun.