The council chamber fell silent as Seraphina entered, her midnight-blue gown flowing like liquid starlight. Her three Guardians flanked her—a formidable sight that made even the boldest council members shift uncomfortably.
Lord Aldwin, the most vocal of her critics, rose to his feet. "Your Majesty, surely you must see reason. The kingdom needs stability. A marriage alliance with Prince Aldric would—"
"Would what?" Seraphina's voice cut through the air like a blade. The temperature in the room dropped several degrees as her power responded to her emotions. "Make me more palatable to our enemies? Give them a target to manipulate?"
Ice began to form along the edges of the windows as her magic flared. Thorne moved closer, his warm presence a stabilizing force. Without touching her, he let his own fire magic mingle with hers, tempering the ice with gentle heat.
"The Queen speaks wisdom," Lyrian interjected smoothly, his diplomatic training evident. "Our kingdom has never been stronger. Under Her Majesty's rule, we've forged new trade agreements, strengthened our magical defenses, and brought prosperity to our people."
Lord Aldwin's face reddened. "But the old ways—"
"The old ways," Kael said, his voice deadly quiet as shadows seemed to lengthen around him, "are precisely why the previous king fell to assassins. Perhaps you've forgotten that our Queen's power saved this kingdom from invasion not six months ago."
Seraphina felt a surge of warmth that had nothing to do with magic. Her Guardians' unwavering support meant everything to her. They had seen her at her weakest moments, helped her harness powers that terrified even her, and never once made her feel like she was anything less than capable.
"Furthermore," she continued, her confidence returning, "I am not unmarried by choice. I am bound by something far stronger than any political alliance." She gestured to her three Guardians. "These men are bound to me by soul magic—ancient bonds that tie their very life force to mine. No marriage could be more sacred or more powerful."
The council exchanged uncertain glances. Soul bonds were mentioned in the oldest texts, but few truly understood their depth.
That night, alone in her chambers with her Guardians, Seraphina finally allowed herself to be vulnerable.
"Did I go too far?" she asked, curling up in the large armchair by the fireplace. "Speaking of soul bonds in public?"
Thorne knelt beside her chair, his large hand covering her smaller one. "You spoke the truth. The bonds between us are real, Sera." The use of her familiar name made her heart skip.
"Real, but complicated," Lyrian added gently, settling on the arm of her chair. His fingers traced through her dark hair. "The council assumes we're merely your protectors."
"But we're so much more than that," Kael said from where he leaned against the wall, his intense gaze never leaving her face. "You know that, don't you?"
Seraphina's breath caught. They had danced around this truth for months—the way her heart raced when Thorne smiled, how Lyrian's touch sent warmth through her entire being, the way Kael's presence made her feel safe and desired all at once.
"I know," she whispered. "But what we feel… it's forbidden. Queens don't—"
"Queens don't what?" Thorne challenged, his thumb stroking across her knuckles. "Love? Feel desire? Choose their own happiness?"
"Queens are supposed to marry for duty," she said weakly.
"You are not 'supposed to' be anything except exactly who you are," Lyrian said firmly. "You are the most powerful sorceress our kingdom has ever seen. You've revolutionized our laws, brought prosperity to our people, and commanded respect from neighboring kingdoms. Why should you diminish yourself for anyone?"