Seraphine's POV
Theodore's grip on my wrist was unyielding as he led me through the mansion's corridors, our footsteps echoing against the marble floors. My pulse hammered against my throat as we headed toward the forbidden territory I had spent weeks avoiding. The north wing. The place he had explicitly told me to stay away from when I first arrived.
Panic clawed at my chest with every step we took. Had I messed up in the main hall? Had my reaction to his kiss been too obvious, too real? I had tried to follow his instructions about pretending, but when his lips touched mine, all rational thought had fled. Now I was paying the price for my inability to keep my emotions in check.
The familiar scent of cedar and rain that always surrounded him grew stronger as we climbed the staircase. My legs felt unsteady beneath me, and I struggled to keep pace with his long strides. When we finally stopped before an imposing oak door, I could barely breathe.
