Seraphine's POV
I couldn't stop staring at my hands.
They'd been glowing. Actually glowing. Golden light had poured from my palms like water, and Cassian's curse—the black marks that had been spreading up his arm—was completely gone.
"Stop looking at them like they're going to explode," Cassian said from across his study. He was reading a thick book, his ice-blue eyes scanning the pages quickly. "You've been doing that for three days."
"They did explode," I pointed out. "Sort of. With light. That healed you and killed a curse."
"Fair point." He closed the book and looked at me. Really looked at me, the way he'd been doing since I'd woken up after saving his life. Like he was trying to solve a puzzle. "The Oracle says your powers are sealed. That what happened was just a tiny crack in whatever's blocking them."
"A tiny crack that saved your life."
"A tiny crack that announced to the heavens exactly where you are." His jaw tightened. "We have two days before the Celestial Court arrives. Two days to figure out how to keep you alive."
My stomach twisted. I kept forgetting that part. The divine light I'd used was like setting off a signal flare that screamed "Here I am!" to every god and goddess who wanted me dead.
"So what do we do for two days?" I asked quietly.
Cassian stood up and walked over to a shelf. He pulled down a thin book with a worn leather cover. "We start with this. You said you only know basic words. I'm going to teach you to read properly."
I blinked. "What?"
"If you're going to face gods and goddesses, you should at least be able to read their fancy proclamations before they execute you." He said it like a joke, but his eyes were serious. "Besides, I'm tired of reading everything out loud to you."
That made me smile despite everything. "You're a terrible liar. You like reading to me."
"I tolerate it," he muttered, but his ears turned slightly red.
For the next hour, Cassian sat beside me at his desk, pointing to words and helping me sound them out. He was patient in a way I never expected. When I struggled with a difficult word, he didn't get frustrated. He just broke it down into smaller pieces until it made sense.
"See?" he said when I finally read a whole sentence by myself. "You're smarter than you think."
"Or you're a better teacher than you think."
He looked at me then, and something passed between us. Something warm and electric that made my heart beat faster. His hand was resting on the desk next to mine, so close our fingers were almost touching.
"Tell me a story," I said suddenly, needing to break the tension. "About the kingdom. About anything."
So he did. Cassian told me about the old kings, about wars and heroes, about magic that used to be common before it faded. His voice was deep and steady, and I found myself leaning closer without meaning to.
"You're good at this," I said when he paused. "Telling stories."
"My grandfather used to tell them to me," Cassian admitted. "Before he died. He said every good leader needs to know their history."
"What else did he say?"
Cassian's expression softened. "He used to say, 'Cassian, when you find your goddess, don't let her go. Even if the heavens themselves try to take her.'" He laughed, but it sounded sad. "I thought he was crazy."
"And now?"
He looked at me, and my breath caught. "Now I understand."
Before I could respond, my stomach growled loudly. Cassian's serious expression cracked, and he actually smiled.
"When did you last eat?" he asked.
"Um... yesterday?"
He stood up, shaking his head. "Come on. I'll have the kitchen prepare something."
"Wait." I grabbed his sleeve. "Let me cook for you. To say thank you. For everything."
Cassian raised an eyebrow. "You know how to cook?"
"I worked in a manor for years. How hard can it be?"
Very hard, apparently.
Thirty minutes later, smoke was pouring from the kitchen. I'd somehow managed to burn soup—soup—and set a towel on fire. Cassian burst through the door, grabbed the flaming towel, and dunked it in the sink.
"Seraphine," he said, coughing through the smoke. "What were you trying to make?"
"Something edible?" I offered weakly.
He looked at the blackened pot, the scorched towel, and my guilty face. Then he started laughing. Actually laughing, deep and real. I'd never heard him laugh before. It transformed his whole face, making him look younger, lighter.
"I almost burned down your castle," I said.
"Worth it," he managed between laughs. "That was the best entertainment I've had in years."
I started laughing too, and soon we were both doubled over, tears streaming down our faces. When we finally caught our breath, Cassian was smiling at me—a real smile that reached his eyes.
"Come on," he said. "I'll make us something. And you're banned from the kitchen."
"Fair."
We ended up sitting on the kitchen floor, eating bread and cheese while the smoke cleared. It felt normal. Almost like we were just two people, not a cursed duke and a fallen goddess.
"Cassian?" I said softly. "What happens if we can't find a way to stop them?"
His smile faded. "Then I fight. Even if I can't win."
"You'll die."
"Probably." He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. The touch sent shivers down my spine. "But I'm not letting them take you without a fight."
Our faces were close now. So close I could see the flecks of silver in his blue eyes. His hand was still near my face, and I found myself leaning into his touch.
"Seraphine," he whispered. "I—"
The castle bells started ringing. Loud, frantic, urgent.
Cassian's head snapped up. "That's the attack warning."
We scrambled to our feet just as Commander Theron burst into the kitchen, his face pale.
"Your Grace! The perimeter guards just sent word. There's an army approaching from the east. Thousands of soldiers wearing silver armor and—" He stopped, his eyes wide with fear. "They're glowing, Your Grace. The entire army is glowing."
My blood turned to ice.
"The Celestial Court," I whispered. "They're not waiting two days."
Cassian grabbed my hand, his grip fierce. "How long do we have?"
"They'll reach the castle by dawn," Theron said grimly. "Maybe six hours."
Cassian's jaw clenched, and when he looked at me, I saw something dangerous flash in his eyes. Something that looked like determination mixed with desperation.
"Then we have six hours to prepare." He pulled me close, his voice low and intense. "Seraphine, I need you to trust me. Whatever happens tonight, whatever I have to do—trust me."
"What are you planning?"
But before he could answer, a voice echoed through the entire castle. It was beautiful and terrible, coming from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"Astraea, Fallen Goddess of Dawn." The voice was female, cold as ice. "You have six hours to surrender yourself. If you do not come willingly, we will burn this mortal castle to ash and everyone in it. The Duke of Nightborne will die screaming. Choose wisely, little sister."
The voice faded, leaving behind a horrible ringing silence.
I looked at Cassian, my heart breaking. "That was Celestia. My sister." My hands started shaking. "She's going to kill everyone because of me."
"No." Cassian gripped my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. "She's not. Because in six hours, she's going to learn what happens when she threatens what's mine."
His eyes were blazing now, fierce and protective and absolutely terrifying.
"What are you going to do?" I asked.
Cassian's smile was sharp as a blade. "Something incredibly stupid. Come on."
He pulled me toward the door, and I realized with dawning horror that I had no idea what he was planning—only that whatever it was, it would change everything.
Behind us, through the kitchen window, I could see the first glow of celestial light on the horizon.
The army was coming.
And I had a terrible feeling that by dawn, nothing would ever be the same.