Seraphina's POV
"You're not going to that death match."
Emperor Cassian's voice is final, but I don't care. I follow him through the palace corridors as guards scramble to secure the area after Prince Lucien's attack.
"You can't stop me," I shoot back. "I'm your fiancée, remember? The whole empire knows it now."
"Exactly. Which makes you a target." He stops abruptly and turns to face me. "Lucien proved tonight he'll kill anyone to get to the throne. If you're at the arena tomorrow, you're giving him another chance to murder you."
"So you want me to hide like a coward while you risk your life?"
"Yes!" His gray eyes flash with frustration. "That's exactly what I want. One of us needs to survive this story, Seraphina. If I die tomorrow—"
"You won't die."
"You don't know that." His voice drops, and for a moment, I see real fear in his face. "Lucien has been training with dark magic for years. He's dangerous. And if he wins..."
He doesn't finish, but he doesn't need to. If Lucien becomes Emperor, I'm dead anyway. A rival's fiancée doesn't survive a coup.
"Then don't lose," I say firmly.
Cassian stares at me for a long moment. Then, unexpectedly, he laughs—a short, bitter sound. "You're terrifying, you know that?"
"Good. Maybe that's why you chose me."
Before he can respond, Commander Aldric appears, looking grim. "Your Majesty. We have a problem."
"Another one?" Cassian sighs. "What now?"
"Duke Ashford is here. He's demanding to take Lady Seraphina home immediately. Says the engagement is void since the ceremony was disrupted by violence."
My blood goes cold. "He can't do that."
"Actually, he can." Commander Aldric looks apologetic. "Imperial law states that if a selection ceremony is interrupted before the binding ritual is completed, the engagement is not yet official. The bride's family has the right to withdraw her."
"Then complete the binding ritual now," I say desperately. "Tonight."
Cassian shakes his head. "Can't. The binding requires the High Priestess, and she's unconscious from her injuries. No other priest has the authority."
"How convenient," I mutter. This has Lucien's fingerprints all over it. Attack the priestess, disrupt the ceremony, and use legal loopholes to separate me from Cassian before the death match.
Without an official engagement, I have no protection. No status. I'm just a noble daughter again.
And my family wants me back.
"I'll handle your father," Cassian says. "I'll explain that—"
"No." I cut him off, my mind racing. "Let him take me."
Both men stare at me like I'm insane.
"My lady," Commander Aldric says carefully. "Your father was part of the conspiracy to send you here as a sacrifice. Returning to his house is—"
"Exactly what they want me to do." I turn to Cassian. "Think about it. Helena and my father know something about this curse. They called me a 'sacrificial bride.' They knew I was supposed to die."
Understanding dawns in Cassian's eyes. "You want to spy on them."
"I want answers. And they're more likely to talk freely if they think they've won—if they think I'm coming home defeated and scared." I take a breath. "Let me go back. Just for tonight. I'll find out what they know about Lucien, about the curse, about everything. Then tomorrow, I'll come to the arena."
"Absolutely not," Cassian says immediately. "It's too dangerous."
"Everything is dangerous now!" My voice rises. "Catherine died tonight because of me. The High Priestess is dying because of me. Tomorrow you might die because of me. Let me do something useful instead of hiding!"
Cassian's jaw clenches. I can see him fighting between wanting to protect me and knowing I'm right.
Finally, he turns to Commander Aldric. "Assign your best shadow guard to follow her. Someone they won't detect. If anything—and I mean anything—goes wrong, extract her immediately."
Commander Aldric bows. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Cassian looks back at me, his eyes intense. "You have until dawn. The death match starts when the sun rises. If you're not at the arena by then..."
"I'll be there," I promise. "I won't let you face Lucien alone."
Something flickers in his expression—gratitude, maybe, or fear. He reaches out like he wants to touch my face, then drops his hand.
"Be careful, Seraphina. Your family isn't what they seem."
"I know." I've always known. But now I'm going to prove it.
The carriage ride home feels like traveling to my own execution.
Father sits across from me, silent and cold. He hasn't said a word since we left the palace. Just stared out the window like I don't exist.
Same as always.
When we arrive at the Ashford estate, Helena is waiting at the entrance with a smile that makes my skin crawl.
"Welcome home, dear daughter," she says sweetly. Too sweetly. "I'm so glad the Emperor came to his senses and released you."
Released me. Like I was a prisoner.
"The engagement isn't broken," I say carefully. "Just delayed until after the death match."
Helena's smile tightens. "Death match. Yes. How unfortunate that your Emperor must fight for his throne tomorrow. These challenges so rarely end well for the sitting ruler."
The way she says it—like she knows something I don't.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Nothing, dear. Just palace gossip." She links her arm through mine, guiding me inside. "Come. You must be exhausted. Let's get you to bed."
I let her lead me upstairs, playing the part of the obedient daughter. But every instinct screams that something is wrong.
We pass Vivienne's room, and I hear her crying inside. Loud, dramatic sobs.
"Poor Vivienne," Helena sighs. "She's devastated that you'll be Empress while she remains unmarried. So unfair, really, when she's clearly the more deserving daughter."
"I'm sure she'll survive the disappointment," I say dryly.
Helena's grip on my arm tightens painfully. "Yes. I'm sure she will."
We reach my bedroom, and Helena practically shoves me inside. "Rest now. Tomorrow will be a very important day."
The door closes. I hear the distinct sound of a lock clicking.
I'm trapped.
I run to the door and try the handle. Locked from the outside. I pound on it. "Let me out!"
No response.
"Helena! This isn't funny!"
Still nothing.
I run to the window next. We're on the third floor, too high to jump. And there are guards patrolling below—not imperial guards. My father's men.
They're making sure I can't leave.
Panic starts clawing at my chest. I'm locked in, trapped, with no way to get to the arena tomorrow. Cassian will face Lucien alone, thinking I abandoned him.
"Calm down," I whisper to myself. "Think. There has to be a way out."
I search the room for anything useful. A rope, a weapon, anything. But the room has been cleared out. Even my small bag from the palace is gone.
They planned this. They wanted me back here so they could lock me away during the death match.
But why? What do they gain from keeping me prisoner?
I sink onto the bed, trying to think. That's when I notice something strange. A piece of paper tucked under my pillow.
I pull it out, my hands shaking.
The handwriting is familiar—Lucy's neat script:
Miss Seraphina,
They told me to pack your things and leave the estate tonight. Said I was being "transferred." But I heard the Duchess and your father talking in the study before I left.
They said: "The girl must not reach the arena. Lucien promised if we keep her locked up during the match, he'll spare our family when he takes the throne."
They're working with Prince Lucien. They've been working with him all along.
I left something in your old hiding spot. The place where you used to keep your mother's letters. You'll know what to do with it.
Be careful. Trust no one.
—Lucy
My heart pounds as I jump up and run to the loose floorboard near the window. My childhood hiding spot. I pry it up with shaking fingers.
Inside is a small vial filled with clear liquid and another note from Lucy:
Sleeping draught. Strong enough to knock out a guard for three hours. Use it on whoever brings you breakfast.
Bless Lucy. She's saving my life again.
But even with this, I still have a problem. Breakfast won't come until morning. And by then, the death match will have already started.
I need to escape tonight.
I'm pacing, trying to form a plan, when I hear voices outside my door. Whispering.
I press my ear against the wood.
"—sure she can't escape?" That's Helena.
"Positive. The window is too high, the door is locked, and I have men posted everywhere." Father's voice. "She'll stay put until after the match."
"Good. Lucien promised us titles and land when he takes the throne. All we had to do was keep the girl out of the way." Helena sounds pleased. "By tomorrow night, Cassian will be dead, Lucien will be Emperor, and our family will finally have the power we deserve."
"What about Seraphina?" Father asks.
Helena laughs coldly. "Lucien's orders were clear. Once the match is over, the girl dies. She knows too much, and she's too valuable as a symbol of Cassian's failure. She can't be allowed to live."
My blood turns to ice.
They're not just keeping me prisoner. They're keeping me alive just long enough to make sure Cassian dies alone.
And then they're going to kill me.
"She's our daughter," Father says, but his voice is empty. Like he's just going through the motions of caring.
"She's a tool that's outlived its usefulness," Helena corrects. "Now stop being sentimental and help me prepare for tomorrow's celebration. We have a new Emperor to welcome."
Their footsteps fade away down the hall.
I stand frozen, my whole body shaking with rage and terror.
My own family just signed my death warrant.
I grip Lucy's vial tightly. I have to escape tonight. Have to warn Cassian that this is bigger than just a challenge for the throne.
This is an assassination.
And I'm the only one who knows.
I return to the window and look down at the guards below. Three of them, rotating every hour. They change shifts at midnight.
I check the small clock on my dresser: 11:47 PM.
Thirteen minutes until the shift change. Thirteen minutes to come up with a plan.
I'm about to turn away when I see something that makes my heart stop.
A figure in black is scaling the wall toward my window. Moving silently, impossibly fast.
Not a guard. An assassin.
They're not waiting until tomorrow to kill me.
They're coming for me right now.