Cassian's POV
I'm making the biggest mistake of my life.
Walking Aria to her execution goes against every tactical instinct I have. But watching her face the King's paranoia with nothing but intelligence and desperation—something in my frozen chest cracks.
She reminds me of Elara. Not in appearance, but in the way she refuses to break even when the world wants her dead.
And if she's innocent—if someone murdered Elara and framed this strange, brilliant woman—then I'm about to let the real killer win.
I can't allow that.
"Your Highness," Aria whispers as we walk. "If your plan fails—"
"It won't."
"But if it does, I need you to know something." Her voice shakes. "I really didn't kill Princess Elara. I know you don't believe me, but it's true. I'm not a murderer. I'm just someone who got thrown into an impossible situation and tried to survive."
I glance at her. In the torchlight, she looks terrifyingly young. Scared but fighting it. Like a cornered animal that knows it's about to die but will bite anyway.
"I'm starting to believe you," I admit quietly.
Her eyes widen. "What?"
"The way you think. The patterns you see. A guilty person wouldn't risk drawing attention with unusual knowledge—they'd hide and play weak." I tighten my grip on her chains. "You did the opposite. You challenged my father in front of the entire court. That's either innocence or insanity."
"Maybe both," she mutters.
Despite everything, I almost smile. "Definitely both."
We reach the council chamber doors. Inside, I hear voices—angry, demanding blood. My father's voice rises above them all, paranoid and vicious.
Aria stops walking. "I can't do this."
"Yes, you can."
"They're going to kill me, Cassian. Your plan is insane—"
"So is letting you burn for a crime you didn't commit." I face her fully. "Listen to me, Aria. In thirty seconds, we walk through those doors. My father will demand your immediate execution. You're going to stay silent and let me handle it. When I give the signal—when I touch my sword hilt twice—you run for the east corridor. Don't look back. Don't hesitate. Just run."
"What about you?"
The question surprises me. She's about to die, and she's worried about me?
"I'll manage," I say.
"That's not an answer—"
"It's the only one you're getting. Now move."
I shove the doors open.
The council chamber erupts with noise. Twenty nobles surround a long table. My father sits at the head, face red with fury. Seraphina stands beside him, looking appropriately concerned—but her eyes gleam with victory when she sees Aria.
"Finally!" King Aldric roars. "Bring the witch forward!"
I drag Aria to the center of the room. She stumbles, and I have to steady her. For a moment, our eyes meet. Hers are full of terror and fragile trust.
Don't make me regret this, I think.
"Father, the prisoner is here as requested," I announce formally.
"Good. We'll make this quick." The King stands. "Lady Aria of House Thornwell, you are accused of three murders by poison—Princess Elara, the maid Clara, and Lord Marcus. The evidence is overwhelming. The council has voted. You will burn within the hour."
"No trial?" Brother Thomas protests from the corner. "Your Majesty, she still has—"
"Her time is up!" My father slams his fist on the table. "Three people are dead! How many more must die before you see she's cursed? Possessed? She admits to unnatural knowledge—"
"She admits to education," I interrupt. Every head turns to me. "Father, with respect, we're condemning a woman based on fear, not evidence."
"Watch your tongue, Cassian. I am still King—"
"And I am Crown Prince. My word guaranteed Lady Aria three days to prove her innocence. That was our agreement."
"Which I'm overruling for the safety of the realm!"
"By whose evidence?" I demand. "Lord Marcus is poisoned before he can present proof of her innocence. How convenient. And the only person with constant access to all three victims is—"
"Is Lady Aria," Seraphina cuts in smoothly. "Your Highness, I understand your desire for justice. But the facts are clear. My cousin has been near every death. She possesses strange knowledge. And now Lord Marcus, who foolishly believed her lies, is dying. We must act."
"I agree," I say coldly. "We must act. But not rashly."
I turn to face the council. This is the moment. Either they listen, or Aria dies.
"Honored council members, I propose a test. Lady Aria claims she can identify poisons and their sources. Let's prove it. Give her access to the evidence from all three deaths. If she can show us exactly how each poisoning was done and by whom, we have our answer. If she fails or implicates herself further, she burns. But we do this properly."
"More delays!" Lord Gregor shouts. "More time for her to plot—"
"Forty-eight hours," I say firmly. "Under my personal supervision. I'll guard her myself. If she's guilty, I'll light the pyre. You have my word."
Silence. My father's eyes narrow with suspicion.
"Why are you protecting her, Cassian? Elara was your betrothed. This woman supposedly killed her. Yet you defend the murderess?"
"I defend justice," I correct. "Elara deserves the truth, not convenient vengeance. If Lady Aria is guilty, I want absolute proof before we execute her. Because if we're wrong—if we burn an innocent woman and let the real killer escape—Elara's death means nothing."
I see it hit him. My father loved Elara like the daughter he never had. The idea that her real killer might go free cuts through his paranoia.
"Forty-eight hours," he finally says. "But you're responsible for her, Cassian. If she escapes or kills again, you face consequences too."
"Understood."
Seraphina's smile falters. "Your Majesty, surely—"
"The Crown Prince has made his case," my father snaps. "Unless you have evidence to present right now, Lady Seraphina, we're adjourned."
Her perfect mask slips for just a second. I see rage underneath. She wanted Aria dead tonight, and I just ruined her plan.
Good.
"Guards, return Lady Aria to her cell," I command. "I'll personally deliver the evidence files within the hour."
As the guards take Aria, she glances back at me. Relief and confusion war on her face.
I just bought her two more days.
Now I need to figure out if I saved an innocent woman or made a catastrophic mistake.
The council disperses. Seraphina brushes past me, her perfume sickly sweet.
"Careful, Your Highness," she whispers. "Sometimes mercy looks like weakness. And weakness gets people killed."
Threat received.
I watch her go, my mind racing. If Aria's right—if Seraphina is the real killer—then I just declared war on a woman who's orchestrated three perfect murders.
And she knows it.
Brother Thomas approaches. "That was brave, Your Highness. Or foolish. I'm not sure which."
"Time will tell." I head for the door. "Prepare your medical records. Every detail about the three poisonings. I want Aria to have everything she needs."
"You believe her now?"
I pause. Do I?
"I believe she deserves a real chance to prove herself," I finally say. "And I believe whoever killed Elara is still out there, watching us. Waiting."
"Then we'd better be careful. Because if it is Lady Seraphina..." Thomas trails off, looking worried.
"Then we're hunting someone as intelligent as she is ruthless," I finish. "Which means we need someone equally intelligent on our side."
I leave before he can argue.
The corridor is empty as I head toward Aria's cell. My mind spins with strategy. If Seraphina is the killer, she'll make a move soon. She has to—Aria's getting closer to the truth.
Which means the next forty-eight hours will be deadly.
I turn a corner and nearly crash into Lord Darius.
"Your Highness! Thank God. We have a problem."
My blood chills. "What now?"
"Lord Marcus just died. But before he passed, he whispered something to Brother Thomas." Darius's face is pale. "He said the poison came from inside the castle. From someone with a key to the royal medicine rooms. Someone high-ranking."
"How many people have those keys?"
"Only five. You, the King, Brother Thomas, the Queen's former handmaid—" He swallows hard. "And Lady Seraphina. She was given one when she became engaged to Lord Wexley, since his family manages medical supplies for the kingdom."
Everything clicks into place. Seraphina has motive, means, and opportunity for all three murders.
"We need to arrest her immediately—"
"We can't," Darius interrupts. "She's claiming sanctuary in the chapel with the King's protection. Says she fears for her safety now that Lady Aria knows she's supervising the investigation. Your father granted it."
Perfect. She's untouchable now.
"For how long?"
"Until Lady Aria's guilt is proven or disproven. The King says Seraphina can stay in the chapel under armed guard. For her safety."
I want to punch something. Seraphina just created the perfect alibi for the next two days while keeping herself safe from accusation.
She's always three steps ahead.
"Your Highness," Darius says carefully. "If Lady Seraphina really is the killer... she just trapped herself in the chapel with no way to commit more murders. Maybe that's good?"
"Or maybe," I say slowly, "she already has her next move planned. And we're walking right into it."
A scream echoes through the castle. Female. Terrified.
Coming from the direction of Aria's cell.
I run.
My sword is drawn before I think. Darius pounds behind me. We burst around the corner—
The cell door is open. Guards lie unconscious on the floor. And inside—
Aria stands against the wall, holding a bloody knife.
At her feet lies a dead man in servant's clothing. His throat is cut.
She looks up at me, eyes wild with shock and fear.
"He tried to kill me," she gasps. "He came through the window with poison. I fought back. I didn't mean to—the knife was his, I just—"
I step into the cell carefully. Check the dead man's pockets. Find a vial of clear liquid and a note.
The note is in Seraphina's handwriting: "Finish it tonight. Make it look like suicide."
"She sent an assassin," Aria whispers. "Even after your father gave me forty-eight hours. She can't wait. She needs me dead now."
I stare at the dead man. At Aria, who just killed in self-defense. At the evidence that proves Seraphina's desperation.
And I realize something terrifying.
If Seraphina's willing to break sanctuary rules and risk sending assassins into the castle—
She's not just covering her crimes anymore.
She's preparing for something bigger.
"Darius, lock down the castle," I order. "No one in or out without my permission. Double the guards on my father and Brother Thomas."
"What about Lady Aria?"
I look at her. This strange, brilliant woman who keeps surviving impossible situations.
"She stays with me. In my chambers. Under my personal protection."
Aria's eyes widen. "What?"
"You're not safe anywhere else. Seraphina has accomplices throughout the castle. My rooms are the only place I can guarantee your safety." I sheath my sword. "Unless you'd prefer to take your chances alone?"
She stares at the dead man, then back at me.
"Your chambers," she says shakily. "Fine. But if you try anything—"
"I'm trying to keep you alive," I snap. "Trust me or don't. But make your choice now."
She straightens her spine. "I choose trust. For now."
"Good enough."
As I lead her from the cell, past the dead assassin and unconscious guards, one thought burns through my mind:
Seraphina just made her first real mistake.
She got desperate. And desperate people make errors.
Now I just have to keep Aria alive long enough to catch them.
But as we walk through dark corridors toward my chambers, I can't shake the feeling—
The real game is just beginning.
And the stakes are higher than either of us know.