Sera's POV
The tunnel spits us out beside the river two miles from camp. We collapse on the muddy bank, gasping. Seventy soldiers. Kade. Commander Ash. And me—holding a box that might save or destroy us all.
Master Theron is dead because of me.
I can't breathe. Can't think. His scream keeps echoing in my head.
"Move!" Kade hauls me to my feet. "Royal guards will find the tunnel exit. We have minutes."
"Where do we go?" Ash demands. "The rebellion won't trust us. We're the king's soldiers!"
"Not anymore." I clutch the box tighter. "Follow the river north. There's a safe house three miles upstream. If we reach it before dawn—"
"If?" A soldier laughs bitterly. "We're being hunted by the entire kingdom!"
"Then run faster," I snap. The princess in me breaks through—the one who commanded servants, who never begged. "Or stay here and die. Your choice."
They stare. I've never used that tone before. Never let them see this part of me.
Kade's eyes narrow. "What's in the box, Sera?"
"Proof. Everything we need to expose Dorian."
"How did a Dust Quarter healer get—"
Horns blast behind us. Hunting horns.
"GO!" Kade roars.
We run.
The river path is rocky and dark. Soldiers stumble. One twists his ankle and two others have to carry him. I hear dogs barking in the distance. Getting closer.
My lungs burn. My legs scream. But I don't stop.
Because Master Theron died buying us time. And I won't waste it.
We reach the safe house just as pink light touches the sky. It's a broken-down mill that looks abandoned. Lyra's people use it for meetings.
"Inside!" I push open the hidden door. "Quickly!"
Seventy men crowd into the dusty space. It's too small. Too obvious. But it's all we have.
Ash posts guards at the windows. Kade checks the exits. I collapse against the wall, still holding the box.
"We can't stay here long," Kade says. "They'll search every building within ten miles."
"I know." My hands shake. "But we need to open this first. See what Master Theron died protecting."
Everyone goes quiet.
I try the lock. It won't budge.
"There's a key," I whisper. "Master Theron said... he said..."
But he died before telling me where it is.
"Break it open," Ash suggests.
"No!" I clutch it tighter. "What if that destroys what's inside? What if—"
"We don't have time for 'what ifs,'" Kade says quietly. He kneels beside me. "Sera. Look at me."
I do. His silver eyes are softer than I've ever seen them.
"Whatever's in there, we'll face it together. But we need to know. Now."
I nod. Hand him the box.
Kade examines the lock. "It's not just a lock. There's magic on it. Royal magic." He looks at me sharply. "Only someone with royal blood can open this."
My heart stops.
"That's impossible," Ash says. "Sera's just—"
"Touch it," Kade interrupts, still staring at me. "If I'm wrong, nothing happens. If I'm right..." He holds out the box.
Seventy pairs of eyes watch me.
I've hidden for five years. Stayed invisible. Safe.
But Master Theron died for this. And these soldiers risked everything following us.
They deserve the truth.
I press my palm against the lock.
It clicks open instantly. Golden light spills out.
The soldiers gasp. Step back. One drops his weapon.
"Only the Ashcroft bloodline can trigger that magic," a old soldier whispers. "Only the true royal family..."
"She's the princess," another breathes. "The dead princess. She's alive."
Kade doesn't look surprised. He already knew. Or suspected.
"Open it," he says softly.
Inside are letters. Documents. And a small vial of dark liquid labeled in my father's handwriting: Poison used on King Matthias and Queen Elara. Dorian's signature on the purchase order attached.
Proof. Real, undeniable proof.
"This is it," Ash whispers, reading over my shoulder. "This proves everything. The king is a murderer. A usurper. If we show this to the kingdom—"
"We'll start a civil war," Kade finishes.
Silence.
"Good," I say. The princess—no, the queen—rises inside me. "Dorian stole my throne. Murdered my parents. Hunted innocent people for five years. If war is what it takes to stop him, then that's what we'll do."
"Your Highness—" Ash begins.
"Don't." I stand, holding the evidence. "Don't call me that. Not yet. Right now I'm just Sera. And Sera needs to get this proof to people who can use it."
"The rebellion," Kade says.
"Yes."
"They'll want you to lead them. To be their queen."
"I know."
Our eyes meet. Something passes between us—understanding, fear, and something deeper I don't have words for.
"Then we take you to them," Kade decides. "Tonight, after dark, we—"
The door explodes inward.
Royal guards flood the room. Dozens of them. Swords drawn.
And standing in the doorway, smiling like a snake, is Lady Celeste.
"Hello, traitors," she purrs. "Did you really think you could hide from me?" She points at the box. "I'll take that evidence now. And the princess. The king is offering fifty thousand gold for her. Alive."
Kade steps in front of me. "You'll have to go through me first."
"Gladly." Celeste nods to her guards. "Kill the general. Capture the girl. The rest can die or surrender. I don't care which."
Twenty guards advance.
Seventy exhausted soldiers raise their weapons.
And I'm holding the only proof that can save the kingdom—proof that will die with me if we lose this fight.
Kade looks back at me one last time. "When I say run, you run. Don't look back. Don't stop. Get that evidence to the rebellion no matter what."
"Kade, no—"
"Promise me!"
Tears burn my eyes. "I promise."
He turns back to the guards. Draws his sword. "Commander Ash. Get her out the back exit. Now."
"Sir—"
"THAT'S AN ORDER!"
The guards charge.
And the last thing I see before Ash drags me toward the hidden tunnel is Kade launching himself at twenty armed men—one general against impossible odds—buying me time with his life.