Chapter 27
KIERAN
I stare at the duty roster on my desk, my jaw clenched so tight it aches. Cassius has requested the afternoon off. Again. The third time this week.
“To escort Princess Seraphina through the eastern gardens,” Thane reads from the formal request, his tone carefully neutral. “He believes the fresh air would be beneficial for her adjustment to Winterhold.”
My quill snaps in half.
Thane doesn’t react to the broken wood in my fist, just continues standing at attention like he doesn’t notice I’m about to lose my mind.
“Deny it.” I throw the ruined quill aside. “Tell Cassius I need him for the afternoon supply meeting.”
“Your Majesty, the supply meeting isn’t until next week—”
“Move it up.” I pull out a fresh piece of parchment. “Today. Two o’clock. Mandatory attendance for all senior advisors.”
Thane’s expression doesn’t change, but I see the question in his eyes. “Of course. Shall I inform Princess Seraphina that her plans have changed?”
“No need.” I start writing the order. “Cassius will handle that himself when he realizes he’s required elsewhere.”
“Understood.” Thane takes the parchment when I finish. “Is there anything else?”
“Yes.” I lean back in my chair. “I want a full report on Cassius’s activities over the past three weeks. Who he’s meeting with, where he goes, what he discusses.”
Now Thane’s eyebrows rise slightly. “Your Majesty?”
“That wasn’t a request, Commander.”
“With respect—” He pauses. “Lord Cassius is your most trusted advisor. Investigating him without cause could create tension in the court.”
“Then do it discreetly.” I wave him off. “And Thane? The cause is that I’m ordering it.”
He bows and leaves, and I’m alone with my thoughts again.
***
Lunch is torture.
I sit at the high table, Azriel chattering beside me about the snow fort we’re building, while Seraphina sits to my right. And three seats down, Cassius leans in close to whisper something that makes her laugh.
“Papa?” Azriel tugs on my sleeve. “You’re squishing your bread.”
I look down to find I’ve crushed the roll in my hand, crumbs falling onto my plate. “Sorry, son.”
“Are you mad about something?” His ice-blue eyes study my face with that unsettling perception five-year-olds sometimes have.
“No.” The lie comes easily. “Just thinking about this afternoon’s meeting.”
“The one Mama’s not going to?” He tilts his head. “She seemed sad when you told her. She really wanted to see the gardens with Lord Cassius.”
The words hit harder than they should. “Did she?”
“She told me all about it this morning. Lord Cassius knows where all the winter roses grow, and he was going to show her the ice sculptures by the frozen fountain.” Azriel takes a bite of his meat. “But you need him for boring meetings instead.”
“Some things are more important than gardens,” I say, hearing how hollow it sounds.
“Not to Mama.” Azriel shrugs. “She loves flowers. Back home, she had a whole garden. She used to take me there every morning.”
Something in my chest twists. I didn’t know that. Didn’t know she loved gardens, loved flowers.
Down the table, Cassius says something else that makes Seraphina’s face light up. His hand rests on the table near hers, not touching, but close enough that it might as well be.
My wolf loses it completely. “Touch her and lose the hand,” he snarls, pushing at my consciousness so hard I have to grip the edge of the table.
“Your Majesty?” Thane appears at my elbow. “The supply meeting begins in an hour. Lord Cassius has been informed.”
“Good.” I don’t take my eyes off Cassius. “Make sure every senior advisor attends. No exceptions.”
“Of course.”
I watch as Cassius leans over to Seraphina, sees his mouth form an apology. She nods, disappointment clear on her face even from here. Then she glances up the table at me, and for a moment, our eyes meet.
***
The supply meeting is exactly as boring as I intended it to be.
I drag out every discussion point, ask for clarification on details that don’t matter, request additional reports that aren’t needed. Cassius sits across from me, his expression perfectly neutral, but I see the tension in his shoulders.
Good. Let him be frustrated.
Three hours later, when we finally adjourn, the sun is already setting. Too late for garden walks. Too late for Cassius to make up the afternoon with Seraphina.
“Your Majesty.” Cassius approaches as the other advisors file out. “Might I have a word?”
“Walk with me.” I head toward the corridor, not waiting to see if he follows.
He does, his footsteps measured behind me. “I noticed the supply meeting was moved up rather suddenly.”
“Issues arose that needed immediate attention.”
“Of course.” His tone is still respectful, but I hear the edge underneath. “It’s just that I had prior commitments this afternoon.”
“Your duty to the kingdom comes before personal engagements, Lord Cassius.”
“Naturally.” He pauses. “Though I can’t help but notice this is the third time my plans with Princess Seraphina have been disrupted by sudden meetings.”
I stop walking and turn to face him. “Are you implying something?”
“Not at all, Your Majesty.” But his amber eyes are sharp, calculating. “I simply want to ensure I’m not neglecting my duties by spending time with your… guest.”
The way he says ‘guest’ makes my blood boil.
“Princess Seraphina is the mother of my heir,” I say coldly. “Not a guest.”
“Of course. My apologies.” He inclines his head. “Then perhaps you could clarify the appropriate level of attention I should pay her? I’ve been trying to make her feel welcome, as you commanded when she first arrived. But if my efforts are causing conflict—”
“Your efforts are noted.” I cut him off. “But perhaps you should focus more on your actual duties and less on entertaining the Princess.”
Something flashes in his expression—triumph, maybe, or satisfaction. Like I’ve confirmed exactly what he suspected.
“As you wish, Your Majesty.” He bows. “Will that be all?”
“Yes.” I dismiss him with a wave.
He leaves, and I’m left standing in the corridor, wondering what the hell I’m doing. Sabotaging my own advisor’s schedule because I can’t stand watching him with my rejected mate.
This is madness.
***
I find Seraphina in her chambers that evening, reading to Azriel before bed. I pause in the doorway, watching as she acts out different voices for the characters, making our son giggle.
She’s beautiful like this—unguarded, and soft.
“Papa!” Azriel spots me and waves. “Come listen! Mama’s doing the dragon voice!”
“I don’t want to interrupt—”
“Please?” Azriel’s eyes are wide and hopeful.
Seraphina glances up, her expression cooling instantly when she sees me. But she doesn’t object, just shifts slightly to make room on the bed.
I settle on the edge, careful not to sit too close. The bond pulls tight between us, that constant ache I’ve learned to live with.
She continues reading, her voice changing for each character. A brave knight, a wise wizard, a fearsome dragon. Azriel is entranced, leaning against her side with complete trust.
When she reaches the end—the knight defeating the dragon and saving the kingdom—Azriel yawns widely.
“Time for sleep, sweetheart.” She kisses his forehead. “Say goodnight to your father.”
“Goodnight, Papa.” Azriel wraps his arms around my neck. “Can we work on the snow fort tomorrow?”
“Of course.” I ruffle his hair. “Sleep well, son.”
Seraphina tucks him in with practiced efficiency, and then we’re both standing in the dim light of his chamber, the silence stretching between us.
“Thank you for watching him this afternoon,” she finally says, her voice carefully neutral.
“It wasn’t a burden.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t.” She moves toward the door to her own chambers. “Though it’s interesting how that urgent meeting appeared exactly when I had plans.”
I follow her, unable to stop myself. “It was necessary.”
“Was it?” She turns to face me, and there’s steel in her violet eyes. “Or did you just not want me spending time with Cassius?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not.” She crosses her arms. “This is the third time you’ve sabotaged my plans with him. The third time you’ve found some urgent duty that required his immediate attention.”
“I don’t control the kingdom’s schedule around your social calendar.”
“Don’t you?” She takes a step closer, and the movement brings her close enough that I can smell her scent—wildflowers and something that makes my wolf go insane. “Because from where I’m standing, it seems like you’re going out of your way to keep me away from the one person here who’s actually been kind to me.”
“Kind to you?” The words come out harsher than I intend. “Is that what you think he’s doing?”
“Yes.” She lifts her chin. “Unlike everyone else in this frozen hell, Cassius treats me like a person. Like I matter. He listens when I talk, remembers things I tell him, makes me feel—” She cuts herself off.
“Makes you feel what?” I close the distance between us before I can stop myself.
“Safe.” The word is barely a whisper. “He makes me feel safe.”
The admission hits me like a blade between the ribs. “And I don’t.”
She stares at me for a long moment, then nods slowly. “No. You don’t.”
The simple agreement, without anger or accusation, somehow hurts worse than if she’d screamed at me.
“That’s going to change.” The words come out before I can stop them.
Her eyebrows draw together. “What?”
“Mark my words, Seraphina.” I hold her gaze. “That’s going to change.”
“What are you talking about?” Confusion flickers across her face. “You can’t just—”
“Goodnight, Princess.” I turn toward the door before I say something else I can’t take back.
“Kieran, wait—”
But I’m already gone, closing the door between us before she can ask questions I don’t have answers for yet.
SERAPHINA
I close the door and lean against it, my hand pressed to my chest where the bond keeps trying to reform.
“What did he mean by that?” I whisper to the empty room.
Luna stirs weakly. “He meant what he said. Things will change.”
“That’s not helpful.”
I push off the door and move to the window, staring out at the snow-covered mountains. The fortress is quiet at this hour, most of the court already asleep.
My skin feels strange. Not quite uncomfortable, but… different. Like there’s energy humming just beneath the surface.
I rub my arms, trying to shake off the sensation.
It’s probably nothing. Just stress from the conversation with Kieran.
I need sleep. Everything will make more sense in the morning.
But as I climb into bed, the restless feeling doesn’t fade. If anything, it intensifies. My nightgown feels too constricting, the blankets too heavy.
I kick them off, staring at the ceiling.
Luna is unusually quiet, but I can feel her awareness. Like she’s waiting for something.
“What?” I ask her silently.
She doesn’t answer, and that somehow makes me more uneasy.
I close my eyes and try to force myself to sleep.
Tomorrow. I’ll deal with whatever this is tomorrow.
