Chapter 24
SERAPHINA
I smooth my hands over the burgundy silk of my gown, watching my reflection in the mirror with a critical eye. Three weeks of court dinners, and I still can’t shake the feeling of being watched—not just by the hostile nobles, but by Kieran himself. His eyes track my every move, especially when Cassius is near.
The dress is beautiful—Mother packed well—but I wonder if it’s too formal for a casual court dinner. Or not formal enough. I have no idea what the expectations are here.
“Stop fidgeting,” Luna mutters. “You look fine.”
“Fine isn’t exactly what I’m going for.” I adjust the neckline for the third time. “I need to look… I don’t know. Like I belong here.”
“We don’t belong here. We never will.”
She’s not wrong, but that doesn’t help my current situation.
The exhaustion doesn’t help either. I’ve barely slept more than a few hours each night, my mind too busy replaying every interaction, every hostile glance, every moment I feel Kieran’s presence through that bond that shouldn’t exist anymore.
A soft knock interrupts my spiral. “Come in.”
Mira enters, her green eyes nervous as always. “Princess? Lord Cassius sent word asking if you’d like to join him for a walk through the library before dinner. He said he has some books he thinks you’d enjoy.”
My stomach does an odd little flip at the mention of his name. It’s been happening more lately, this strange warmth that spreads through me whenever Cassius is near. At first, I thought it was just gratitude for his kindness in this cold place, but the feeling has been intensifying over the past week. Becoming harder to ignore.
“Tell him I’d be delighted.”
Over the past weeks, Cassius has become my only real ally here. While the rest of the court treats me like a dangerous curiosity, he’s introduced me to the few open-minded nobles, defended me in subtle ways during court sessions, and made this cold fortress feel slightly less hostile.
Mira curtseys and disappears, leaving me to finish getting ready. I pin my hair up, leaving a few dark strands to frame my face. Simple. Elegant. Not trying too hard.
When I emerge from my chambers, Azriel is playing in the sitting room with the wooden soldiers Kieran gave him. He’s been obsessed with them for days, arranging elaborate battle formations.
“Mama!” He looks up, his ice-blue eyes bright. “Look what Papa taught me. This is how the Northern army defends against siege attacks.”
I kneel beside him, examining the careful arrangement of wooden figures. “That’s very impressive, sweetheart. You’ve been paying close attention.”
“Papa says I’m a natural strategist.” He moves one of the soldiers forward with careful precision. “He’s taking me to watch the real army train tomorrow. He says I need to learn about leadership and duty since I’m his heir.”
The word heir sits uncomfortably in my stomach. Azriel has fully embraced Kieran as ‘Papa’ now—that battle was lost in the first week. But hearing him parrot phrases like “leadership and duty” reminds me that Kieran isn’t just being a father. He’s training his successor.
“That sounds wonderful.” I kiss the top of his head. “I’m going to the library with Lord Cassius before dinner. Be good for Mira, okay?”
“Okay.” He’s already back to his soldiers, completely absorbed.
I find Cassius waiting in the corridor, dressed casually in dark trousers and a deep green shirt that brings out the amber in his eyes. He smiles when he sees me, and that strange warmth spreads through my chest again.
“Princess Seraphina.” He offers his arm. “Thank you for joining me. I know the fortress can feel rather oppressive, but the library is one of the few places that feels… alive.”
I take his arm, grateful for the solid warmth of him. “I’d love to see it. I’ve been meaning to explore more, but I haven’t wanted to wander into places I’m not welcome.”
“You’re welcome everywhere.” His voice is gentle. “Though I understand why you might not feel that way. The court has been…” He pauses, choosing his words carefully. “Less than welcoming.”
“That’s a diplomatic way to put it.” We start down the corridor, passing servants who still avert their eyes when they see me. Except when I’m with Cassius, then some actually nod respectfully. It’s like his presence grants me temporary acceptance. “I’m the woman who destroyed the peace treaty. I don’t expect them to throw me a celebration.”
“You were barely more than a girl when that happened.” Cassius glances at me. “And from what I understand, you had your reasons for running.”
“Does that matter? People still died because of my choices.”
“People die in wars for all kinds of reasons. Most of them political and beyond any one person’s control.” He guides me down a staircase I haven’t seen before. “You carry too much guilt for something that was inevitable anyway.”
“How can you say that? The treaty would have ended the war.”
“Or delayed it.” He shrugs. “The tensions between kingdoms run deeper than one arranged marriage could fix. Eventually, something else would have sparked conflict again.”
I want to believe him, but Luna stirs uneasily. Don’t trust him. Something’s wrong.
“You keep saying that, but he’s been nothing but kind.”
“That’s what worries me.”
We reach the library, and I forget my wolf’s paranoia the moment the doors swing open. The space is massive—three stories of books reaching toward a vaulted ceiling painted with stars. Sunlight streams through tall windows, warming the rich wood and leather furniture scattered throughout.
“It’s beautiful.” I move forward, drawn to the nearest shelf. My fingers trace the spines, reading titles I haven’t seen since leaving the Eastern Kingdom. Stories and histories I used to lose myself in when life at court became too much.
“I thought you’d like it.” Cassius follows me, his presence comfortable rather than overwhelming. “The Northern Kingdom may lack warmth in many ways, but they’ve always valued knowledge. This library has texts dating back centuries.”
“I could spend days here.” I pull out a leather-bound volume on werewolf history, flipping through pages carefully preserved by time and magic.
“Then you should.” He leans against the shelf beside me. “Consider this your sanctuary. No one will bother you here, and you’re free to come and go as you please.”
The offer is so generous, so unexpected, that tears prick my eyes. “Thank you. You have no idea how much that means.”
“I think I do.” His voice softens, and I remember what he told me during our first tea together. “That’s why I wanted to show you this place. Everyone needs somewhere they can breathe.”
The kindness in his words makes my throat tighten. For the first time since arriving at Winterhold, I don’t feel like an unwanted intruder.
We spend the next hour exploring the shelves, Cassius pulling down books he thinks I’ll enjoy. He knows exactly what I like—history, philosophy, stories about strong women who changed their worlds. It’s almost uncanny how well he reads me.
“You should take these to your chambers.” He hands me a stack of five books. “Start with the top one. It’s about a queen who united three warring kingdoms through diplomacy rather than force.”
“Sounds like wishful thinking.” I accept the books, their weight solid and comforting in my arms.
“Or inspiration.” His fingers brush mine as he adjusts the stack, and that warmth floods through me again. Stronger this time. Almost dizzying.
I pull my hand back quickly. “We should probably head to dinner. Don’t want to be late.”
Something flickers across Cassius’s expression—disappointment, maybe?—but it’s gone so fast I might have imagined it. “Of course. I’ll walk you to the great hall.”
As we make our way through the fortress, I notice again how the servants react differently when I’m with Cassius.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask quietly. “Helping me. Being kind. What do you gain from it?”
“Does kindness need to have an ulterior motive?” He glances at me, genuine confusion in his amber eyes.
“In a royal court? Usually.”
“Then perhaps I’m simply a better man than most courtiers.” He stops walking, turning to face me fully. “Or perhaps I see someone who deserves friendship, and I have the ability to offer it. Not everything has to be a political calculation, Seraphina.”
The use of my name instead of my title sends another wave of that strange warmth through me. I grip the books tighter, trying to anchor myself. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so suspicious of someone who’s only shown me kindness.”
“You’ve learned to be cautious. That’s not a fault.” He starts walking again. “But I hope, in time, you’ll trust that my friendship is genuine.”
We reach the great hall where nobles are already gathering for dinner. The evening sun slants through the high windows, painting everything in shades of gold and shadow. Cassius guides me to my usual seat at the high table, and I notice how his hand hovers near the small of my back—not touching, but close enough that I can feel his warmth.
Kieran is already seated, and his eyes snap to us the moment we enter. His expression is carefully neutral, but his knuckles are white where they grip his goblet.
“Thank you for the books,” I say to Cassius, setting them carefully on the table beside me.
“Anytime.” He takes his own seat, which has somehow migrated even closer to mine over the past few weeks. “I hope you enjoy them.”
Azriel arrives moments later with Mira, and he immediately climbs into the chair between Kieran and me. “Mama! Papa said tomorrow I get to see the war room! With all the maps and strategy boards!”
“That’s wonderful, sweetheart.” I smooth his hair, acutely aware of Kieran watching us.
“He’s doing very well with his lessons,” Kieran says, his voice formal. “Quick learner. Good instincts.”
“Of course he is.” I force a smile. “He’s brilliant.”
“Takes after his mother, then.” The compliment catches me off guard. I look up to find Kieran’s ice-blue eyes on mine, something unreadable in their depths.
“Or his father,” I manage. “You’re the military genius, after all.”
“Military strategy is taught.” Kieran’s jaw tightens. “Intelligence is inherited.”
Before I can respond, Cassius leans closer. “Speaking of intelligence, I was just telling the Princess about some fascinating texts in the library. Have you read the historical accounts of the Kingdom Wars?”
Kieran’s attention shifts to him, and something dangerous flashes behind his controlled expression. “I’m familiar with them.”
“Then perhaps you could join us sometime for a discussion. I’m sure your insights would be valuable.” Cassius’s tone is perfectly polite, but I sense an undercurrent I can’t quite identify.
“Perhaps.” Kieran’s voice drops several degrees. “Though I’m sure you’re perfectly capable of entertaining the Princess on your own.”
The air between them crackles with tension. Azriel, oblivious, continues chattering about tomorrow’s plans while I sit frozen, unsure what just happened.
Dinner progresses with painful slowness. I pick at my food, hyperaware of Cassius on my left and Kieran on my right, with Azriel between us like a buffer that’s not nearly wide enough.
Halfway through the meal, Cassius leans close again. “There’s a particularly beautiful view from the western tower at sunset. If you’d like, I could show you tomorrow afternoon?”
“That sounds lovely.” The words come out before I fully process them.
Kieran’s fork clatters against his plate. “Princess Seraphina will be busy tomorrow afternoon.”
I turn to stare at him. “Will I?”
“You expressed interest in touring the military facilities.” His voice is tight. “I assumed you’d want to accompany Azriel and me.”
“I… did I?” I don’t remember expressing any such interest.
“You mentioned wanting to understand Northern defenses better.” Kieran’s eyes bore into mine. “Or was I mistaken?”
“He’s lying,” Luna mutters. But let him. Stay away from Cassius.
“I think you might be confusing me with someone else.” I keep my voice level. “But if you think it would be educational for me to join you, I’m happy to.”
“Excellent.” Kieran’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “We leave at noon.”
Cassius’s expression remains pleasant, but I catch a flash of something—frustration?—before it’s smoothed away. “Another time, then. The view will still be there.”
