Chapter 16
Late at night, Seraphine kicked open Alistair’s door, holding a wine jar.
“Uncle.”
She drunkenly flung herself into his arms, the smell of alcohol and blood mixing in the air. “Check if I’ve lost my sword skills.”
Alistair caught her with one arm and swiftly locked the door behind them.
“You’re injured.”
“Yeah.” She nuzzled against his neck. “My chest hurts.”
The candle sputtered, nearly extinguishing.
Alistair’s hand hovered above her dress but ultimately settled her onto the bed. “Stop fooling around.”
“I saw it,” Seraphine suddenly said. “That night, you kissed me.”
Alistair’s breath hitched.
“Fever–induced nonsense?”
“Then what about this?” She pulled her collar open, revealing a faint red mark on her collarbone. “You bit me.”
The thunder outside cracked loudly, lighting up Alistair’s stormy expression.
He suddenly grasped her chin ”
you know the consequences of provoking me?”
Seraphine met his gaze, licking her fang playfull p
“I wouldn’t mind the consequences.”
The sound of the overturned jar alarmed the patrolling disciples, who exchanged glances and tacitly avoided the Lord’s quarters.
Meanwhile, in Valmont Keep’s study…
The pendant in Lucien’s hand grew scalding hot, and the images transmitted by the Mark of Cain made him shatter his cup.
Seraphine was pinned against a desk, Alistair’s fingers working at her waistband-
“Damn it!”
He overturned the table in fury.
When Vivienne rushed in, she found Lucien kneeling amidst the wreckage, blood at his lips, clutching that embroidered handkerchief.
“Lucien?”
“Get out!”
At dawn, Alistair brushed petals from Seraphine’s hair.
“The Mark of Cain,” he murmured, tracing the mark on her nape. “Lucien planted it.”
Seraphine lounged against his arm.
“Let him watch, then.”
“You’re reckless.” Alistair suddenly pinned her wrists. “Last night-”
“I was sober,” she interrupted. “Soberer than ever.”
When she tried to rise, her legs gave out.
Alistair caught her by the waist, his palm pressing gently against her abdomen.
“Still sore?”
“Terribly.” She glared. “You said just once-”
He silenced her with a kiss until a guard’s voice came from outside.
“Court Master, Prince Valmont’s army has withdrawn.”
Chapter 16
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By the time Seraphine reached the cliffs, most of the royal troops were gone.
Lucien stood alone at the edge, frost clinging to his armor.
“Sera,” he rasped, knowing she could hear. “The massacre- the late king was the mastermind. My father merely carried out orders. The proof is here.”
An arrow thudded into the rocks beside her, a yellowed scroll tied to it.
As Seraphine unrolled the decree, its vermilion strokes matched the extermination order Alistair had kept hidden.
“House Gaunt was the true conspirators.” Lucien shot another letter her way. “Vivienne allied with the Sanguine Ravens to kill you. Be careful.”
Seraphine’s pupils shrank.
Before she could react, arrows whistled through the air–three poisoned bolts aimed straight for her heart.
Alistair shoved her aside, but one grazed his arm.
Instantly, his eyes flooded crimson.
“Venom of Obsession?!” Seraphine caught him as he staggered. “Who fired that?!”
From the cliffs above, Vivienne lowered her crossbow, hatred twisting her face.
“You deserve this! I’ll make sure you
suffer!”
Back in the hall, Alistair pinned Seraphine against the desk, an inkstone shattering at their feet, black staining her white underrobe.
“Uncle, can you hear me?”
She tried to reach his sanity,
ut he bit down on her neck instead.
The venom of obsession had transformed himn–his touch was rough, desperate.
“Don’t-”
Alistair wrenched himself away, driving a dagger into his own thigh.
“Go!” He panted against her shoulder. “I’ll hurt you.”
Seraphine clasped his bloody hand and pressed it to her waist.
“Alistair, I choose this.”
By dawn, the candies had burned low.
Seraphine’s voice was hoarse from crying by the time Alistair regained full control.
“It hurts!” She yanked the blankets higher, refusing to let him near. “I regret every
Alistair knelt by the bed, applying salve with trembling hands. “My fault.”
“What exactly is your fault?”
“I…” His ears reddened. “Lost control.”
She hurled a pillow at his face.
Three days later, Lucien’s missive arrived again–this time with a single line:
“North cliff. Alone.”
When Seraphine arrived, Lucien stood at the edge, staring into the abyss.
“On his deathbed, my father told me the Frost bloodline could cure any poison,” he said bitterly. “What he didn’t say was that the late King ordered the massacre to hide his own fatal poisoning.”
Seraphine’s sword hand trembled.
“Proof?”
“At Gaunt Manor.” Lucien suddenly seized her wrist. “Vivienne dosed you with venom of obsession? How dare she~”
Black–clad assassins dropped from the rocks before he could finish.
Chapter 16
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As Alistair’s men rushed to intercept, a poisoned arrow shot straight for Seraphine’s heart.
“Look out!”
Alistair shoved her aside–only for a second arrow to pierce his chest.
The cliff edge crumbled beneath him.
“Alistair!”
“Fina, let go!”
Seraphine lunged, catching his hand midair.
In his eyes, she saw her own reflection–terrified, determined.
“Alistair! I won’t let go–I swear it!”
Phot
Chapter 10
