Lucien's expression tightened at the sight of Seraphine standing in his doorway, her face pale with urgency. He opened the door wider, stepping aside for her to enter. The atmosphere between them had shifted since their earlier conversation—an unspoken tension that now crackled in the air.
"What is it, Seraphine?" he asked, his voice low but laced with concern.
She stepped into the room, feeling the weight of her next words. Every instinct warned her to be cautious, yet she knew there was no time for hesitation. "There may be a spy in the castle."
Lucien's eyes darkened immediately, the shift in his demeanor palpable. "A spy? What have you heard?"
Seraphine quickly recounted what Arin had told her, her voice soft but urgent. "It's just whispers among the soldiers, but it would explain how the rebels always seem to be one step ahead. They know too much about our movements, Lucien."
His fists clenched at his sides, a storm of fury brewing beneath his calm exterior. "If there is a traitor among us, they've put us all in danger. This would explain Ronan's sudden shift—and why the rebels have been emboldened."
The silence that followed was thick, and Seraphine could feel Lucien's internal battle playing out before her eyes. He had spent centuries locking away his heart, guarding it as fiercely as he guarded his kingdom. And now, with threats closing in from all sides, he had to decide who to trust—who to let in.
"I'll have the guard search the castle," Lucien said finally, his voice resolute. "No one leaves without being questioned. We'll root out this spy before they do any more damage."
Seraphine nodded, but she couldn't help the nagging feeling that there was more to uncover. The rebels' movements were coordinated, almost as if someone within the castle had been guiding them all along. And if that were true, they were running out of time.
"I'll help however I can," Seraphine offered. "But Lucien, we need to be careful. If we act too openly, the spy might catch wind of it and disappear before we can stop them."
Lucien's jaw tightened, his frustration barely contained. "You're right. We'll proceed carefully. But we must act swiftly."
As the tension settled between them, Lucien paced to the window, looking out at the moonlit courtyard. His thoughts seemed far away, trapped in a place of deep reflection.
"There's something else, isn't there?" Seraphine asked softly, stepping closer to him. She could sense the weight of something deeper pressing on him. "You're carrying more than just the burden of this kingdom, Lucien. I can see it."
He didn't respond at first, his gaze locked on the shadows stretching across the courtyard. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, almost resigned. "I've been haunted for centuries, Seraphine. By the choices I've made, the lives I couldn't save. And by the one life I failed to protect—the woman I loved."
Seraphine's heart clenched at the sorrow in his words. She had heard fragments of this before, but now, as the vulnerability in his voice surfaced, she felt the full weight of his pain.
"She was everything to me," Lucien continued, his voice thick with emotion. "But I was too blind to see the dangers around us. I thought I was invincible, that my power would protect her. And then she was taken from me—by forces I could have stopped if I hadn't been so arrogant."
Seraphine moved closer, her presence a quiet comfort beside him. "You can't carry that guilt forever, Lucien. You couldn't have known."
He turned to her, his eyes fierce and haunted. "But I should have. And because of my failure, I've closed myself off for so long, thinking that I could build a kingdom of strength without needing anyone. But now, with you here... I don't know if I can keep doing that."
Her breath caught at the intensity in his gaze, and for a moment, the world seemed to narrow around them. The weight of his past was heavy, but there was something else in his eyes—something raw and unspoken, a spark that ignited between them.
"You don't have to carry it alone," Seraphine whispered, her voice steady despite the rapid thrum of her heart. "We all have things we regret, but that doesn't mean we stop trying. You've built something here—something worth protecting. And it's not just strength that holds it together."
Lucien's hand brushed against hers, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver through her. "You're different," he said softly, almost as if he were speaking more to himself than to her. "You see me in a way no one else does."
Before Seraphine could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the room, breaking the spell that had woven itself around them.
Lucien pulled away, his expression hardening once more. "Enter."
The door opened to reveal one of the king's trusted advisors, his face lined with urgency. "Your Majesty, we've intercepted a message—a coded letter. It was being carried by one of our scouts, but we believe it was intended for the rebel forces."
Lucien's eyes narrowed, his entire body tensing. "A traitor, then?"
"It appears so," the advisor confirmed. "The letter contains details of our defenses along the northern border. If this information reaches the rebels, they'll know exactly where to strike."
Seraphine's heart raced. The spy was already making their move.
Lucien turned back to her, his expression unreadable but his voice steady. "We'll need to move quickly. Gather those you trust, Seraphine. We'll need every ally we can get."
Seraphine nodded, a surge of determination rising within her. "I'll go to Arin. She may be able to help us piece together more of what she's heard."
As she turned to leave, Lucien caught her wrist, his touch firm but gentle. "Seraphine," he said quietly, his gaze searching hers. "Be careful. I can't lose you, too."
Her breath hitched at the vulnerability in his words, but she nodded, her resolve unwavering. "I will."
---
The halls of the castle were alive with movement as Seraphine made her way toward Arin's quarters. Her mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of the puzzle. A spy within the castle, Ronan's betrayal, and now the intercepted letter—it all pointed to something far more dangerous than any of them had anticipated.
When she reached Arin's door, she knocked softly, glancing over her shoulder to ensure they weren't being followed. After a moment, the door opened, and Arin's wide eyes met hers.
"Lady Seraphine," Arin whispered, pulling her inside quickly. "What's happening? I've heard the soldiers talking—there's panic in the castle."
Seraphine quickly filled her in on what had transpired, her voice hushed but urgent. "We need to figure out who the spy is, Arin. They're planning something, and if we don't stop them, it could mean the end of everything."
Arin's eyes flickered with fear, but she nodded, her expression resolute. "I'll do whatever I can to help. But we need to be careful—whoever the spy is, they're dangerous."
As they began to plan their next steps, Seraphine couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out. The kingdom was on the brink of chaos, and every second counted.
And somewhere in the shadows, the spy was watching, waiting to make their next move.