Lucien's face remained unreadable as Seraphine finished her recounting of what she and Arin had overheard. He stood by the fire, its glow casting sharp shadows across his features. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his silence filled the room with tension so thick that even Arin, who usually spoke without hesitation, stayed quiet.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low and laced with simmering anger. "Ronan and Cedric conspiring with the rebels… to think they've been right under my nose this entire time."
Seraphine watched him closely, unsure of what he would do. There was no room for error now. One wrong move, and the rebellion would gain the upper hand—taking the kingdom with it.
"We need to move swiftly," Lucien continued, his gaze flickering over to Seraphine. "But I can't have this information go public. If word gets out that members of the court are involved in treachery, the nobles will panic. Some will side with Cedric and Ronan out of fear."
"We can't delay, Lucien," Seraphine urged, stepping forward. "They're planning something immediate. If we don't act tonight, the rebels will have the weapons, and the northern outposts will fall. You'll lose the north before dawn."
Lucien's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Seraphine glimpsed the turmoil swirling beneath his calm exterior. The king she knew was ruthless when he needed to be, decisive and cold. But this betrayal was different. Cedric and Ronan weren't mere rebels—they were trusted advisors, men Lucien had worked with for years. The sting of their treachery was personal.
"We strike tonight," Lucien finally said, his voice firm with conviction. "But this operation will be quiet. No alarm bells, no soldiers marching through the castle. If we can capture Cedric and Ronan in the act, we'll expose them without creating chaos."
"How?" Arin asked, speaking for the first time. "They'll be meeting in secret. It'll be impossible to take them by surprise without making noise."
Lucien turned to Seraphine, his gaze sharp. "You said they'll be in the lower halls?"
She nodded. "That's where the meeting is. They've likely secured the room already, but if we can get inside before they leave…"
"We'll use the secret passageways," Lucien interrupted. "There's one that leads directly into the lower chambers. Few know of its existence—Cedric and Ronan won't see us coming."
Arin's eyes widened. "Secret passageways?"
Lucien gave her a brief nod, but his attention was already focused on the task ahead. "I'll gather a small group of loyal men. We'll take the passage and surround them. Seraphine, you'll lead us through. You know the layout of the lower halls better than most."
Seraphine's stomach twisted at the thought of entering the hidden tunnels beneath the castle. They were ancient, unused for years, and riddled with danger. But she knew this was the only way to catch the traitors off guard.
"I'll do it," she said, her voice steady despite the rising anxiety in her chest. "But we have to be quick."
Lucien turned, grabbing his sword from its place by the fireplace. "We leave now. There's no time to lose."
---
The hidden passageways beneath the castle were narrow and damp, the air thick with the smell of earth and rot. Seraphine led the group through the twisting tunnels, her hand clutching a small torch to light their way. Behind her, Lucien and his hand-picked soldiers moved silently, their faces grim with determination.
As they descended deeper into the labyrinth, Seraphine's thoughts swirled. She had been in these tunnels only once before, years ago, during a different time, a different life. Now, as she navigated the familiar yet eerie passage, a sense of foreboding settled in her bones. Cedric and Ronan were dangerous, but there was more to this plot than she had anticipated. If they had been in league with the rebels for this long, how deep did their treachery go?
"We're close," she whispered, glancing back at Lucien. His eyes gleamed in the torchlight, his face a mask of cold fury. "Once we reach the end of this tunnel, we'll be directly beneath the lower halls."
Lucien nodded, gripping his sword tighter. "When we get there, we split up. I want two men covering the exit. No one leaves until I give the order."
Seraphine's heart raced as they approached the final bend in the tunnel. She could hear muffled voices from above—Cedric and Ronan, discussing their treachery. Her pulse quickened with every step. This was it. The moment of truth.
They reached the end of the passage, where a small, iron grate led into the lower chambers. Seraphine crouched low, peering through the grate. She could see Cedric and Ronan standing in the middle of the room, oblivious to the trap closing in around them. A large crate sat nearby—likely filled with weapons for the rebels.
Lucien moved forward, his voice barely a whisper. "On my mark, we storm in."
Seraphine nodded, her fingers trembling as she gripped the edge of the grate. This was it. One swift action, and they could expose the traitors before it was too late.
But as Lucien signaled his men to prepare, a sound from behind made Seraphine freeze. Footsteps—quick and urgent, echoing down the passage they had just come through. She turned, eyes wide with fear.
"Lucien," she whispered, her voice tight. "Someone's coming."
Lucien stiffened, his eyes darting to the dark tunnel behind them. "Impossible. No one knows we're here."
But the footsteps grew louder, and within moments, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness. Seraphine's breath caught in her throat.
It was Cedric.
But not the Cedric she knew. His eyes glowed with an unnatural light, his body moving with an inhuman grace as he stepped into the torchlight. He wasn't surprised to see them. He had known they were coming all along.
"You should have stayed in your chambers, Seraphine," Cedric said, his voice cold and echoing in the narrow passageway. "Now, none of you are leaving alive."
Lucien's sword was out in an instant, his eyes blazing with fury. "You'll regret this, Cedric."
But Cedric only smiled, his lips curling into something dark and sinister. "I doubt it."
Before anyone could react, Cedric moved—faster than Seraphine had ever seen anyone move—and the battle began.
---
The passageway erupted into chaos as Lucien and his men clashed with Cedric. Seraphine's heart raced as she darted to the side, her mind scrambling for a plan. Cedric's speed was unnatural, his movements fluid and deadly as he deflected every strike aimed at him. Something was wrong—terribly wrong.
"This isn't human," Seraphine whispered, watching in horror as Cedric dodged another blow, his eyes glowing brighter.
Arin appeared beside her, breathless. "What do we do? He's not like anyone we've ever faced."
Seraphine swallowed hard, her pulse thundering in her ears. "We have to stop him. If Cedric gets out of here, the kingdom will fall."
And deep down, Seraphine realized something more chilling: whatever Cedric had become, it was only the beginning of a far darker force at play.