Kaedan’s rage hit the walls like a storm.
“No,” he snarled, pacing the room like a chained beast. “Absolutely not. I will not send you to die. I will not let you walk into her hands.”
Ariaxa stood her ground.
“She’s already inside the palace, Kaedan. She’s already killing. If we don’t end this, the bleeding won’t stop.”
Kaedan whipped around, eyes burning. “Then I will end it. I’ll find her myself—”
“She’s hunting me,” Ariaxa snapped. “She won’t show herself to you.”
He froze.
Ariaxa held his gaze, unflinching. “If you go, she’ll vanish again. If I go…”
She swallowed.
“…she’ll come.”
The truth cracked something inside him.
“Ariaxa…” His voice shook, equal parts fury and fear. “Do you understand what you’re asking of me?”
“Yes.”
She stepped closer.
“I’m asking you to trust me.”
His throat worked painfully.
Riven cleared his throat. “She’s right. Strategically, this is the only move that forces Seren’s hand.”
Kaedan rounded on him. “You think I care about strategy?”
Riven didn’t back down. “If Seren strikes again, she will not stop with servants.” His eyes darkened. “She’ll go after nobles. And then council members. And then Triarch envoys. If the Triarchs think the Emperor is losing control, we will have a war on three fronts.”
The room fell silent.
Kaedan exhaled shakily, turning back to Ariaxa. “I can’t—”
“You must.”
Her voice wavered, but her resolve didn’t.
“If Seren isn’t stopped tonight, she will slit every throat in this palace until she reaches mine. I won’t hide while everyone else pays for her hatred.”
Kaedan stared at her like she was breaking him in half.
For a long, shaking moment, he said nothing.
Then, quietly:
“If I agree… Riven stays so close he can hear your breath.”
Riven nodded once. “Understood.”
“And if anything goes wrong—” Kaedan’s voice cracked— “I tear the palace apart looking for you.”
Ariaxa stepped forward and took his hand.
He looked down at their fingers intertwined, devastation written across his face.
“I’ll come back,” she whispered.
“You better,” he whispered back.
***
The chamber lived up to its name — silver light from the full moon poured through the arched windows, illuminating the white marble floor in a cold, ethereal glow.
Ariaxa entered alone.
Riven waited outside, unseen in the shadows, as agreed.
The air inside felt wrong — thick, humming, laced with danger.
Ariaxa scanned the room.
“Seren,” she called softly. “Come out.”
A soft laugh floated from the darkness.
“Oh, darling… I’ve been waiting.”
Seren stepped into the moonlight — draped in crimson silk, barefoot, hair loose around her shoulders like a fallen goddess. Her eyes glowed with venom.
“Brave,” Seren purred. “Walking in alone.”
“Not brave,” Ariaxa said. “Tired.”
Seren smirked. “Of living?”
“Of you killing everyone around me.”
Seren’s smile sharpened. “Then let’s end it.”
She lunged.
A flash of silver.
A hiss of breath.
Ariaxa barely dodged the first strike.
Seren moved fast — too fast.
Trained in the worst parts of the harem, the parts nobles never saw.
Ariaxa stumbled back, heart pounding, but she remembered Riven’s voice during training:
Never stand still.
Use the attacker’s momentum.
Let them overreach.
Seren slashed again.
Ariaxa sidestepped, grabbed Seren’s wrist, twisted—
The blade clattered across the floor.
Seren hissed, eyes wild. “You learned to fight. How sweet. Did Kaedan teach you with his hands around your throat?”
Ariaxa shoved her away. “I’m not here to trade insults.”
Seren laughed — a broken, bitter sound. “No? Then what are you here for? Peace? Justice? Closure?” Her face contorted with fury. “You’re here because Kaedan loves you.”
Ariaxa recoiled as though slapped.
“That’s not true.”
“Oh, please.” Seren’s eyes were manic. “He looks at you like you’re the first sun he’s ever seen. He slaughtered half the harem for you. He defied the council for you. He nearly killed an envoy because you were upset.”
Ariaxa’s breath hitched. “…He only wants me because he hates what I represent.”
Seren froze.
Then her lips curled in a sharp, pitying smile.
“You honestly believe that?”
Ariaxa felt the floor tilt. Her heart thundered.
Seren laughed — not mocking, but almost heartbroken.
“Oh, princess… you’re more blind than I thought.”
Ariaxa opened her mouth to respond—
—but Seren’s expression suddenly shifted.
Gone was the bitter laugh.
Gone was the smirk.
Gone was the mocking calm.
In its place:
Pure, cold, murderous intention.
“You took everything from me,” Seren whispered. “I’ll take everything from him.”
Before Ariaxa could move—
Seren lunged again.
But this time—
a second blade flashed from beneath her sleeve.
Thinner.
Darker.
Dipped in something black and shimmering.
Poison.
And it was aimed straight for Ariaxa’s heart.