POV: Ravenna
I find refuge in the library.
Which is ridiculous because I HATE the library. All those dusty books and silent judgmental scholars giving me looks like I'm going to set something on fire just by existing. Which—to be fair—I have done. Once. When I was twelve. But that was an ACCIDENT and also the book deserved it.
But right now the library is the only place quiet enough to think. To research. To figure out exactly what legal grounds House Ashford might have to contest the Dragon's Choosing.
I'm surrounded by law books. Ancient texts about bonding traditions. Treaties. Precedents. My eyes are crossing and I want to scream.
"Finding anything interesting?"
I look up so fast I nearly knock over my inkwell.
Cassian Lucien stands at the end of my table. Lucien's older brother. Tall, dark-haired, handsome in that cold aristocratic way that makes you think of marble statues. His expression is pleasant. His eyes are ice.
"This table is occupied," I say.
"I can see that." He sits down across from me anyway. Uninvited. "I wanted to speak with you privately. Away from guards and witnesses and all that tedious formality."
Everything in me goes on high alert. "If you have something to say, you can say it through proper channels."
"Oh, I think we're past proper channels, don't you?" He leans back in his chair, studying me like I'm a puzzle he's solving. "You manipulated the Dragon's Choosing somehow. I know you did."
My hands clench under the table. "I did no such thing."
"Please." His smile doesn't reach his eyes. "My brother should have won. Lucien is perfect—charming, well-bred, educated, skilled. The fact that a common-born scarred warrior was chosen over him is absurd." He tilts his head. "So either your dragon has catastrophically poor judgment, or you interfered."
"Dragons don't care about breeding," I say coldly. Keep my voice steady even though I want to throw this book at his face. "They don't care about appearance or charm or education. They care about soul compatibility. Solace found Lucien's soul lacking."
Something flickers in his eyes. Rage, maybe. Controlled. Buried. "How convenient."
"It's not convenient. It's fact." I close the book in front of me with a sharp snap. "The investigation will prove I did nothing wrong."
"And if it does?" He leans forward now, elbows on the table. Voice dropping low. "Even if the investigation clears you, House Ashford will contest through other means. We have resources, Princess. Political connections. Ways of making life very, very difficult for you and your... warrior."
The threat is clear. Barely veiled.
"Are you threatening me?" My voice is dangerous now. I feel fire starting to gather under my skin.
"I'm suggesting," he says smoothly, "that it would be easier for everyone if you simply admitted to interference. Agreed to nullify the choosing. Selected Lucien instead, as you should have from the beginning." He spreads his hands like he's being reasonable. "We could make this go away. No scandal. No contest. No unfortunate accidents."
Unfortunate accidents.
Oh, this absolute BASTARD.
I stand so fast my chair scrapes loud against the floor. "Get out."
"Princess—"
"I said GET OUT." My hands are shaking. With rage. With fear. With the desperate need to shift and let Solace tear him apart. "Before I call the guards and have you removed for threatening the crown princess."
He stands slowly. Still calm. Still cold. "Think about my offer, Princess. We're a powerful family. You don't want us as enemies."
"I already have you as enemies," I say through my teeth. "The moment Solace rejected your hollow brother."
His pleasant mask cracks. Just for a second. I see real fury underneath.
Then he smooths it away. Smiles. "Three days until the investigation concludes. I do hope they find the truth." He inclines his head in a mockery of respect. "Good day, Princess."
He walks away.
I sink back into my chair and press my hands flat on the table to stop them shaking.
Hollow. I called Lucien hollow. Because that's what Solace saw—emptiness where emotion should be. But saying it out loud to his brother was stupid. Reckless. The kind of thing that gets people hurt.
I need to find Saren.
***
I find him in the training yards, running drills with a group of younger guards. He sees my face and immediately dismisses them.
"What happened?" He's at my side in seconds. "Are you hurt?"
"Cassian Lucien cornered me in the library." The words come out too fast. Breathless. "He threatened me. Said House Ashford would contest through 'other means' if the investigation clears me. Suggested I should just admit to interference and choose Lucien instead."
Saren's expression goes dangerous. That cold water-calm that means he's absolutely furious.
"He threatened you," he says quietly. "Directly."
"Not... directly directly. It was all implications and suggestions and—" I'm babbling. Why am I babbling? "He mentioned 'unfortunate accidents.' Said they have resources and political connections."
"That bastard." Saren's hand goes to his sword hilt. "Did anyone else hear this?"
"No. We were alone. That's why he—" My throat closes. "That's why he felt safe saying it."
Saren mutters something in the water kingdom language that sounds extremely uncomplimentary. Then he focuses on me. "Are you all right?"
"I'm furious."
"Good. Use that." He starts walking and I follow. "I'm increasing security around you. And around Theron. If House Ashford is willing to make threats, they're willing to act on them."
"You think they'd actually—"
"Yes." He cuts me off. "I think they absolutely would. Wealthy families don't like losing, Princess. And House Ashford has a reputation."
"What kind of reputation?"
He hesitates. "The kind where people who cross them tend to have accidents. Falls down stairs. Poisonings blamed on bad food. Fires that start mysteriously." His jaw tightens. "Nothing proven. Everything plausibly deniable. But the pattern is there if you look."
Oh gods. Oh gods, what have I gotten us into?
"Theron," I say. "They'll go after Theron."
"They might try." Saren's voice is grim. "But Theron isn't an easy target. He's survived five rejections that should have killed him. He's the most dangerous warrior in Cindravale. And I'll make damn sure he's never alone or vulnerable."
"What about me?"
"You get doubled guards." He glances at me. "I know you hate it. But unless you want Cassian getting another chance to corner you—"
"Fine." I hate it. But I'm not stupid. "Double the guards."
"Good." We reach the palace entrance. "I'll also have someone watch House Ashford's movements. If they're planning something, I want to know."
"Saren?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you." My voice comes out smaller than I want. "For... for taking this seriously. For not telling me I'm being paranoid or dramatic."
He stops walking and looks at me. Really looks at me. "Rav, I've known you since you were sixteen. I know when you're being dramatic." His expression softens. "This isn't that. This is real danger. And I will keep you safe. Both of you."
I nod. Can't quite speak past the lump in my throat.
"Come on," he says. "Let's get you back to your chambers. And then I'm putting two of my best guards on your door."
As we walk, I think about Cassian's cold smile. His threats. His absolute certainty that they can make this go away.
House Ashford wants me to choose Lucien.
They're willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.
And suddenly the next three days until the investigation concludes feel like walking toward an execution.
Not mine.
Theron's.