POV: Ravenna
Hadrian requests a meeting.
Not with Theron. With me.
Which is... unusual. Hadrian barely talks to me. We've exchanged maybe ten words total since the competition started. He watches me sometimes—that gruff disapproving stare that says he's not sure I'm worthy of his friend. Which, fair. I'm not sure I'm worthy either.
But now he's standing at my chamber door asking politely if I have time to speak privately.
Morgana gives me a look that clearly says "this is weird" and I nod because YES, this is definitely weird.
"The gardens?" I suggest. Because if Hadrian is going to tell me I'm terrible for Theron, I'd rather have that conversation outside where I can pace and maybe scream a little.
He nods. "The gardens are fine."
***
We end up in a quiet courtyard near the eastern wing. Stone benches. Herb gardens. Far enough from the main palace that no one will overhear.
Hadrian stands with his arms crossed, looking uncomfortable. Like he'd rather be anywhere else. Fighting a war, maybe. Wrestling a dragon. Literally anything but having this conversation.
"So," I say when the silence stretches too long. "What did you want to talk about?"
He looks at me directly. Those hard grey eyes. "Lucien is dangerous."
I blink. "I... yes? I know. He's the one demanding a hearing—"
"No." Hadrian cuts me off. "Not just politically dangerous. Actually dangerous. In ways you don't fully understand."
Something cold slides down my spine. "What do you mean?"
"I've been asking questions," he says bluntly. "Using my military contacts. People who've served with House Ashford's guards. Merchants who've dealt with them. Servants who've worked in their household." His jaw tightens. "Lucien's reputation in certain circles is ugly, Princess."
"How ugly?"
"Rumors of cruelty. Manipulation. Incidents that were covered up by his family's wealth and influence." He starts pacing now, restless energy that reminds me of Theron. "A servant girl who disappeared after rejecting his advances. A rival merchant whose warehouse burned down the night before an important deal. A soldier who spoke against him publicly and ended up dead in an alley—officially ruled as a drunken accident."
Oh gods.
"Nothing proven," Hadrian continues. "Everything plausibly deniable. But the pattern is there. People who cross House Ashford tend to meet unfortunate accidents."
Unfortunate accidents. The same phrase Cassian used.
"Cassian threatened me yesterday," I say quietly. "In the library. Said they had resources and connections. Mentioned unfortunate accidents."
Hadrian stops pacing. "He threatened you directly?"
"Not... directly. But the implication was clear. He wants me to admit to interference and choose Lucien instead. Or else."
"Bastards." Hadrian's voice is low and furious. "If the investigation fails to satisfy them—if they think they can't win through legal means—they might try more direct methods."
"More direct methods," I repeat. My mouth is dry. "You mean—"
"I mean they might try to remove Theron from the equation permanently."
The world tilts sideways.
"Would they really—" I can't finish the sentence. Can't say the word.
"Kill him?" Hadrian's expression is grim. "I think they would try, yes. If they believe it's the only way to get what they want. If they think they can make it look like an accident or blame someone else."
I sit down on the bench before my legs give out. "Oh gods."
"But." Hadrian moves to stand in front of me. "Theron is not easy to kill. He's survived things that would have ended anyone else. He's faster than he looks, stronger than he should be, and more aware of his surroundings than any warrior I've ever met." His voice softens slightly. "And I will make damn sure he is never alone or vulnerable. I won't let them get to him."
"What about during the investigation?" My voice sounds small. Scared. I hate it. "There's still three days—"
"I'll be with him every moment. Training, eating, sleeping—I'm not leaving his side." Hadrian crouches down so we're eye level. "Princess, I've been Theron's friend for ten years. I found him after his fifth rejection, unconscious and barely alive, and I dragged him back from the edge. I'm not losing him now."
Something in my chest loosens. Just slightly.
"Thank you," I whisper.
He nods. Stands. Starts to turn away, then stops. "You should be careful too."
"Me?"
"You're the other obstacle. If they can't remove Theron, they might try to remove you. Or intimidate you into changing your mind." He glances back at me. "Desperate nobles do desperate things. And House Ashford is very, very desperate right now."
"Saren already doubled my guards."
"Good." Hadrian's approval is grudging but real. "The water kingdom warrior has a decent head on his shoulders."
"He's my friend."
"Then you have better taste in friends than I gave you credit for." He pauses. "For what it's worth, Princess... Theron believes you're worth fighting for. Worth surviving for." His voice roughens. "I've never seen him like this. He's always been... resigned. Waiting for the next rejection. The next blow. But with you, he has hope. Real hope."
My throat closes. "I don't want to be another person who breaks him."
"Then don't be." Hadrian's stare is hard. "He's choosing to fight for you. For this bond. The least you can do is fight for him too."
"I am fighting for him," I say. My voice comes out stronger now. Steadier. "I'm not letting House Ashford take him from me. Not through legal challenges or threats or whatever else they try."
Something shifts in Hadrian's expression. Respect, maybe.
"Good," he says simply. "Then we understand each other."
***
After Hadrian leaves, I sit in the courtyard for a long time.
Thinking about Lucien's cold calculating eyes during the Trial of Mind. The way he'd called his soldiers "just pawns." The emptiness Solace sensed in him.
I'd thought he was just ambitious. Ruthless. The kind of noble who'd do anything to win.
But this is worse. This is someone who hurts people. Who makes them disappear. Who uses his family's power to cover up cruelty.
And Solace rejected him.
My dragon saw that hollow cruel center and said NO. Absolutely not. Never.
I'd been so focused on not wanting to get married that I didn't fully appreciate what Solace saved me from. She didn't just reject a candidate I wasn't attracted to. She rejected a monster.
And now that monster's family wants me to choose him anyway.
Wants me to bind myself to someone who might hurt me. Who would definitely hurt others. Who would use his position as my husband to gain power and cause suffering.
Over my dead body.
I stand up. My hands have stopped shaking. The fear is still there—ice-cold and sharp—but it's buried under something hotter now.
Rage.
Pure clean burning rage.
House Ashford threatened me. Threatened Theron. Tried to intimidate me into choosing a man who is genuinely dangerous.
Well, they can try.
But I'm a fire dragon princess with a temper that's legendary and a stubborn streak that's gotten me through twenty-one years of grief and loneliness and impossible expectations.
If they think I'm going to break because they make threats?
They have NO idea who they're dealing with.
I head back toward the palace. I have three days until the investigation concludes. Three days to prepare. To make sure Theron is protected. To gather allies.
Three days until we find out if House Ashford will accept the truth.
Or if they'll do something stupid.
If they do something stupid, I'll be ready.
Solace hums agreement inside me. Her presence is fierce. Protective. Ready to burn anyone who tries to hurt what's ours.
Theron is ours now. The bond says so. My dragon says so.
And increasingly—terrifyingly—my heart says so too.
I'm not letting anyone take him.
Not House Ashford. Not Cassian's threats. Not unfortunate accidents.
Not anything.