The Price of Trust

The moonlight draped over the elegant walls of the Monte Riego mansion, lending a fragile stillness to the night. Yet inside the sitting room, tension ran thick and unyielding. Seraphine sat perched at the edge of a velvet armchair, her pulse quickening under the weight of unspoken emotions.

Kieran stood by the window, his broad frame stiff with frustration. His dark eyes flickered with barely-contained anger as he stared at Cassian Draeven, who sat comfortably on the couch, his demeanor infuriatingly calm.

"You shouldn't be here," Kieran muttered, fists clenched.

Cassian smirked, tilting his head slightly. "Good to see you too, Salvatore." His voice dripped with mockery, each word designed to provoke.

Kieran took a step forward, but Seraphine shot him a warning look. "Kieran, stop."

Kieran's jaw tightened, his gaze searing into Cassian. "He's not here to help—he's here to cause problems."

Cassian chuckled, a low, amused sound. "Paranoia doesn't suit you, Kieran." His dark eyes gleamed as they shifted toward Seraphine. "I came for her—and I have answers you'll need if you want to survive what's coming."

Kieran's hand curled into a fist at his side, the muscles in his jaw twitching with restraint. His protective instincts roared within him, but something deeper—a flicker of jealousy—burned beneath his frustration. Cassian's gaze lingered too long on Seraphine, and Kieran hated the way it made his blood boil.

"Kieran," Seraphine's voice softened, trying to break through his anger. "We need to hear what he has to say."

Kieran exhaled sharply, turning toward her. His expression softened, but only slightly. "This isn't a good idea, Sera."

She reached out, brushing her fingertips against his hand, grounding him. "It's just a conversation."

Kieran searched her gaze, frustration and longing flickering in his dark eyes. For a moment, it looked like he might stay—might push through the fury. But instead, he shook his head, the storm within him unresolved.

Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door.

"Kieran," Seraphine called after him, but he didn't stop. He disappeared into the shadows of the corridor, leaving her standing in the silence.

Cassian watched the exchange with quiet amusement. "He really doesn't like me, does he?"

Seraphine sank back into her chair, exhaling slowly. "I don't think you're trying very hard to change that."

Cassian smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "What would be the fun in that?"

His gaze lingered on her, and for the first time since his arrival, Seraphine felt a strange warmth beneath his cool exterior. There was a sincerity buried somewhere under the teasing demeanor—a flicker of something real.

"You care about him," Cassian observed, his voice softer now, without mockery.

Seraphine blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "What's your point?"

Cassian leaned forward slightly, his dark eyes steady. "That caring for someone doesn't always mean they tell you everything. And Kieran... has his secrets."

She bristled at his words, though a knot of doubt twisted in her chest. "He's done nothing but protect me."

"I'm not questioning that." Cassian's tone was gentle, almost sympathetic. "But sometimes protection and truth aren't the same thing."

Seraphine looked away, frustration simmering. "What do you know, Cassian?"

He regarded her carefully, his gaze steady. "I know that the Thornstones aren't just after you because of the key. They're after you because of what you are."

Her breath caught. "What do you mean?"

"The obsidian key is tied to you in ways you don't fully understand," Cassian continued. "Your family didn't just guard it—they molded their legacy around it. The power in that key... it belongs to you, Seraphine."

Her fingers instinctively brushed against the key hanging around her neck. "How do you know all of this?"

Cassian gave her a knowing smile. "The Draevens have their ways."

Seraphine's frustration boiled over. "If you know so much, why wait until now to tell me?"

"Because timing is everything," he replied smoothly. "And now, with the Thornstones closing in, you don't have the luxury of doubt."

She stared at him, torn between distrust and the nagging feeling that he might be telling the truth. "What do you expect me to do?"

Cassian's gaze softened. "Trust yourself. And when the time comes, trust the power inside you. It's stronger than you think."

A flicker of doubt crossed her features. "And what if I can't control it?"

Cassian leaned in slightly, his expression sincere for the first time since his arrival. "That's why I'm here. To help you understand it—if you'll let me."

The weight of his words settled over her, thick with unspoken promises. Seraphine felt the pull of his presence, magnetic and unsettling. She was drawn to the answers he offered but wary of the unknown paths they could lead her down.

For a moment, the room was silent, the tension between them palpable.

Then, Cassian smiled again, a touch of warmth returning to his gaze. "Besides," he added, "it's always good to have someone on your side who isn't blinded by... jealousy."

Seraphine rolled her eyes, but a small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips. "You're impossible."

Cassian's grin widened. "I've been called worse."

The conversation between them lingered in the air, unspoken truths woven between the lines. As much as she hated to admit it, there was something about Cassian—something that made her wonder if he knew more about her future than even Kieran did.

And that thought terrified her.