Charm and Jealousy

The sceneries run through Seraphine's eyes as though they were just mere holographs that doesn't. 

The night breeze rustled through the garden, stirring the scent of roses and lavender. Seraphine leaned on the balcony's stone railing, her thoughts tangled, as if the weight of her world were pressing down on her chest. The obsidian key felt warm against her skin beneath the fabric of her dress, as if reminding her of its growing significance.

She closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling the crisp night air, when a familiar voice broke the silence.

"You seem far away."

Seraphine turned to see Cassian Draeven standing just behind her, the moonlight accentuating the sharp angles of his face and the mischievous glint in his eyes. He wore his usual air of effortless confidence, hands casually tucked into the pockets of his dark coat.

"I could say the same about you," Seraphine replied, raising an eyebrow. "You seem too comfortable for someone who's supposedly a stranger in this house."

Cassian chuckled, stepping closer, and the playful sound lingered between them. "What can I say? I blend well wherever I go."

She gave a small laugh despite herself. There was something disarming about him, an easy charm that made it difficult to decipher his true intentions.

"And what do you really want, Cassian?" Seraphine asked, crossing her arms. "Why now? Why help us after all this time?"

He studied her for a moment, his gaze flicking briefly to the key at her neck before meeting her eyes again. "You've caught my interest, Seraphine Monte Riego," he said softly, his voice low and smooth. "It's not every day you see someone balancing the weight of two worlds on their shoulders."

The way he spoke sent an inexplicable shiver down her spine. Before she could respond, she noticed movement in the shadows at the edge of the garden. Kieran stood there, watching. His stance was rigid, tension radiating off him as his dark eyes locked onto Cassian like a predator observing an intruder.

Seraphine felt the change in the air instantly, the space between her and Cassian now humming with a subtle but undeniable tension. Kieran's presence was impossible to ignore—it was as if every molecule in the air shifted under the intensity of his gaze.

Cassian noticed too. A knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, as if he relished Kieran's silent fury. He leaned slightly closer to Seraphine, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

"You should smile more, Seraphine," Cassian said with a teasing grin. "It suits you."

Kieran's fists clenched at his sides, and in the dim light, Seraphine caught the flash of something dangerous in his expression—something cold and possessive that unsettled her. He stepped forward, his jaw tight.

"That's enough," Kieran said, his voice low and edged with warning.

Cassian turned to him with a lazy grin, completely unfazed. "Jealous, Salvatore?"

Kieran's eyes darkened. "Leave."

Cassian shrugged as if it were all a game, offering Seraphine one last glance that lingered just a second too long. "Until next time, Sera."

He slipped away into the night with the same effortless grace he had arrived with, leaving Kieran and Seraphine standing alone on the balcony.

Seraphine exhaled slowly, still feeling the aftershocks of Cassian's presence. The moonlight cast a pale glow over the garden, but everything felt heavier, more complicated. Kieran stepped closer, his expression hard to read, though the tension in his body hadn't eased.

"Why are you entertaining him?" Kieran asked, his voice quiet but sharp.

Seraphine turned to him, meeting his gaze. "He might be the only one who can help us."

Kieran shook his head, running a hand through his dark hair in frustration. "You don't know him like I do. Cassian Draeven doesn't help anyone unless it benefits him."

"And what if this benefits all of us?" she challenged, though there was a flicker of doubt in her voice.

Kieran's jaw clenched, and for a moment, he seemed on the verge of saying something more, something deeper, but instead, he stepped back. "Do what you want," he muttered, his voice colder now. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

Before she could respond, Kieran turned sharply and disappeared into the shadows without another word.

Seraphine stared after him, her heart tugging with a mix of guilt, confusion, and frustration. She knew Kieran's jealousy wasn't just about Cassian—it was about the tangled mess of emotions neither of them was brave enough to confront.

A soft voice interrupted her thoughts. "He'll come around."

Seraphine turned to see Paula standing just inside the balcony door, her expression calm but knowing. "He cares about you more than you realize," Paula said gently.

Seraphine swallowed, unsure of what to say. The obsidian key pulsed faintly against her chest, a constant reminder of the weight she carried—and the choices she had yet to make.

For now, all she knew was that the game between trust and betrayal had only just begun. And with Cassian Draeven in the picture, the stakes were higher than ever.