Seraphina's POV
I could tell from the way Darius was looking at me—his eyes sharp with curiosity and mild disbelief—that he had a million thoughts running through his head, and I didn't blame him.
My decision probably seemed sudden, but it wasn't something I had decided on a whim. As much as the idea of getting engaged wasn't something I'd thought I'd be doing anytime soon, I realized today that making this decision wasn't just about the engagement—it was about survival.
But he probably didn't understand that, so I'd have to explain myself to him.
After what had just happened with Gianna, it had become painfully clear that I couldn't deal with her alone. If I refused the King's proposal, then the next two years of my life would be absolute hell. I would be locked up in my room whenever Gianna saw fit, isolated, and constantly monitored like I was her prisoner.
And the worst part? She would win.