Chapter 19: A Blade Between Them

Chapter 19: A Blade Between Them

Seraphina's pulse thundered in her ears.

Adrian's words—soft yet laced with warning—wrapped around her like an iron shackle.

Before it's too late.

But it was already too late. She had stepped into the shadows of this house, and now, she couldn't turn back.

"Did she know?" Seraphina asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Adrian's eyes snapped to hers, something dangerous flickering beneath the surface. "Who?"

Seraphina didn't blink. "Your mother."

A muscle in his jaw ticked. He took a slow step forward, his presence suffocating, overwhelming. "You think she stumbled upon something?"

Seraphina's fingers curled into fists. "I think she was silenced."

Adrian exhaled sharply, his silver gaze burning into hers. "Do you think you're the first to seek the truth?"

She stiffened.

Adrian leaned in, his breath warm against her cheek. "Evelyne searched too."

Seraphina's heart clenched.

And look what happened to her.

His lips pressed into a thin line. "Exactly."

The unspoken warning wrapped around her throat.

Seraphina forced herself to hold his gaze. "Then tell me, Adrian. What did she find?"

For a moment—just a moment—something cracked in his expression.

Then—

A sound.

Footsteps. Slow, deliberate, just outside the door.

Adrian's body went rigid. In an instant, he pulled Seraphina behind him, his hand brushing the dagger at his hip.

"Stay behind me," he murmured.

The door creaked open.

A shadow loomed in the dim light.

Seraphina held her breath.

Then—

"Your Grace," a voice drawled.

Duke Laurent stepped inside, his ever-present smirk in place. His sharp gaze flicked between them, amusement dancing in his dark eyes. "Am I interrupting?"

Adrian didn't relax. "What do you want, Laurent?"

Laurent tilted his head, his smirk deepening. "Only to remind you, dear friend, that secrets have a way of unraveling. No matter how tightly they are woven."

Seraphina's stomach twisted.

Laurent turned to her, eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "You should be careful, Duchess. You wouldn't want to meet the same fate as the last one."

Adrian moved before Seraphina could react.

His hand shot out, grabbing Laurent by the collar and slamming him against the doorframe.

"Say that again," Adrian hissed, voice cold as steel.

Laurent only chuckled. "Such fire. But we both know you cannot silence me forever."

Adrian's grip tightened.

Seraphina swallowed. She had never seen him like this before—this raw, unfiltered rage.

Laurent's smirk didn't falter. "The past is creeping closer, Your Grace. Are you ready for when it finally arrives?"

Adrian let go abruptly, shoving him back. Laurent straightened his coat, brushing off invisible dust. "I'll see you both at dinner," he mused before disappearing down the hall.

Silence stretched between them.

Seraphina turned to Adrian.

His fists were still clenched.

She took a step closer. "Adrian—"

"I need you to trust me," he said, voice quiet but firm. "And I need you to stay out of this."

Seraphina held his gaze, her chest tightening.

Trust?

She wasn't sure she could.

But staying out of this?

That was no longer an option.