The Escape

Seraphine's heart raced in her chest as she struggled against the rough hands that had seized her. Panic clawed at her, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn't afford to lose control—not now, not when she was so close to uncovering the full truth.

Her father's words echoed in her mind. You were never meant to be a pawn. You were meant to be a queen. But what good was a crown if it came at the price of her soul? No, she would not play into their hands.

The men who held her didn't speak, but she could feel the malice radiating off them. They weren't here to protect her—they were here to deliver her into the hands of the enemy.

She needed a plan—and fast.

She cast a quick glance at her surroundings. The room was dimly lit, the walls covered in thick, dark tapestries that absorbed the light, making everything feel suffocating and oppressive. There was a door behind them, but it was guarded. A window, too small for escape. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted a sharp dagger, carelessly discarded on a nearby table.

Think, Seraphine, think.

She didn't have the strength to overpower them—at least not all of them at once. But she did have the one thing that might save her: her cunning.

"Do you know who you're dealing with?" she asked, her voice low but filled with a deadly calm. She could see the confusion flicker in the guards' eyes, and it was all the opening she needed.

Without warning, she twisted in their grip, using their momentary hesitation to her advantage. She kicked out, striking the nearest man in the knee. The guard let out a grunt of pain, and for a split second, his hold on her loosened.

Seraphine wasn't about to waste it.

She lunged forward, grabbing the discarded dagger and spinning around to drive it into the shoulder of the guard who had been closest. His eyes widened in shock as the blade sank into his flesh, and he stumbled back with a cry of pain.

The other two guards froze for a moment—just long enough for her to dart toward the door. She didn't stop to look back. Her legs carried her faster than she'd ever run, the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She heard the shouts of pursuit, but she didn't falter.

She needed to escape. She needed to find a way out of this.

Down the narrow hall, she spotted a small door that led to the back of the estate. Her fingers brushed the handle as she pushed it open—only to find it locked.

Damn it.

Her heart pounded harder in her chest, but she refused to give up. She didn't have time to waste.

Seraphine pulled at the lock with all her might, her breath coming in quick, ragged gasps. The sound of footsteps grew louder, closer.

Then, with a satisfying click, the door opened.

She ran into the dimly lit alley beyond, but before she could take more than a few steps, something hard struck her from behind, sending her crashing to the ground.

A voice she knew all too well whispered from above her. "I'm disappointed, Seraphine. You really thought you could escape me?"

Seraphine's blood ran cold as she turned to see Veylan standing over her, his smirk as cold and unforgiving as the night.

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