CHAPTER 004: PAPER DAGGERS

Vionne approached the Dravik compound as she'd always belonged there.

Black car. Black gloves. Black veil. And a smile that would transcend dynasties.

She strolled through the gates of the courtyard as if she wasn't crossing into enemy territory. I was on the balcony above, arms folded, knotted heart. She looked up and saw me like she'd expected to see me there.

Of course, she did.

An hour went by, and she was in my room. Sitting on my windowsill like it was her throne.

"You look like hell," she told me.

"You missed the bloodbath. I was radiant before that."

She laughed lightly. "I do regret not seeing the dress in motion."

"What are you doing here, Vionne?"

"Kaelen invited me."

I bristled. "Why?"

"He didn't say." She cocked her head. "But I suspect it's about control."

"Yours or his?"

She smiled again.

"I don't trust you."

"You shouldn't."

We glared at each other.

"You said my father summoned you," I said.

"He did."

"Then why weren't you at the wedding?"

"Because he told us to wait."

"Wait for what?"

"For his signal. Something was coming, he said. Something that would shift the earth under all of us."

"And then he died."

Vionne stared out the window. "Yes. Strange how that is."

"Do you think Kaelen was involved?"

"No," she snapped too quickly. "But that does not make him innocent."

"Who then?"

She shrugged. "You're the one married to the enemy. Ask him."

"I have."

"And?"

"He gave me a maybe."

Vionne stood, and moved toward me slowly, eyes raking mine.

"You're not safe here, Sereya."

"Are you?"

"I never am."

She pulled her hand into her sleeve, pulled out a folded paper, and shoved it into my hand.

"What is it?"

"Insurance."

I unfolded it. A name. One I'd never seen before.

"Who is this?"

"Someone who was being paid to watch you. I cut him off the payment."

"Who paid him?"

She looked me in the eyes. "I don't know yet. But the money wasn't from Valtore… or Dravik."

My blood chilled.

"There's a third player," I said to her.

"More than one, probably,"

"And you waited until now to tell me?" 

Vionne retreated. "I didn't know if you'd still be alive."

Her smile disappeared for the first time.

"But you are."

She started towards the door.

"I'll be on the east wing. Come on over if you don't mind dying."

She turned and walked away in silence.

And I stared down at the name in my hand, wondering how far it went…

And how much was already too late to stop.

I wasn't following her.

I told myself that three times.

But when Vionne used the side hallway and not headed to the east wing as she said, I followed behind her. Quiet. Barefoot. Shadowed by curiosity and something sterner.

She disappeared through a side door.

I crept closer, hunched back against the wall.

And overheard Kaelen's voice.

"You're not supposed to be here yet."

"You're the one who asked me," Vionne said, cool and calm.

"I told you to observe. Not to whisper in my wife's ear."

"She needed the truth. No one else is giving it."

"You don't decide what she needs."

"Oh?" Vionne's voice turned icy. "And you do?"

Silence.

Then Kaelen once more. "What do you want?"

"Same thing you do," she said. "Control."

"You don't possess it."

"Not yet."

I edged closer, breath tight in my throat.

"She trusts you," Kaelen said.

"She's coming to. And that frightens you, doesn't it?"

"No."

"It should. Because the more she listens to me, the less she'll pay attention to you."

Kaelen didn't answer.

And that was a truth in and of itself.

"She's not your soldier, Kaelen," Vionne continued. "She's not going to fall into line and do."

"She's not supposed to."

"Then why are you sneaking around stalking her like she's in danger?"

Silence again.

Then Kaelen's voice—lower, closer.

"Because she is."

My heart skipped a beat.

"I'm not underrating Sereya," he replied. "I'm observing her because she gets to everyone, even me. That makes her a threat."

"And useful."

"Yes."

"Why don't you simply use her?" Vionne asked.

"Because I want her to opt for it."

Vionne emitted a dry laugh. "Be careful, Kaelen. Desiring things makes one weak."

"She's already weakened me," he replied.

I stopped breathing.

I wasn't supposed to be able to eavesdrop on that.

Neither was Vionne, by the silence.

"You're getting too close," she said finally.

"She's already close."

"And when it breaks you?"

"I'll still protect her."

"Even from yourself?"

Footsteps.

I backed away fast, and slipped into the shadows, heart hammering.

I didn't know what shook me more:

That Kaelen was playing a game—

Or that part of him didn't want to win.

I found him in the war room.

Dim light. Maps. Glasses half full. Papers everywhere.

He looked like he hadn't slept, and it made me feel something I didn't want to name.

"Busy plotting?" I asked.

Kaelen didn't look up. "Always."

I stepped closer. "You're highly skilled at it. The control. The hinted threats. The way you never quite say what you mean."

"Are you here to compliment me or provoke me?"

"Neither," I said. "I'm here because I couldn't sleep."

That halted him. He finally looked up.

"Nobody sleeps well here," he said.

"I'm not used to silence that's charged."

He glanced at me. "Something happened?"

"You mean other than my father's death and the slow unravelling of my sense of self?"

His brow flicked. "Yes. Other than that."

"I talked to Vionne."

A pause. "She's smart."

"She's deadly."

"She's both."

"So am I."

Kaelen nodded once. "I know."

I didn't know what I was expecting. A wall, maybe. Deflection. Coldness.

But I got quiet.

Not awkward still. Willing still.

So I sat across from him, facing him over a table covered in power and paranoia.

"You ever lose someone who made the world make sense?" I asked.

Kaelen didn't blink. "Yes."

"Who?"

He looked at the map, not at me. "My brother."

"What happened?"

"Murder. Six years ago."

I blinked. "I didn't know you had a brother."

"You weren't supposed to."

"What was he like?"

Kaelen's eyes went cold. "Like me. But better."

That stopped me for a second.

"I'm sorry," I said.

He nodded. Once. As if it had cost him something.

"I didn't cry," I said.

Kaelen raised his gaze.

"After my dad died. Not at all. I figured the crying would come at some point, but it didn't. And that scared the hell out of me more than losing him."

Kaelen's voice dropped. "You don't cry when you're in survival mode."

"Is that what this is?"

"It is for me."

I exhaled. "I don't want to live this way."

Kaelen edged forward, but not quite far enough to bridge the space. Fair enough, however, that it was a decision.

"Then don't," he replied.

"I don't know how to be any other way."

"Then try. I'll stand by and watch until you do."

I looked at him.

Something shifted between us. Not tender. Not sexual. But real.

And maybe that was worse.

I found it on my bed.

No noise. No broken lock. No trace of anyone coming or going. Just the envelope—plain white, folded once, tucked neatly against my pillow like it had always belonged there.

I didn't call for help.

Didn't shout.

Didn't panic.

I closed the door, locked it quietly, and stood there staring at it.

Kaelen's words echoed: "You don't cry when you're in survival mode."

This wasn't just survival anymore.

This was a game.

I picked up the envelope.

No name.

No seal.

I opened it.

Inside was a single strip of parchment. Handwritten. Black ink. Precise strokes. Almost elegant.

You've entered a house that was never yours.

The next message will be carved into your skin.

No signature. Just a mark at the bottom, two red lines crossed in an X.

I'd never seen it before.

But the way my blood went cold?

My body knew what it meant.

I refolded the note, stuck it down my sleeve, and headed for the mirror.

My face didn't change.

Not yet.

Because whoever sent this believed they could scare me off.

They had no idea.

I was raised by wolves.

And I bite back.