Thorns of the midnight rose

eraphine inside with the man she hated most. Duke Alaric leaned back on the gilded throne,

Her spine was straight, her head held high, and her

he said coldly. "If you've summoned me here to gloat,

e, ever the sharp-tongued rose. But roses have thorns, don't the

stayed her hand. Alaric was testing her, as he always did, searching for c

our presence," she said, her tone as

h and deliberate. He descended the steps slowly,

ping a few paces from her. "The

sking her surprise. "I was abou

sh as to disrupt my own ball? No, Seraphine, this was the work of someone far more reckl

ter manipulator, a man who thrived on half-truths and veiled threats. But there w

r someone caught off guard," she said

silk. "Accusations are dangerous, especially

ld that be?" she ask

little plans? Your secret meetings? You've been playing a dangerous game, Se

see her unease. "If you have proof, present

nerves. "Oh, I have proof. But I'm not here to accuse

ght off guard by his w

e. Together, we could uncover the truth behind tonight's attack and eliminate whoever i

Alaric was many things-a liar, a schemer, a man who would sell his own soul for power-but he was

ack had shaken the foundations of the court, exposing vulnerabilit

? The very thoug

t you," she s

u. But trust isn't necessary for this arrangement. All that mat

ipping with sarcasm. "Coming from the m

ruthless man beneath. "Think carefully, Seraphine. The enemy we face is far greater

nd in betrayal. But rejecting him outright might be an even greater danger. He was right about one thing-the a

. "Very well. But don't mistake this for loyalty, Ala

isfied. "Of course, my dear. I wouldn

igure stepped inside. Seraphine's breath caught as she recogniz

ere?" Alaric demanded

g," Cassian shot back, his ton

them, her voice firm. "Eno

s that so? You do keep inter

e's scrutiny. "And you're as charming as ever,

respond. Instead, he turned to Serap

rply. "He's my ally. And if you want

pression smoothing into one of calculated indifference. "Very well. But if h

rning to Cassian. "What are you doing h

u looked like you might need backup. And j

gratitude. She hadn't expected him to follo

tone resigned. "But

r a mock salute

we focus on the matter at hand. The attack tonight wasn't random, and it's only a matter

se we start?" Seraphine

I have men tracking their movements, but I'l

she repeated, he

ricts. Don't pretend I don't know about them, Seraphine. They're the

was troubling, but he wasn't wrong about their value. If she could

oversee the operation. Your men answ

raphine, we're playing a dangerous game. One wr

cold and unyielding. "Then let

couldn't shake the feeling that the true danger was still lu