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His chin leveled, but those eyes continued to hold.

“Because simple makes sense. Simple is not the desire to kiss you. It is not me going mad every mile I travel away from you. Because saying I care about you is easier than saying that you consume me, Severyn Blanche. That every thought is encased by you, and I am a terrible friend because my protection swayed. My promise is null because I do not care to protect you as a friend should.” He looked out of breath as if it took everything to tell me the truth.

“You do not want this , trust me. A life of sneaking around, a lust silenced to darkness.” He gestured around.

The distance between us had slivered. I took his angled jaw between my needing fingers and kissed him. I kissed him like the world was on fire and we were the last people alive. I kissed him through the ash, and shadow choked through my tightened veins.

He had me against the stone wall within a second as his hands were welded to my hips. I could hardly breathe, but I used those sparse moments when the last folds of sunlight struck my lips to suck the air through my desperate lungs .

There was a clash of tongues as his mouth pressed into mine. Hands roped every inch, claiming my curves, the flesh that held me together.

He could be my lungs for all I cared.

He was already in control of my beating heart.

“ This feels right,” I murmured.

He took a complete step back, exasperated and pale. “Severyn,” he began. “Something… is horribly wrong.”

I gripped the bare stone wall.

He stood silently.

It took me a moment to understand, but I’d seen the same shakes in Estella and Charles.

“This complicates things,” I said, arms slacked at my sides. “You’ve been warded.”

His head shook slightly. “You are shielded, Severyn. It’s a powerful one at that. The king has no idea what you are to him. He thinks you are his blood but not his granddaughter. Telling him will only place you in the light of vengeance and greed. I’m guessing this has something to do with it.”

“Does he think you’re a danger to me?”

“Not me. If the Night realm fails, our entire Continent is at risk. Whoever put the shield on you wants you… away from me.”

I leaned against the wall. “I don’t understand.”

“You are shielded, Severyn. Someone put a shield on you during the days I was gone.” He closed his eyes.

Telling the king the truth would mean his secrets would come crawling out.

It had to be bold. It had to be tomorrow.

No longer would this secret be kept. No longer would I live in the shadows of Summer.

I’d do it for Estella. And maybe releasing this secret meant Archer could be shielded from me forever.

But I’d kept silent during Callum’s attack, and I had no choice but to let this secret scream .

I kept my place against the wall, resisting every desire to smooth over those frown lines on Archer’s forehead.

Bound by life.

We were bound by life, and every bond endured throughout the decades within it.

He stepped back unwillingly as I said, “I need you to leave my room.”

Archer left with a subtle nod—as if kissing me had wounded him more than any laceration.

That night seemed to draw on longer than usual, as if the moon heard my cries and decided to hover longer. Tomorrow would call for more than the truth to be spilled, but blood.

A Herring’s blood will be spilled .

Had that been Knox? Had I saved the prophecy from becoming the truth? I needed to break this shield. I needed to tell the truth—but how much would that cost me? Was my life truly priceless when a secret buried under wards and shields could resurface, dragging everything into chaos?

Daylight pierced through the window, casting rays across the shards of the broken mirror. The chirping of birds filled the air, their melody a haunting contrast to my dread. I dragged myself out of bed, my limbs heavy, my thoughts heavier.

After a cold shower, three aides entered carrying a cart of supplies.

One held the red dress, motioning for me to step into the lace black undergarments.

My chest was pinned upright. Every strand of hair was twisted and pinned into place, and my skin shimmered under the light powder and glitter dusted over every limb.

“Is this necessary?” I asked as the male aide brushed a cool liquid over my eyelids.

“If you are to be a Serpent, you are expected to look like one,” he replied curtly. “This gown has not seen the light of day in nearly forty decades. ”

I caught my reflection in the window. The gown clung to me like a second skin, velvet bones hugging my ribs and cascading into flowing lace.

Diamonds stitched into the hem dragged lightly against the floor, catching the morning light.

My hair framed my face in soft waves, my neval streak sweeping over my left eye.

Inky silver lined my lids, and deep copper shadowed beneath.

My lips glowed like fresh blood, and my cheekbones were sharply defined.

The aides stepped back, nodding in approval before leaving. I strapped two daggers to my thighs, the only part of the dress thick enough to conceal them.

A soft knock sounded before Damien entered, his smug grin already in place. “Severyn Blanche, you clean up nicely. I never thought I’d see you without blood caked somewhere on you.”

His black suit fit him perfectly, the low neckline revealing the scars on his muscled chest. His left eye bore a faint red mark where the glass had sliced him.

“You look good,” I said, my shield snapping into place as his gaze flickered to the shards of glass on the floor. I knew he’d already pieced together the image of Archer in my room.

Damien’s heel crushed a shard as he stepped closer. “Do I dare ask about the glass?” He smirked, brushing a finger over one of my hidden daggers. “You can’t bring these, Severyn.”

Before I could protest, he plucked the blades from their sheaths and hurled them into the wall, the clang of metal against stone ringing out.

“Am I not allowed protection?” I snapped as my heels clicked against the floor, my stride quickening to keep up with him.

“I won’t let the Serpents take a bite out of you,” he said simply.

We reached the docks, where the remaining students gathered in their realm groups. Malachi stood out in her burnt orange gown, the hem swirling around her as phantom wind followed her every step. Her gaze locked on me, and she rushed forward, her embrace warm and grounding.

“Sev, Damien, we’re making bets on who the Serpents will bid on this year,” Malachi said.

“Damien,” I answered without hesitation.

Damien adjusted his suit with a confident smile. “Hardly. You won Skyfall.”

Malachi grinned. “I got another letter from your mother this morning. She won almost unanimously during her bid.”

Cormac, standing beside her, scoffed. “So did my father. That doesn’t mean shit. The bid is just another way to pit us against each other. The lindworm will choose regardless of the votes.”

Damien’s expression darkened. “I’ve heard rumors. The Serpents already have the lindworm, and the final six from each realm will fight to the death.”

Cormac’s gaze drifted to the horizon, his voice faltering. “The academy has done worse. I still can’t wash off the blood from that last trial.”

Malachi gripped his arm. “You were asked to slay, and you did. Their blood is not on you.”

The ship loomed closer, its black hull glinting with algae and shells. A flock of dragons soared above, their shadows dancing on the waves. My stomach twisted with each passing moment.

Damien leaned down, his voice teasing. “Do you get seasick?”

“I’ve never been on a boat before,” I admitted. The frozen lakes of North Colindale were my only experience with water. The ocean was a mystery, a realm of monsters Cully had warned me never to explore.

As the ship anchored, students began boarding, each grappling with the swaying ladder. Damien gestured for me to go first. I took a running leap, my fingers slipping briefly on the cold metal before I steadied myself. Damien followed close behind, his hand brushing my heel as I climbed .

Knox arrived next, leaping effortlessly onto the deck. His leather boots landed with a solid thud, and light rippled from his fingers as if it were a part of him. He nodded at me, his pale velvet tunic catching the breeze. For the first time, I saw the Day realm in him.

Monty followed, his tailored pearl suit accentuating the sharp lines of his frame.

His serpent tattoo peeked from his thumb as his gaze lingered on me briefly.

Then came Spring, with Levisly Bloom carried aboard by vines that curled around her like living ropes.

Her strawberry blonde hair and yellow eyes glowed with an unsettling allure.

Winter’s entrance was less dramatic, though Everett’s face lit up when he spotted Knox beside me. For a moment, I forgot Everett was displaced like Malachi and me, forced into realms that didn’t quite fit.

Night was the last to board, Archer standing firm as he instructed his remaining students.

I caught his silhouette, my mind betraying me with memories of his lips on mine, his shadows binding me in moments of stolen passion.

But his back remained turned, and my shield wavered under Damien’s knowing smirk.

“You’re blushing, Severyn,” Damien whispered.

Knox’s eyes narrowed. “Is that the Serpent Saani mentioned? I thought she was joking.” Anger flickered in his gaze. “Severyn, I never expected you to fuck your way to power.” He trailed off, his voice dropping. “I should have known it was him protecting you during the trial.”

“Nothing is going on between us,” I hissed.

“Right,” Knox scoffed. “You’re just like Mother. She’d have done the same. Although you were her only child, she didn’t tell her secrets too, so that should say something.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” My voice was sharp, trembling with restrained anger .