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Hadrian had received an official letter from the king five days later, inviting his heir to partake in the Serpent Trial for his crown.

I sat beside Estella at the dining table, my mind swirling with questions. “How many heirs have been chosen?” I asked, not entirely sure what to expect.

“Twelve,” Hadrian replied, sipping from his cherry morning tea. “I shall send the best trainer for you.”

“Do you know the names of the heirs?” I asked. My heart skipped a beat, but I tried to keep my voice steady.

Hadrian stirred a spoonful of sugar into his tea, calm as ever. “Your father did not choose his heir. His heir chose to join.”

Once, hearing Bridger’s name in the same sentence as my trial would have sent dread ricocheting through my chest. But over time, I had come to understand him—a boy forced to kneel for a man he despised, oblivious to the weight of a kingdom already crumbling.

“Who else?” I asked, bracing myself.

“Damien Lynch,” Hadrian said, his gaze lifting to meet mine over the rim of his cup. “And Monty Garcia has decided to take his chances. ”

I groaned under my breath. “Not Monty. He’s the biggest asshole on this Continent.”

Hadrian grunted. “Where did you learn such grotesque language? He’s our ally, Severyn.”

“I’m not calling him an ally. He’s an asshole, and I won’t apologize for saying so.”

His brow arched. “What do you call me when I’m not in the room?”

I shrugged. “You’re just… Hadrian.”

Leaning forward, I rested my elbows on the table and sank my face into my hands. “What happens now? Between Wrathi and Demetria, now that Archer and I are courting?”

Hadrian didn’t blink. “I offered him sunlight. The deal is sealed. And unlike his father, I won’t take it back.”

I sat up straighter. “Wait—what? You gave him sunlight?”

He waved a dismissive hand. “It’s politics. I asked for stars and silver in return. He’s courting my heir. That alone demands a trade.”

“Stars and silver?” I echoed, uncertain.

His gaze shifted toward the window. “Look around. No Scavengers. No illusionists. The people are restless. They want something real to believe in.”

I hesitated, then gave voice to the question I’d buried for weeks. “Were you in love with my mother?”

His exhale came slow. “I loved your mother,” he said quietly. “But not the way you’re asking. It wasn’t romantic. She was something larger. A force of nature. I was her Serpent mentor, and I knew how wrong that was.”

I swallowed. “Do you still believe she was good? Even though she… killed people?”

“Yes,” he said without pause. “She loved your father so fiercely she made a bargain with the Forgotten. One with consequences. ”

“What kind of bargain?”

Hadrian smiled faintly. “In time, I’ll tell you everything. Call me cruel, but I know the only reason you talk to me is for answers. So let’s strike our own deal. Once a week, I’ll give you a piece of the truth. In return, I want one thing from you.”

“What?”

“I want to know you, Severyn.”

“I won’t ever respect you,” I said. “Not until you prove you deserve it.”

He turned back to the window. “She was always fire. A fire that couldn’t be contained. Not even by me.” Then his gaze returned to mine, and something shifted in the air. “And you… you are her. In ways I hadn’t noticed until now.”

I swallowed hard, a lump rising in my throat. Because I wasn’t just my father’s daughter. I was hers, too. And that meant I wasn’t made to be safe.

I was made to burn and destroy.

“Do you know who her mother was?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t she inherit flame? Why death?”

“Our quells adapt,” he said. “They’re born from need. Your mother was raised in chaos. She needed death to survive it.”

My voice dropped. “But what if I’m not enough? What if the legacy is too much for me to carry?”

Hadrian’s expression softened. “You will rise. She wielded death, but she wielded it with purpose.”

I wanted to be more than just an heir to a bloodline I never asked for. More than the legacy that kept dragging me into fires I didn’t know how to put out.

“Your mother didn’t fight for a crown,” he said. “She fought to protect Ravensla. To protect her people. In the end, she surrendered her right so Victor could win. Because survival meant more than a throne. ”

The words coiled around my ribs like chains. “I don’t think I want to be queen,” I whispered.

“Yes, you do,” Hadrian said. “I saw it when you demanded I release the barrens. You already have ideas of how the world should be ruled.”

Estella cut in quietly. “Don’t force her.”

“You don’t have to live up to anyone,” he told me. “But the fire’s already inside you. And it’s going to burn, whether you like it or not.”

He stood. “You’ll find your way, Severyn. Maybe one day, you’ll even stop hating me.”

I looked up. “You’re not all that horrible, Hadrian. I don’t hate you.”

His final words lingered, and they were perhaps the most fatherly thing he would ever say to me. “You are not a severed heir, Severyn. You are my daughter. My heir. Andri will always be your father, but I have twenty-two years to make up for.”

Before I could respond, Estella turned toward the door with a wry smile. “ Ah . The ruler of shadows has arrived, and he didn’t knock… again.”

Archer stood in the archway, a letter from the king was in his hand, and the seal was already broken. He didn’t speak as Hadrian and Estella slipped past him, offering a nod as they left us alone.

He crossed the space in three strides and gently cupped my face. “The trial has a date,” he said. “One month. We’ll start training tomorrow.”

I arched a brow. “We? Doesn’t that make us rivals now?”

His mouth curved into a grin as he swept me into his arms. “If that’s the case, I suppose I’m in love with my rival. So call me a fool.”

“Na?ve,” I murmured, pretending to sigh. “But I’ll go easy on you. ”

He leaned close, his breath brushing mine. “Shall I bow, Queen Severyn?”

I pressed my finger to his chest. “Or you could become king. I’m not opposed to being on my knees… for you.”

He laughed. “The library’s seen too much already.”

I smiled, my chest lighter than it had been in weeks. “Let’s spend the next month together. Just you and me. Hadrian said a trainer’s coming,” I added, brushing my fingers along the collar of his shirt, “but honestly? I’d rather spar with you.”

He flashed a wicked smile. “So I get to see you hot and heavy and learn all your secret moves. Ah, the true mind of a rival.”

“I could always have a casual nip slip and drop you to your knees. No sparring required.”

He caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my fingers. “You’ve always been my greatest weakness. But a nip slip during a duel might undo me completely.”

I smiled. “Alright. Let’s make this month worth it.”

Flame and shadow. Chaos and legacy. This time, I wouldn’t run from any of it. Queen or pawn to the king, it didn’t matter. Because if I claimed the crown, I’d make damn sure it changed everything.

And for the first time, I wanted it.

Gods help whoever tried to stop me.