Chapter 1

Henrietta leaned on her cane, tears slipping down her wrinkled cheeks.

"We spoiled Julian rotten!"

Voice trembling. Eyes darting to me like she needed forgiveness.

"Sera, he didn't mean it. He and Isabella... they were always close. I told him—over and over—you and the Heartwood are one. You're our guardian."

All I had left was a bitter smile. I couldn't even nod.

Julian didn't forget. He knew.

He just picked Isabella's scratch over my life.

While I begged, he grabbed the axe himself—slicing through the Heartwood like it was nothing.

I hit the floor, curled up, glowing blood spilling from my mouth.

Julian? Blowing on Isabella's finger like she'd taken a bullet.

The only thing he said to me?

"Sera, you'd better pray Isabella doesn't scar. If she does, you're done. And save those sob stories for Grandma—see if she still buys it."

Flashback shattered—Henrietta clutching my hand, desperate.

"I'll send someone. We'll replant the Heartwood. We can fix this."

I shook my head. "Too late."

Julian used to obsess over protecting the Heartwood.

So yeah, he knew exactly how to kill it.

Stripped the bark. Hacked the roots.

Even now, I could feel it—like my skin was being peeled off. My life was leaking out, slow and steady.

I knew I was on borrowed time.

Henrietta started to speak—

Door slammed open.

Julian's assistant strolled in, stone-faced.

Didn't pause. Just marched over like I was some busted appliance.

"Mrs. Aster, Mr. Aster says Ms. Duvall's staying the night. He'd like you to bring her a change of underwear. Said you're always eager to do his laundry, so you should know exactly where it's kept."

The hit landed so hard, all I could do was close my eyes.

Henrietta slammed her cane down, shaking with fury.

"Disgraceful! Absolutely disgraceful!"

She barked at the assistant to leave.

Then—this woman who ran the Asters like a queen for fifty years—bowed. Deep.

"Sera, I know I don't deserve to face you after what Julian did. But for our ancestors' sake, I'm begging you—just this once. Forgive him. I'll build you an altar, drape it in ivy, offer the best flowers and fruit every day. You'll be on our memorial wall, honored for generations. Just—please—don't curse us."

For the first time ever, she dropped her pride.

I stepped back, bitterness burning up my throat.

How could I ever curse them?

Two hundred years ago, I was just a young spirit bound to the wildwood. A snowstorm almost ripped my life tree from the ground.

One of the Aster ancestors saved me—dug up the tree himself, replanted it right here. That's how I survived.

I made a vow: as long as I had power, I'd protect his bloodline.

But now, his most pathetic descendant destroyed the roots.

And with them, my power.

I couldn't protect the Asters anymore.

Blinking back tears, I reached out, hands shaking, and helped Henrietta up.

"I've guarded this family for two centuries. When Julian got sick as a kid, when that car crash nearly killed him—I gave up pieces of myself to bring him back. But that power's gone. My body's giving out. Your family's future? That's on you now."