CHAPTER 4

Seraphina’s POV

I woke up to soft light from the sun coming through the big windows. It made gold lines on the dark wood floor of my room. My head was heavy and my arms and legs felt weird, like they were not mine.

Then, in a fast moment, I thought back to the Trial.

The woods. The Mireling Crown. Kael.

I sat up fast, my breath stuck in my throat. I thought of how the vines wrapped around me, how I'd yelled for help—and how Kael left his win to save me.

A cold feeling ran down my back.

Did we fail? Did I mess up everything?

Thinking of Kael, who was always the best, losing because of me made my belly twist. He would be mad at me. I was sure.

I was still lost in thought when the door made a noise, pulling me back.

A woman in her mid-twenties came in. She was calm and had soft brown skin, dark eyes that were warm, and curls pinned up neat.

She wore a long blue dress with silver vines that shone a bit in the light.

“Hey there,” she said softly, with a kind smile. “Good to see you awake.”

I blinked, still out of it. “Um… hi.”

She came and sat by me, holding my wrist in a way that felt light, checking my pulse.

“I’m Maris,” she said. “One of the healers here.”

I nodded slowly. “Did we…?” I couldn’t say it loud.

“Did we fail?” I managed to ask.

Maris’s smile changed—still warm, but her eyes were hard to read.

“You came back alive. That’s the main thing.”

She pressed on my pulse, and placed the  other hand on my head. I thought she’d stop, but then she moved her hand in a soft circle. Light came out between her fingers—soft and gold, like the morning sun.

I watched, my breath stuck.

“What—?” I gasped softly.

“Relax,” she whispered. “Just some magic.”

The light got bright, and she touched my numb arms and legs. I felt pings and then a warm feeling that spread to my fingers and toes.

“Better?” she asked with a smile.

I looked at her hands, still shining a bit. “How did you…?”

Maris grinned. “It’s healing magic. No doctors here. You’ll get used to it.”

"Your limbs were numb from the energy hit," she said right then.

I laughed a bit, still shocked. “Wow. Okay.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, still amazed.

“You’re fine now,” she said, standing and wiping her hands. “Try not to think too much. First trials are tough on all.”

“You’re good to return back to your normal activities," she said, fixing her dress.

She walked to the door but stopped. “Oh—and don’t miss lunch. Change into your dining clothes and come to the hall. You need to eat to feel strong. Trust me.”

Her eyes sparkled as she opened the door. “Dining hall in fifteen minutes.”

I nodded as she left, closing the door.

I got up and went to my chair where my dining clothes were folded. The dress made me stop.

It was a lot.

Black and shiny with silver lines, tight at the waist then wide at the hips. The top made a soft heart-shape that showed a bit but not too much.

The skirt was short, above the knee—shorter than I usually wore—and the sleeves were tight, making me look taller, sharper.

I could barely recognise me when I stood in front of the mirror, completely dressed up. The dark dress made my warm brown skin glow.

I took a deep breath.

“You can do this,” I said as I left for the dining hall.

The hall was loud when I got there—tables full of students in the same clothes, some laughing, some talking soft.

I kept my head low, finding a seat by the side and soon had food—hot bread, cooked greens, some meat I didn’t know.

I hadn’t known I was so hungry until I ate.

Then it all went quiet, as if a spell was on the room.

I looked up, puzzled—then stopped breathing.

Three guys walked in, trays in hand, and the room felt alive around them.

They were amazing, like they stepped out of a myth. All tall, looking sharp in a smooth way. Their clothes were neat except the one in the middle.

His top button was open, dark hair falling over eyes like ice. He looked easy, like he didn’t care, like none of us mattered.

His friends—one blonde, the other with red hair and a knowing smile—were right by him.

The way they moved, you’d think they owned the place.

Maybe they did.

I was so caught I didn’t see I was staring—until he looked at me and grinned slowly and knowing.

I turned away so quickly I almost knocked my glass. My face got hot, heart loud; I could hardly hear the laughs and small talks of girls near me, all fixing their hair, hoping he’d look their way.

What was that?

And why was he staring at me?

No, no. It had to be my mind playing tricks. There was no way he’d pick me out, right?

I tried hard to eat, but I felt odd. Like something was pulling me in, tying around me, drawing me closer.

It made no sense, and I was not at ease.

I kept my eyes down on my plate.

With another shaky bite of food, I saw the next thing happen.

A lady, perfect like a model, walked in. She was slim yet curvy, legs long. 

Her skin was bright; her black hair hung in waves down her back. Her walk was full of confidence.

She sat on his lap as if she owned it, her arms around his neck. He just smiled as she kissed him in front of everyone.

“Lucian,” she said, her voice both sweet and sharp. “My darkstar.”

So that was his name. Lucian.

She played with his shirt, moving her fingers in soft circles.

“When do we celebrate our win? Or will you make me wait all night?” She called out, loud for all to hear.

Students nearby laughed.

Lucian just moved his head, fixing her hair in a calm way. “Patience, Selene,” he said low.

Then I saw the sharp shine of her teeth—she was a vampire.

Her tone sharp, she said loud enough for others to hear, “Not like the mutt who lost.”

I froze.

One of the other guys at their table snorted. “Thorne? Please. Can’t believe the top dog lost his title because he stopped to save a girl.”

“Poor Kael. All muscle, saves a girl, by mistake, no less.” She made fun.

My face cooled; my heart tightened.

They were actually talking about Kael and me.

“He got all bloody,” the other guy who walked in with Lucian added, mocking. “Bet it’s the first time Thorne ever touched a girl.”

They burst out laughing.

Heat and guilt burned my face. It was my fault Kael had lost, now he faced their jeers across the school.

Lucian was quiet, fingers still moving on Selene, but when I looked—his silver eyes met mine.

He kept looking.

Even as I tried to look away, his gaze followed—dark, watching, wanting.

I managed to eat a bit more before I stood, their whispers following as I left.

I was in the corridor, almost alone, when I felt someone grab me from behind, an arm circling my waist, pulling me back into something warm, solid and masculine.

I gasped, heart in my throat.

Then a low velvet-soft voice whispered against my ear,

“Hello, Miss Vale.”

I froze.

The voice was familiar and I knew better than to be told—nothing good comes when your name is called like that.

I could not catch my breath, my heart hit so hard it felt like pain.

Slow, with care, I turned my head. Every bit of me was stiff with fear.

And there he was.

Lucian.

I could only look, shock full in me. He was so near I saw the silver in his eyes, the strong line of his jaw, the small bend in his lips. He held me close, his arm around my waist, as if we were engrossed in a romantic dance, a dance I did not say yes to.

But what made new fear rush in me was the hard-to-believe truth that—

He had just been in the hall with Selene. Right in her arms, smiling with ease and out of reach.

And yet—he was here in a flash.

Cold ran down my back.

As if he knew what I thought, Lucian’s smile grew. He leaned his head, and in the weak hall light, I saw the sharp tips of teeth, just seen when he smiled.

Vampire.

That thought hit like a blow to me. Then all fell into place. His smooth moves, the odd still calm, the way his look held me fast without a try.

And then, in a voice low and smooth with danger, he said,

“Why so shocked, love?”

His words felt smooth and dark all at once. His silver eyes shone soft, full of want and knowing.

I took a deep breath, my mouth open to talk, but before I could start—

He put one finger to my lips, soft but firm.

“Shhh,” he said low, his mouth in a half tease, half threat smile. “Let’s not ruin the moment.”

His finger was cool, light as air but firm, and his other hand kept me still, his hold soft but sure, hard to break.

“You’re mine now,” he whispered, his voice dropping to something far darker, a quiet growl under the silk. His nose grazed my hair, breathing me in, slow and deliberate, as though memorizing the scent of something he fully intended to claim.

My heart thundered. The words didn’t make sense—couldn’t make sense.

Mine?

His breath touched the skin of my neck, soft as a sigh. “Your blood,” he murmured, voice so quiet I barely heard it, “belongs to me.”

Every part of me went cold.

I felt it then—sharp pressure, just a brush, but enough—his fangs lengthening, grazing my skin. My breath strangled in my throat. I stood frozen as something warm and wet slipped down the side of my neck.