Hana

Hana's POV

The palace loomed, impossibly vast. I pressed into the balcony rail, letting the night air chill my skin. Far below, gardens unfurled in tangled ribbons of lantern light, marble fountains murmuring secrets. Moonlit flowers seemed to swell and glow, determined to outdo the moon itself. If I narrowed my eyes, the whole scene blurred into something unreal—lights, hedges, perfume rising thick as a spell. It was all too dazzling, too dreamlike, as if I’d wandered into a fairy tale no one remembered to end.

It was fitting, really—like so much of my life these days.

I let out a sigh, propping my chin on my palm as I watched two guards trace lazy circles along the gravel below. They moved with the easy certainty of people who belonged. Must be nice.

My stomach knotted. Tomorrow’s ball—the so-called summit. Only a lunatic would think cramming alphas, fae lords, witches, and vampires into one gilded room was smart. Who actually believes that’s safe? It’s a murder mystery just begging for a headline.

Of course, I’d be right in the crossfire. Like always.

“Hana,” I muttered. “Professional disaster magnet.”

A laugh escaped me. It was true,I was a walking invitation for chaos, the universe’s favorite punchline.

Trouble found me before I could even spell my name. At seven, I slipped past the warning signs into the forbidden woods beyond the Shadowlands, armed with nothing but a stick I dubbed my sword. Hours later, I returned caked in mud, waving a bone I insisted was from a demon. Grandma almost dropped dead on the spot.

At twelve, my grandma thought it would be a great idea to send me to the academy to learn. Well.

I accidentally unleashed a cursed trinket and set half the school's statues stomping around the courtyard.

After that, my grandma essentially kept me confined to the grand estate. I fell hard for books around that time, and the thrill of reading about another world was irresistible. The library became my second home.

Then the High Witch decided to send me to Duskreach almost a month ago.

You can guess how well that turned out. Disaster, as usual.

Disaster magnet. It’s practically stitched into my DNA.

Maybe that’s why, despite my best efforts, my thoughts kept circling back to him.

Cael.

The memory from earlier still smoldered in my chest, stubborn as an ember. The way his eyes darkened when I teased him about the Fae lord bit. The way he hovered, all wild energy barely disguised as a man.

And gods, my stomach did a ridiculous somersault, like I was some lovesick teenager, not a grown woman who should know better.

I buried my face in my palm and groaned, frustration prickling beneath my skin. Why is my body always my worst enemy?

Which was absurd. He was a stranger, rude, smug, with shoulders like a fortress. Why did he burrow under my skin so fast?

Was I attracted to him?

Nope. Not a chance. Even I can see that’s a catastrophe waiting to happen. Gods, I had a vision about him, he is basically walking around with a huge bullseye that screams “Danger”.

Still, my mouth twitched at the memory. ‘Or don’t tell me, you’re a virgin?’ His voice had that smug, knowing lilt, like he could see right through me.

“Congratulations, Cael,” I muttered. “You’ve given me a new title: Virgin Disaster Magnet. I hope you’re thrilled.”

I tried to shake it off, letting the breeze tease a strand of hair free to tickle my cheek. The garden’s perfume, roses, night jasmine, something comforting and sweet curled around me like a promise.

A slow ache seeped through my chest. I wasn’t ready to be heir, or to be the High Witch, this should have been my mom...

I gripped the railing hard enough that my knuckles ached.

Would those memories ever stop haunting me when I closed my eyes?

I yanked myself out of memory, shaking my head until the ache retreated. This was not the place to fall apart. Tomorrow, I’d have to stride into that ballroom, confidence strapped on like armor, faking my place in a world that still felt galaxies away.

I leveled myself with the stars. “Get it together, Hana. No fainting, no fights, definitely no making out with dangerous men.”

The stars didn’t answer. Figures.

With a sigh, I peeled myself from the railing and slipped inside. Tomorrow’s gown hung from the wardrobe, pale silk shimmering in the moonlight like poured water. It looked like it belonged to someone else, someone flawless, untouched by shadows and nightmares. Someone I’d never been.

I crossed my arms, staring at it like it was a challenge. Maybe it was.

Tonight, I’d burrow into the absurdly lavish palace bed, fake normalcy for a few stolen hours, and pray the universe kept Cael and his chaos out of my dreams.