Of course! Here
Sophia left the throne room with the bloodline book pressed to her chest, her thoughts a storm of confusion and revelation. Her footsteps echoed in the grand hallway as she tried to absorb King Thorne's words. She was descended from a goddess—Aurelitha. And Lucian wasn't just her protector; he was her anchor, the only force strong enough to keep her from unraveling.
But where was he now?
The moment she stepped into the sunlit corridor leading to the garden courtyard, her breath hitched.
Lucian was there, sparring with a woman whose raven hair whipped around like fire with every movement. She was fast, skilled—almost graceful in the way her blade clashed against his. Laughter spilled from her lips, sharp and too familiar. Sophia's stomach twisted.
Selaria.
Lucian's childhood friend. The one who had once trained with him, bled with him, and now… eyed him with hunger.
Sophia tried to turn away, but it was too late—Selaria had already seen her.
"Oh," Selaria purred, sheathing her sword and striding over. "You must be the princess."
Sophia kept her expression neutral. "Sophia."
"Of course." Selaria's smile was razor-edged. "Lucian mentioned you. But I suppose there's only so much one can explain about a mating bond to someone… new to our world."
Lucian stepped forward, tension in his shoulders. "Selaria, don't."
But Selaria wasn't done. She leaned in close to Sophia, eyes glittering. "Do you even know what happens when he marks you? When he claims you? His bite doesn't just brand your skin—it brands your soul. You'll never be the same. You'll never belong to anyone else. Not even yourself."
Sophia's wings shivered beneath her skin. "I'm not afraid of being claimed," she said quietly, her voice calm but cold. "What I fear… is being underestimated."
A faint glow rippled over her skin as power responded to emotion. Lucian's eyes widened.
Selaria stepped back, her expression faltering for the first time. "We'll see," she murmured, then turned and stalked away.
Lucian moved to Sophia, his voice low. "Don't listen to her."
Sophia didn't meet his eyes. "Then tell me what happens, Lucian. What happens when you mark me?"
Silence stretched, thick with tension and longing. And still… no answer came.
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