The royal guards swarmed the courtyard like ants disturbed. Guns out. Protocol engaged. Threat neutralized.
Only… there was no one to catch.
Seraphina stood behind the thick glass of her balcony, arms wrapped around herself as chaos unfolded below. She couldn't stop shaking.
Not from fear from fury.
Who the hell tries to shoot her on royal grounds?
"Princess," a cold, clipped voice snapped her back. "His Highness Kai Ilyas of Veylan has arrived. He's requesting an urgent audience."
Perfect timing. She rolled her eyes and yanked open her closet. A satin robe wouldn't cut it now. Not after tonight.
She needed armor.And Kai Ilyas was about to get a war queen.
When she swept into the marble foyer of the east wing, all eyes turned. And there he was tall, precise, calm like the eye of a hurricane.
Kai wore diplomacy like silk, every move smooth, calculated. But his eyes told another story: controlled rage.
"You were almost assassinated," he said instead of hello.
Seraphina crossed her arms. "I'm aware."
"I should've been here."
"You're not my bodyguard, Kai."
His jaw flexed. "Maybe not. But we both know I'm the only one in this palace who actually gives a damn whether you live."
Oof. That stung.
Before she could fire back, he stepped closer. "I pulled security footage. The shooter was someone inside. A uniform. Masked. But the way they moved? Military. Trained."
Her blood went cold.
He lowered his voice. "You think this was about Lila?"
She nodded. "Everything's about Lila now."
Kai leaned in, close enough to smell his cologne spiced cedar and something sharp. "Then it's time we stop playing nice."
She blinked. "We?"
"I'm done watching from the sidelines, Sera. I'm done pretending I don't"
He cut himself off. Swallowed hard. Shifted back a step.
"You're the reason I came here," he said instead. "And I don't share."
"What?"
"I saw Levi on the roof. I don't like being second."
Her heart caught somewhere between indignation and something far more dangerous.
This wasn't politics anymore.
It was personal.