Lucien's POV
The siege begins exactly as Viktor promised.
For three days, his army surrounds Blackthorn Keep. They don't attack—not yet. They're waiting. Starving us out. Letting fear do their work.
My soldiers are loyal, but I can feel their doubt through the castle. Fifty vampires against five hundred. We can't win this.
Unless Seraphina becomes what she was born to be.
"Again," I tell her in the training yard.
She's exhausted. We've been at this for hours. But exhaustion is a luxury she can't afford.
Seraphina raises her hand, trying to summon the silver flames that drove Viktor back. Nothing happens.
"I can't," she gasps. "It only worked when we—" She stops, blushing.
"When we kissed," I finish bluntly. "The bond amplified your power. But you need to access it without me. What happens if we're separated in battle?"
"Then I die," she says bitterly.
