Seraphina's POV
"You're not going to that death match."
Emperor Cassian's voice is final, but I don't care. I follow him through the palace corridors as guards scramble to secure the area after Prince Lucien's attack.
"You can't stop me," I shoot back. "I'm your fiancée, remember? The whole empire knows it now."
"Exactly. Which makes you a target." He stops abruptly and turns to face me. "Lucien proved tonight he'll kill anyone to get to the throne. If you're at the arena tomorrow, you're giving him another chance to murder you."
"So you want me to hide like a coward while you risk your life?"
"Yes!" His gray eyes flash with frustration. "That's exactly what I want. One of us needs to survive this story, Seraphina. If I die tomorrow—"
"You won't die."
"You don't know that." His voice drops, and for a moment, I see real fear in his face. "Lucien has been training with dark magic for years. He's dangerous. And if he wins..."
