Katerina's POV
I don't stop to think.
I grab the dead plant and the poisoned necklace and run straight to Damien's chambers. I don't care that it's late. I don't care that showing up at his private rooms will start gossip.
Someone just tried to murder me in my own bed.
The guards outside his door try to stop me, but I push past them.
Lady Raven, you can't
Prince Damien! I pound on his door. I need to speak with you now!
The door flies open. Damien stands there in just his shirt and pants, hair disheveled like he was trying to sleep. His eyes widen when he sees me.
Raven? What
Someone tried to kill me. I shove the dead plant at him. In my chambers. Look.
He takes the withered plant, his face darkening as he sees the necklace draped over it. He doesn't even need to ask what happened—the evidence speaks for itself.
Inside, he says sharply, pulling me into his room and slamming the door. He turns to the guards. Get Theron. Now. And seal off Lady Raven's chambers. No one goes in or out.
The guards rush away.
Damien sets the plant on his desk and picks up the necklace carefully, studying it in the candlelight.
Contact poison, he says, his voice deadly quiet. Absorbs through the skin. You would have died within an hour of putting this on. His eyes snap to mine. You didn't touch it, did you?
No. I tested it on the plant first.
Thank the gods. He sets the necklace down like it's a snake. Who gave this to you?
I don't know. It was just there on my bed when I returned to my chambers.
Which means someone has access to your rooms. His jaw clenches so hard I can see the muscle jumping. Someone got past my guards, into my palace, into your private chambers, and left a gift designed to kill you slowly and painfully.
The fury in his voice should terrify me. Instead, it makes something warm bloom in my chest. He's angry for me. Protective.
Like he cares whether I live or die.
Damien I start.
No. He rounds on me, and his eyes are blazing. You came here to help me, and someone tried to murder you under my protection. That's not acceptable.
A knock at the door interrupts us. Theron enters, looking alert despite the late hour.
What happened? he asks.
Damien shows him the necklace and explains. Theron's face goes from concerned to furious.
I'll find out who did this, he says grimly. We'll question every servant who had access to those chambers.
Start with anyone connected to Serena, I say quietly.
Both men look at me.
Serena was banished, Damien says. She left the palace this afternoon.
That doesn't mean her people left. I meet his eyes. She recognized me at the ball. Or thought she did. And she has every reason to want me dead—I'm the one who got her exiled.
Theron and Damien exchange glances.
She's right, Theron says. Serena still has servants loyal to her. They might have stayed behind after she left.
Then find them, Damien orders. Question everyone. Use whatever methods necessary. I want answers by dawn.
Theron nods and leaves.
Silence falls. Damien and I stand in his private chambers, alone, with death sitting on his desk in the form of a beautiful necklace.
You're staying here tonight, he says suddenly.
What?
Your chambers aren't safe. Until we know who has access and why, you're staying somewhere I can protect you. His voice leaves no room for argument. You can have my bed. I'll sleep in the chair.
Damien, I can't
Yes, you can. He moves closer, and his hand comes up to cup my face. The touch is gentle, careful, like I'm something precious. Someone tried to kill you tonight. Under my roof. Under my protection. I'm not letting you out of my sight until I know you're safe.
My heart pounds so hard I'm sure he can hear it. His thumb brushes across my cheekbone, and I see his expression shift—surprise, like he didn't mean to touch me but can't help himself.
You're important, he whispers. To the mission. To stopping Adrian. To— He stops himself.
To what? I breathe.
His eyes search mine, and I see him wrestling with something. Want? Fear? Both?
But before he can answer, shouting erupts from outside.
We both turn as someone pounds on the door.
Your Highness! A guard's voice. We found her! We found the servant who delivered the necklace!
Damien's hand drops from my face. He strides to the door and yanks it open.
Where?
Being held in the east corridor. She confessed immediately when we cornered her. Said she was paid by
By who? Damien demands.
The guard swallows. By Lady Serena Thornhart, Your Highness. Before she left the palace.
The fury that crosses Damien's face is terrifying.
Bring Serena back, he says, his voice like ice. Now. I don't care if you have to drag her from the Neutral Territories. Bring her to the throne room by morning. We're handling this publicly.
Morning comes too fast.
I barely slept, curled in Damien's bed while he kept watch from the chair like he promised. Every time I woke, he was there—awake, alert, guarding me.
Now we stand in the throne room as the entire court gathers. Word spread fast that something dramatic is happening. Nobles whisper and stare as I stand beside Damien's throne.
The doors open. Guards drag in a disheveled, furious Serena.
She looks nothing like the polished beauty from the ball. Her hair is tangled, her dress dirty from travel. But her eyes are still sharp with hate.
This is an outrage! she shouts. You exiled me! I was leaving peacefully!
You tried to murder my advisor, Damien says coldly from his throne. That's not peaceful.
I did no such thing!
Damien gestures, and guards bring forward the servant who confessed. The woman repeats her story—Serena paid her to leave the necklace, told her it was a gift of apology.
Serena's face goes white. She's lying! That woman is a liar and a manipulator!
The poison matches a substance from your personal collection, Theron announces, stepping forward with documents. We searched your former chambers. Found six more vials hidden in your belongings.
The court gasps.
Serena's eyes dart around wildly, looking for allies. She finds none.
You're being played! she screams at Damien. That woman—that thing standing beside you—she's not what she seems!
Enough, Damien says.
She's a ghost! Serena's voice cracks with desperation. A ghost come back to haunt you! Look at her! Really look at her!
The court murmurs, confused.
Lady Serena, Damien says, his voice dangerously quiet. You are stripped of all remaining privileges, all property, and all titles. You're banished from Eldermoor permanently. If you ever set foot in this kingdom again, you'll be executed for attempted murder.
You fool! Serena struggles against the guards holding her. You're protecting a ghost! Ask her about her scars! Ask her about the execution!
My blood turns to ice.
What execution? someone in the crowd asks.
Serena's wild eyes lock onto mine. And she smiles—a terrible, knowing smile.
The one three years ago! she shouts. When Princess Katerina was beheaded for treason! Ask your precious Lady Raven about that execution! Ask her about the princess's scars!
The throne room erupts in chaos.
Damien's head whips toward me, his face draining of color.
What is she talking about? he demands.
But Serena isn't done. She's laughing now, manic and broken.
You don't see it? You don't see her? She points at me with a shaking hand. Those eyes! That walk! The way she stands when she's angry! I served that woman for a year—I know her tells! You killed her, Prince Damien! And now she's come back wearing a new face!
The guards start dragging her away, but her voice echoes through the hall:
Ask her! Ask Lady Raven if she's ever died before!
Then she's gone, and the throne room falls into shocked silence.
Every eye in the court turns to me.
And Damien rises slowly from his throne, his face carved from stone, his eyes burning into mine with a question I can't answer.
What execution is she talking about? he asks quietly.
His voice is calm. Too calm.
Like the moment before a storm breaks.