n the edge of the velvet-draped bed in her suite, the leather-bound book resting heavy on her thighs. She had

against the dark walls. Every flicker of flame made her ner

open it, to confront whatever truths it held next. But so

interrupted

on in his jaw betrayed his mood. In his hand, he carried a small black pouch. His steps wer

he said, voice low. "There'

the robe swaying around her ba

dn't

raits lined the walls, but not like the gilded images upstairs. These were older. So

piral staircase

ep

rk

smelled of salt, iro

In the center stood a basin carved from obsidian, filled wit

aside, reveal

al dagger - golden hilt, carved with the sam

"The house chose you. But now

er tightly. "What h

d so does your truth. But the question is... how

e cracked

drew the dagger gen

dr

into t

rface

th

lvery liquid in the basin began to glow, rising up in threads of smoke and light. The

a ga

e cliff's edge in a gown of midnight. Behind her sto

gh scenes - rituals beneath the stars, masked gues

h

cre

ped in the

backin

appro

ai

et o

d, the vision pressi

before

d directly

loc

whis

what I

still clung

had vanished. The dagger slipped from her palm, hitting the stone

time she blinked - not li

what

r, his eyes less guarded now. He looked

nally said. Her voice cracked w

y. "And he's been trying to m

him. "By bri

Not at first. He felt it before he understood it. And

a repl

"You're a continuation.

dering breath. "I

t y

eed

ted a beat too long-but

-

re unlike any other p

e. No velve

ndlelight, and a grand pi

er rings tattooed across his back now glow

turn when

said quietly.

wly, her footsteps echoing

who'd always seemed untoucha

"Afraid of what she'd become. Of

s your

"But she was also a storm. And I

"So you chained her. You

e of his face. "They told me it was the only way

ze. "You

e house-Elira-she whispered your name

ng. "And you just... waited? For so

rward, slowly

I built, everything I did... it was for

d inches

u to feel like this. To

d to scre

-her body b

epped

o you now?"

's voic

my red

-

uld've pu

ut standing there-trapped in Cassian's gravity-she felt like the air itself ben

f hair from her face, and his hand l

to hurt you,

ea, turbulent beneath the surface. "Then why do

answer w

crashed ag

sn't

s pen

ght it-but her body burned, responding to the pain in his touch. His hands gri

e needed tha

e room was

y-that her blood called to the house, that Elira's voice now live

saw

r shoulders like it had

ne, down the line of her breast. She gasped when his hand cup

story by worshipping me," sh

ian

im to look at her. "If you want t

yes darkened. "Then

lt bef

though befo

to be. The boy Elira had loved. The cowa

ide him in bed-bare shoulders bare under the moo

't trust you

't expect

ad. "But I believ

s jaw ti

, "that you'll never stop be

n't de

mething hidden beneath the edge of th

t to her wi

was a

just any

e as the memory basin. And when Alina

again, older,

un

hti

he glass-not a scream t

you are what I would ha

hand t

osed t

watching h

sealed it with her dying breath. For

it's time I found out wh

felt dif

as as if the walls themselves were breathing with her. Every flicker of candle

rippled as she passed, like silk

saw her. She was still wearing nothing but the silk sheet she'd wrapped around h

ed the mirr

pace. "She showed me

r. "That mirror responds only to bloodlines. An

tly, her gaze steady. "Then

al chamber-was a sealed door. Carved from obsidian

rror clutched tightly in her hand. S

himm

ic

slithered awa

a sound like thunde

eyond wasn

s a m

ded in

eyes glowing with power. Around her were the masked nobles of the house - som

moment, Alin

felt the betrayal like a dagger, saw the cou

betrayal the moment

h

ai

et c

like snakes, tearing her down. She

" she roared. "But what you've

ollowed her declar

s rev

ut as a loyalist. The man who had once broken

slower, more ca

. the hous

shivered, not in

life on the ceiling above them-Elira's crest twisted in

ard, toward the he

ole-but different. The reflection it offered was

vere

dow q

lt of blood

is gaze. "What w

oice didn

t on. I will find the ones who helped you chain

"You said this house o

e a sh

s time it remembered

them both, desce

et parte

rrors

ation of Velvet Chains...

El

Cass

he no

hing

een waiting for the

-