The guards just shoved that sword right into Cassians hands, like it was meant for him all along. Normal, almost. Then the chain on his cuffs pulled tight, dragging him forward. Straight toward me. Toward my throat. And it was that same distance I remembered from before, the one that still haunts me.
My lungs quit working. I froze there, couldnt move at all. Legs locked up, skin turning ice cold, over and over. Cassians eyes stayed on my face the whole time. Blood smeared on his temple, dirt all over his collar, those cuffs digging into his wrists. But he looked calm. Still himself, somehow.
Behind the guards, Hests voice cut through sharp. Duke Cassian Nocten, the Chamberlain said, execute the traitor. Immediately. Soren was smiling like this was some kind of party, casual as anything. Kael lay on the floor, bleeding out, pushing up with just one arm. His sword had rolled off somewhere. He glanced up at Cassian, then at me, eyes wide, like he knew exactly what was coming, what I was about to feel hit me.
My stomach twisted hard. Not again. Please not again. Cassian stopped just one step away. The guard yanked his chain, pulling him even closer. Do it, the guard growled. But Cassians grip on the sword didnt waver. That part, it got to me the most.
He lifted the blade slow, like some old ritual. Like last time, exactly. My throat closed up tight, hurting. I heard my own voice come out, small and dumb. Cassian. His eyes stayed the same, but his mouth twitched a little. Not a smile. More like a warning, I think.
Hest stepped up, getting impatient. Now, he snapped. Prove your loyalty. Correct your earlier failure. Earlier failure, because Cassian hadnt handed me over quick enough. Because he protected me for, what, two hours maybe. Soren laughed soft then. Dont hesitate, Duke, he said. She already confessed shell bite.
I wanted to spit right at him. Couldnt even swallow properly. The blade hovered there in front of my face. My body gave out on me, knees bending just a bit. I caught myself, no kneeling, not giving Adrian that satisfaction again. But my hands shook bad.
Cassian leaned in closer. The edge touched my skin, cold line right on my throat. Vision narrowed down. I smelled stone, smelled blood. And weirdly, I heard the crowd from my first life, even though we were stuck in this dungeon. My brain screamed at me, move, run, bite, do something.
His voice dropped low, just for me. Dont flinch, he murmured. I froze even more. What. Dont, he cut me off. His eyes flicked to the curtain behind me, to the cot, to that weak coughing. The Emperor. Then back to my face. Fall, he whispered, barely a breath.
My stomach dropped out. Fall, as in pretend. As in hes going to. No. No no no. I hated him for making me get it so fast. Hated him more because I had to get it. Hest snapped louder. Duke. The blade pressed a little harder. I couldnt breathe. Trust me. Fall, he said again, almost silent.
Trust. That word felt like jumping off something high. I didnt trust him. He killed me before. But if I didnt go along now, Id die for real anyway. I swallowed hard. My voice broke. If you. Live, Cassian interrupted, quiet. Then he moved fast.
The blade slid across, sharp sting, hot line of fire. Not deep, but blood came warm and quick. I gasped. He didnt go for the throat full on. Just enough cut. Enough for red to show. Enough to make me smell it, panic. My legs buckled on purpose. Fell backward, hit stone hard. Pain shot through my shoulder, head smacked the floor, stars everywhere.
I lay there still. Forced myself to stay still. Chest wanted to heave, I held it back. Tasted blood from biting my lips. Above me, Hest let out a breath, like relief. Good, he said. Soren chuckled. See, hes useful after all.
Boots came closer. Someone grabbed my hair, yanked my head aside. Neck screamed. I didnt react, kept eyes shut. Heart pounding wild in my ribs, so loud I thought theyd hear. Dead, a guard asked. Not yet, Soren said light. But close enough. Finish her if you want. No. Not here, Hest cut in sharp. Bring her body later. First.
Air shifted, footsteps to the cot, to the curtain. My stomach went ice. First we solve the bigger issue, Hest said low, nasty. The one who heard her scream. He meant the Emperor. Eyes wanted to open wide. Kept them shut. Couldnt move. If I did, theyd know I wasnt dead, chain me up again, drag me out, cut me open for the paper.
Cassians voice came calm. What are you ordering. You will execute His Majesty, Hest said, like it was nothing. Silence hit hard. Even Soren quit his little noises. I felt it deep. That crossed a line. Not some moral thing, nobody here cared about that. It was risk. Killing the Emperor, you dont do that light, even secret.
He is already dying, Hest added impatient. This ends uncertainty. Uncertainty. They were really going to do it. Right now. In front of me, while I played dead. Cassians boots moved slow toward the curtain. Sword tip dragged on stone, that sound scratched right into my head. Wanted to scream, jump up, bite Hests throat. But I stayed still, hating myself for pretending.
Cassian stopped. Didnt strike. Do it, Hest snapped. Duke, Soren said smoother, coaxing. This is your chance. Cut the last thread and youre free. Free. Cassian laughed once, short and cold. Free, he repeated. Then louder, for everyone. You forged an imperial seal. You chained the Emperor. And now you want me to clean it with my sword.
Watch yourself, Hest said tight. No, Cassian replied. Unseal the curtain. You dont give orders, Hest snapped. Cassian didnt move. Sword still in hand. Guards tightened his chain, trying to pull him forward. He wouldnt budge. Kill him, Hest ordered, voice rising.
My stomach dropped again. Kill Cassian. Now. Guards surged. Steel scraped. Kael choked on the floor, trying to stand. Cassian moved, not at me, at the closest guard. Blade flashed, cut across a wrist. Blood sprayed. Guard screamed, dropped his weapon. Cassian twisted, rammed shoulder into another, slammed him to wall.
Cuff chain snapped tight, but he used it, yanked the holder forward, elbow to throat. Man gagged, fell. Room exploded. Shouts, orders overlapping. I stayed down, eyes shut, not wanting to get stepped on. Stop him, Soren shouted. Kill Nocten, Hest screamed.
Then through the noise, the Emperor coughed. Louder, wet and weak. Everyone heard. It sliced the chaos. Hest stilled. Soren stilled. Guards hesitated half a second. You hear that, Cassian said dangerous. Thats your Emperor alive. Lies. Hes delirious, Hest twisted. Open the curtain, Cassian snapped.
A guard lunged at Cassians sword arm. He headbutted hard. Man dropped like a sack. Cassian grabbed the curtain with his cuffed hand, yanked it. Fabric ripped. Light hit the cot. Emperor there, thin, gray, eyes half open. Not a rumor. Not some story. Just a man, on stone, in dungeon.
My eyes opened without me meaning to. I saw him. Saw Hest see him. Hests face changed. Not shock. Fear. Real fear. Because now it wasnt secret anymore. Now a witness, even weak, even one word. Soren recovered quick. Stepped forward, voice loud, acting. An imposter, he announced. A body double planted by House Nocten.
My blood heated. Imposter. Said it easy, like truth was just words. Seize him. Now. Smother him, Hest snapped. Smother. Stomach lurched. Guards moved to cot. Cassian got there first. Planted between them and Emperor. Sword up. Eyes like ice. No, he said.
Chain yanked, trying to pull him back. He didnt move. Looked at Emperor. Then something hit me hard, cracked my chest open. Emperors eyes shifted slow. Looked at Cassian. Lips moved. Whisper barely. Nocten. Cassian stilled. Face not just cold. Tight, like the name struck somewhere deep.
Hes drugged, Hest barked panicked. He doesnt know what hes saying. He knows, Cassian said low. Then raised voice sharp to corridor. Witness. Any loyal guard, enter now. Footsteps thundered outside. Voices, confused shouts. Getting loud. That was good, I thought. Loud helped.
I pushed up on elbows. Throat burned from the cut. Blood ran down neck into collar. Not deep, but enough, reminding me what he could do. Swallowed hard. Looked at Cassians back. Still blocking Emperor. Still with that sword forced on him. Still cuffed. Still fighting. Hated how my chest tightened at that.
Soren saw me move. Eyes snapped over. Youre alive, he hissed. I forced upright, shaky. Im alive, I spat rough, loud. And your Emperor is alive too. Hest turned on me like a snake. Silence, he roared. Kill her. Guards surged at me. Cassian spun half step, sword flashing between. Back, he snapped.
Guards hesitated. Youre protecting her, Hest said, voice shaking furious. Even now. Yes, Cassian said. Just that. Blunt. Hit me harder than it should. Kael coughed, got to knees, hand on bleeding side. His Majesty is alive, he yelled hoarse. This is treason against the throne.
You are already sentenced, Hest snapped. Captain Kael, Soren said thin mean. You will die first. Gestured. Two guards grabbed Kael. He fought with one arm. They slammed him down. Boot on shoulder. Face hit stone. Stomach flipped. No. Not Kael too. Not the guy who helped me get half the proof out of vomit.
I lurched forward, no thinking. Guard grabbed my arm. Cassians sword swung. Flat of blade hit guards face. Man dropped, spitting teeth. Stay behind me, Cassian said low. Stop telling me that, I snapped back. He didnt look. Just kept moving, putting himself between me and everything deadly.
Hests hands shook. Pulled out a scroll, like last defense. Wax seal, big, official. Lifted high, shouted to corridor. By emergency authority of His Highness, he announced. Duke Cassian Nocten and Lady Seraphina Vale are charged with kidnapping His Majesty and attempting regicide.
Blood went ice. Kidnapping. Regicide. Flipping it all. Making it like Cassian imprisoned the Emperor. Like I attacked him. Soren nodded loyal. Yes, he said loud. They broke into His Majestys private wing. We caught them with the Emperor. This is the truth.
Stomach churned. That was their story. Why the room had keys. Why this private dungeon. They baited us. Wanted us caught with him, erase us all. Throat burned. I stared at Hest, shaking. You, I started. Seize them. Both. Alive if possible, Hest cut off, shouting. Guards poured in. More now. Too many.
Not small secret anymore. Controlled slaughter. Cassian backed slow, dragging chain holder like anchor. Stood in front of cot again. Shielding Emperor with body. Shielding me with blade. Cuffs cutting wrists. Blood from some arm. Chaos all around.
Soren watched bright eyed. Leaned to Hest, whispered but I heard. Dont let the Emperor speak. I know, Hest twisted. Raised hand sharp. Two guards broke line, lunged to cot around Cassian. Cassian turned. Chain yanked. Couldnt reach fast.
I moved. Grabbed nearest weapon, short baton, threw myself between guards and Emperor. They stared like I was crazy. Probably was. Move, one snarled. Didnt. Lifted baton shaky. Touch him, I hissed, and I scream until whole palace hears. You already screamed, he laughed. Shoved me.
Hit cot hard. Emperor flinched, eyes fluttering. Guard reached. Cassians sword slammed wall by guards head. Not cutting. Pinning with threat. Step away, Cassian low. Guard froze. Enough, Hest screamed, voice breaking furious. Duke Nocten, if you wont execute her, then execute the Emperor. Prove youre not part of this kidnapping.
Blood cold again. Turning it to choice. Always a choice. Always blade. Cassian didnt answer. Looked at me. At Emperor. At Hest. Saw it in his eyes. Calculation. Not pity. Plan forming, like door closing. Witness this, Hest roared to corridor, lifting scroll. Duke Nocten refuses imperial authority and shields a regicide traitor.
He was always dangerous, Soren chimed. Throat burned. Guards closed tighter. One raised crossbow. In dungeon. Pointed at cot. Stomach dropped hard, almost vomited. No. Shouted stop. Everyone jerked. Not caring what I said. Just my voice loud, sharp, desperate.
Pointed at Hest with bloody hand. I swallowed proof, I screamed. Half inside me. Half with Captain Kael. You kill me and it goes to grave, but if I live. Hests eyes widened. Then hate pure. You admit you attacked His Majesty, he snapped. Froze. Walked right into it. Idiot.
She confessed, Soren delighted. Regicide confession. Shoot her, Hest barked. Crossbow shifted to my chest. Cassians head snapped. Sword rose. But cuffed. Outnumbered. Too close to Emperor. Too far from me. Lungs seized. This was it. Second life ending same way. Different room. Same helpless.
Dont, Cassian cut low sharp. Then choose, Hest snarled rage shaking. Execute Seraphina Vale now. Or we execute His Majesty. Crossbow to cot. Finger tightened trigger. Emperor coughed weak. Kael on floor lifted head, eyes wild. Cassian between us all, sword hand, cuffs wrists, blood face.
Looked at me like deciding which death he could stand. Then the trigger pulled.