m. I will cherish you above all others." He had said those words to her, his eyes sincere. N

em take Clara. Her eyes darted around the hallway and landed on a decorative sword hanging on the

bella, who had been about to lead

voice shaking but firm. "Let her go

"Go on, then. Do it.

g night was being ruined by her drama. A sudden, sharp pain shot through her abdomen, so intense it stole her breath. The sword clattered from

he maid' s hands came away from the back of Seraphi

saw before she fainted wa

her hand. His face was etched with worry, his eyes filled with a desperate fear she hadn't seen in so long.

as there, sitting in a chair by her bed, but his face was a

," he stated,

vous. "My lord, the Lady Seraphina... sh

. A tiny, impossible spark of hope ignited within her. Maybe this would c

what she saw in his face killed that spark

d, his voice dangerously low. He leaned over her, his hands gripping t

urs," she whispered, her voice trembling

m. "Mine? How could it be mine? I haven't touched

"You come back here with a whore' s brand, and now you' re

ing to sit up, but the pain in her abdo

can shame my family name with this? I will not allow it." He leaned in again, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "Get rid of it. Or I wil

in her veins. Her family. H

n, her voice breaking. "Valerius, please, I

were diseased. "Don' t say t

with the horrific choice he had given her: her child or her family.