days, Seraphina felt s

kind - the kind that com

t of scorched roses rising from the dark gardens below. Somewhere in the distance, Umbrae

where Kael had kissed

her h

no longe

Kael was too sharp for silence without reason. His distance was deli

she w

ntua

had other question

r father refu

that cast firelight across a throne carved from obsidian and bone. He sat with a wea

from me," she said

dn't d

wasn't

r time when it

molten, tired. "What

eryt

, he to

the

in her womb, hiding in the mortal world. How the angels declared her an abominat

Seraphina asked. "Why let me grow

d into the mortal realm, Heaven would have destr

ger fra

d respond, the chamb

of Umbraeth, one of the few who dared ent

said, bowing lo

n Lord ro

na tense

ther," he said darkly. "The on

here the walls bled mist and the chains hanging from the

ed in a cage made

pped closer, h

she saw

omach d

angel or shadow-

someone

Marc

during fevers, whispered lullabies when nightmares cam

?" she

n lifted

dull, but her eyes - violet,

she said softly. "I wond

na could

trayed m

alive as long as I could. But she made a choic

said, motioning toward her

e hissed. "Not a daughter. Don't fool yourself - Althe

You told the Seraphim where

f I hadn't, they would've taken you. And they would've

Seraphina's

that makes y

the only one who did

nd her then - silen

rves death

hina didn'

arcelline's words rang

n the courtyard, where

hovered

n't burn

y bo

e of the shadows,

't kill he

rais

betray

can b

odded

tepped

ight about

ched a brow.

g something no o

m, unsure if it was

be b

id something th

as never meant

ice lowered. "W

- then finally s

both fire and grace. One who would shatter the balance between realms. Her power wou

stood, fist

hink th

now i

efuse to be their

lowed brighter

to protect you. Ev

na stared into the m

wings made of smoke. The crown of

look like a

ked like

s don't as

oose who

conti