Chapter 27

The victory at the northern border was short-lived. The Shadowborn had been pushed back, but the damage was done-Verran's forces were weakened, and the cost of holding the line had been immense. The soldiers who had survived the battle were exhausted, their spirits worn thin by the relentless assault. And though the immediate threat had been averted, the knowledge that the Shadowborn would return hung over the city like a dark cloud.

Seraphina returned to the capital with the survivors, her heart heavy with the weight of what she had done. The darkness she had unleashed on the battlefield had saved them, but it had also left her shaken. She could still feel it inside her, a cold, insistent presence that whispered of power and control. It had taken every ounce of her strength to push it back, but she knew that the struggle was far from over.

As she dismounted in the palace courtyard, the weariness of the battle finally caught up with her. Her legs trembled beneath her, and she had to steady herself against the wall to keep from collapsing. The soldiers around her looked equally worn, their faces pale and drawn, their eyes haunted by what they had seen.

Kael was at her side almost immediately, his expression filled with concern. "You need to rest, Seraphina," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "You've pushed yourself too hard."

Seraphina shook her head, though the effort made her dizzy. "There's no time for rest," she replied, her voice hoarse. "We need to regroup, to prepare for the next attack."

Kael's hand on her arm tightened slightly, his eyes locking onto hers. "You won't be any use to anyone if you collapse from exhaustion. Please, Seraphina. Just take a moment to breathe."

For a moment, Seraphina wanted to argue, to insist that she could keep going. But the truth was, she was exhausted-physically, mentally, emotionally. The events of the past days had taken a toll on her, and the darkness that still lingered in her mind made it impossible to find any peace.

Finally, she nodded, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "All right. But only for a little while."

Kael offered her a small, relieved smile. "Come on," he said, guiding her toward the palace entrance. "Let's get you inside."

They walked in silence, the weight of the battle hanging heavily between them. Seraphina's thoughts were a tangled mess, a chaotic swirl of fear, doubt, and exhaustion. The victory had come at a cost, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was losing herself to the very darkness she was fighting against.

When they reached her chambers, Kael helped her to a chair, his movements careful and gentle. "I'll have some food brought up," he said, his tone brisk as he tried to take care of her. "You need to eat something, then get some rest."

Seraphina nodded absently, her gaze fixed on the floor. The events of the day played over and over in her mind, the battle, the darkness, the whispers. It was all too much, too overwhelming, and she didn't know how much longer she could keep it all at bay.

Kael knelt in front of her, his hand resting on her knee. "Seraphina," he said softly, "talk to me. What's going on in that head of yours?"

She looked up, meeting his eyes, and for a moment, she considered telling him everything-the fear, the doubt, the struggle to keep the darkness under control. But the words caught in her throat, and she couldn't bring herself to say them.

"I'm just tired," she said instead, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to rest, like you said."

Kael's expression softened, but she could see the worry in his eyes. "You don't have to carry this burden alone, you know. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Seraphina managed a weak smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I know. And I'm grateful for that, Kael. But there are some things I have to face on my own."

Kael's gaze was steady, but there was an undercurrent of something she couldn't quite place-a flicker of doubt, of fear. "Just promise me you won't shut me out, Seraphina. We're stronger together."

Seraphina's heart twisted in her chest, and she reached out to squeeze his hand. "I promise," she said, though she wasn't sure she believed it herself.

Kael held her gaze for a moment longer, then nodded and rose to his feet. "I'll have food brought up, and I'll be back to check on you in a bit. Try to rest."

Seraphina watched him go, her mind still reeling. She wanted to trust him, wanted to believe that they could face the darkness together. But the fear, the doubt, was still there, gnawing at her, making her question everything she thought she knew.

She stayed in the chair for a long time after Kael left, her thoughts spinning in endless circles. The victory at the northern border had come at a cost, but the real price was still to be paid. The darkness within her was growing stronger, more insistent, and she didn't know how much longer she could resist its pull.

Finally, exhaustion overtook her, and she drifted into a fitful sleep, her dreams filled with shadows and whispers, with the faces of those she had lost, and the fear that she was losing herself.

When she woke, it was to the sound of voices outside her chambers, low and urgent. She blinked blearily, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep as she strained to hear what was being said.

"... can't trust him," a voice hissed, filled with tension. "The council's already suspicious. If she's right about him, we're all in danger."

Another voice, calmer but no less urgent, replied, "We need proof before we act. If we're wrong, it could tear everything apart."

Seraphina's heart skipped a beat as she realized they were talking about Kael. The council's suspicions had spread, and it seemed that others were beginning to question his loyalty as well. The thought made her stomach churn with fear and uncertainty.

She rose from the chair, her movements stiff and slow, and made her way to the door. When she opened it, the voices cut off abruptly, and she found herself face to face with two of the palace guards, their expressions wary.

"Your Highness," one of them stammered, bowing low. "We didn't mean to disturb you."

Seraphina's gaze was sharp as she looked between them, her mind racing. "What were you talking about?"

The guards exchanged a nervous glance, and the second one spoke up, his voice careful. "We were just discussing... the situation, Your Highness. There are concerns about Prince Kael's loyalty. Some of the men... they're worried."

Seraphina's heart sank. The rumors were spreading faster than she had anticipated, and if they weren't careful, it could lead to something far worse than suspicion-it could lead to a fracture in their forces, a loss of trust that could be fatal in the face of the Shadowborn's onslaught.

"I see," she said, her voice tight. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. But I'll remind you both that rumors can be just as dangerous as the enemy outside our walls. We need to stand united, now more than ever."

The guards bowed again, their faces flushed with embarrassment. "Of course, Your Highness. We apologize."

Seraphina nodded curtly, dismissing them with a wave of her hand. As they hurried away, she closed the door and leaned back against it, her mind racing with the implications of what she had just heard.

The seeds of doubt had been planted, and they were beginning to take root. If she didn't act quickly, those doubts could grow into something much more dangerous-something that could tear their alliance apart from the inside.

She needed to talk to the council, to address their concerns before the situation spiraled out of control. But more than that, she needed to find out the truth about Kael's loyalty-because if there was even a chance that he was working with the Shadowborn, she couldn't afford to ignore it.