I sat.
Staring at the food for long.
My tea had gone cold, toast limp, even the honey glistered in it's jar like amber stucked in time.
I wasn't hungry. The thought of Draven with another woman had already filled me up.
Then I heard it__ footsteps, confident, heels, deliberate. Like someone who didn't need permission to exist.
I looked up as she walked in like she owned not just the mansion but the world around it.
She wore tailored black slacks and a wine-colored blouse with sleeves that flared at the wrists. Her raven hair was swept up like a crown, not a strand out of place. And her eyes _ those unmistakable storm-grey flecked with gold _ caught the light like fire in a storm.
"Eating alone on your first morning?" she said, sliding into the seat across from me without waiting for an invitation. Her voice was smooth, musical, and lightly amused. "Either Draven's gotten moodier, or you've already bitten him."
I blinked, unsure whether to be insulted or impressed. "And you are…?"
She smiled, slow and sharp. "Seraphina. His twin."
Twin.
I looked closer. Yes __ now that she said it, I saw it. The same striking bone structure. The same intensity beneath the calm exterior. But where Draven was shadow, Seraphina was flame. Not the soft, flickering fire __ no, she burned bright and unflinching.
"I'm Aurelia" I stood up and bowed slightly
"There is no need for such formality" she was quick to stop me.
"He talks about you a lot though he tries to sound disinterested __ it's really adorable" she added.
My breath caught for a second. Draven? Talk about me?
I didn't know what to say. Afterall we only got married yesterday.
Seraphina watched me with curiosity and something else __ gentle like a hawk but not one to attack.
"So why are you here" i asked
"I live here"she said with a shrug " the other wing is mine, but today I came to see the girl who made my brother act like a man instead of a myth " she said __ her tone was teasing but her eyes meant every word she just said.
I felt my heart fluttered.
"He is not easy I know" she suddenly became serious " but he doesn't lie, and if his distant it's not because he doesn't care it's because he cares too much" she added. Her stare was burning, as if telling me not to break his heart.
"Why are you telling me this" I asked not really hiding my suspicion.
"Because, I know how much he cares about you" she said plainly.
I didn't know what but I definitely felt something in me __ maybe warmth.
Seraphina stood suddenly, gracefully and swift.
"Come" she said
"Why"
"There is something I want to show you" she said as she walked away__ heels clicking on marble like metronome, daring me to follow.
Something in me told me to not follow. But I still did.
We moved through corridors I hadn't seen before. The further we walked, the colder it got. Less light. Fewer windows.
Paintings gave way to weapon displays. Gilded elegance faded into something older__ heavier, mysterious.
"This wing isn't open to everyone," she said as we descended a narrow staircase carved into stone. "Technically, not even to you."
That made me pause. "Then why bring me?"
Seraphina glanced over her shoulder. "Because you're not just anyone. And because if you're going to be bound to Draven, you deserve to know at least one of his secrets." she smiled mischievously.
I knew she was up to no good, but she couldn't be up to bad. She wanted me to understand Draven. Right?
Or was it all a plot?
I followed her, we stopped at a tall iron door etched with runes I couldn't understand.
She unlocked it with a key, that looked like it had been dipped in blood and silver.
Inside was a wide, circular chamber lit only by a skylight far above. It was quiet. Too quiet.
And at the center __ behind a thick wall of glass laced with glowing runes __was a creature.
She was curled in on herself like something wounded. Silver-blue scales shimmered with the faintest movement. Her wings were torn, one eye closed. Even still, I could feel it: she wasn't ordinary.
"Is that... A dragon?" I whispered, stepping forward.
Seraphina didn't respond to me, just moved closer to the dragon.
"Her name is nyra"she said " and no, she isn't a dragon"
"Then what is she?" I was curious. Walking closer.
"She's ancient," Seraphina said, voice low. "Older than most bloodlines in this country. She's not meant to exist anymore. And if certain people knew she did... They'd burn this mansion to the ground, just to get her"
I stepped closer to the glass. Nyra's breathing was shallow. There was pain in it __ and something else. Something that made my chest tighten.
"She looks hurt."
"She is," Seraphina said quietly. "Draven found her barely alive and brought her here. He's trying to keep her safe."
I turned. "By locking her up".
I thought about how he said I was safe here.
Staring at nyra, I wondered if I was also going to end up like her. With none of Draven's attention.
Like a prisoner___ all in the name of safety.
"Is this really called keeping one safe" I asked__ my voice really low.
"She's dangerous, more dangerous than you know " she answered.
"But she's suffering __ lonely, in pain, and chained " I retorted.
There was a pause. Then she nodded almost reluctantly, "Sometimes... I sneak in here to keep her company. She listens to everything I say"
I pressed my palm to the glass.
And Nyra stirred.
Just slightly. Her remaining eye fluttered open.
I was expecting it to be purple violet like the first one but ___ no, it was blue. Same color as mine.
Her eye__
That glimmering, ocean-blue eye__
met mine.
It was like being seen for the first time. Not as a girl, not as a bride, not even as myself. But known. Down to the root of who I was before I had a name.
I pulled my hand back from the glass as if it burned. My pulse thundered in my ears.
"She looked at me" I stuttered
"She's perceptive and old. Those eyes has seen empire fall"
"But... They was something " I insisted. "It felt like she was waiting "
"Waiting for what " she tilted her head
"I don't know" I admitted "but what I do know is that she doesn't belong in a cage. Whether it is made of glass or gold" I argued