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Chapter 31
The rays of sunlight pierced gently through the window, streaks of light dancing across the room.
Seraphina stirred, her lashes fluttering open as the warmth of the sun brushed her face. She yawned—loudly, lazily—stretching a little before blinking her eyes open. As her gaze wandered across the unfamiliar ceiling, her brows slowly furrowed.
Her hand brushed the bed beside her.
Warm.
Still occupied.
Her eyes snapped wide open. She gasped and instantly sat up, clutching her chest, her jaw dropping in shock.
Her confused gaze swept over the chamber—massive, royal, undoubtedly Soren's. Her hands trembled as they instinctively grasped the edge of the bedspread and yanked it over her chest. That was when she looked down and realized…
She was still in her black inner garments.
Nothing else.
Her lips parted in a horrified gasp. She clutched the bedspread tighter, curling it around her chest. And just then, she felt the shift beside her.
Soren.
His lazy eyes opened, drowsy but glowing, staring at her—so lovingly, so effortlessly—it did something to her chest she couldn't explain.
He didn't speak. Not immediately.
He just looked.
Until his husky, slow, sinful morning voice floated through the air, "You're awake."
Her eyes widened even more.
"You—you—you—you—what happened last night?" she stammered. "What did you do? What happened last night?! Did we… Oh my gods…"
And without waiting for an answer, she jumped out of the bed, dragging the bedspread with her in full panic mode.
"I—I—I apologize!" she sputtered, lowering her head in a deep courtesy. "Forgive me, your highness."
She caught sight of her garments—cleaned, pressed, hanging neatly beside the bed. Without hesitation, she snatched them and bolted out of the room, bedspread still clutched to her body.
She slammed the door behind her, leaving behind the stunned silence of the room.
Soren blinked slowly. He didn't move. Didn't speak. Didn't try to stop her.
He simply dragged a hand through his tousled hair, a smirk creeping onto his lips.
And then he chuckled.
A slow, low chuckle filled with satisfaction and mischief.
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Seraphina barged into her chamber, chest rising and falling rapidly, barely catching her breath.
Vivienne shot upright from her bed the moment she saw her sister enter.
"Sister! Where on earth have you been the entire night?" Vivienne demanded. "I waited for you—I looked everywhere. You disappeared!"
But as she was bombarding her with words, she suddenly stopped—her eyes sweeping over Seraphina.
Disheveled. Bedspread clutched to her chest. Hair a mess. Eyes wild.
Vivienne raised one brow. "What on earth happened to you?"
Seraphina froze. That look—she knew that look. The curious, knowing look of her sister.
She grabbed Vivienne by the shoulders and sat her down gently on the edge of the bed.
"Okay," Seraphina began, still catching her breath. "I'm about to tell you something completely mad—something unbelievable."
Vivienne blinked. "I'm listening."
Seraphina took a deep breath. "I woke up this morning in Soren's bed."
Vivienne's eyes doubled in size. "What?"
Seraphina nodded slowly, hands trembling. "Yes. I woke up there… in my inner garments… and he was beside me. Just staring. Gods, Vivienne, he was just staring at me with those eyes—like he knew something I didn't."
As she spoke, the memory began to crawl back—one blurred scene at a time. The heat. Her fingers tugging at his collar. Her lips on his.
She paused. Mid-sentence.
Her voice faltered.
Her eyes widened.
Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
Vivienne tilted her head. "Sister…? Why did you stop talking?"
No reply.
Vivienne narrowed her gaze. "What happened next?"
Seraphina shook her head slightly, her lips parting, as if trying to grasp something—some missing piece.
"I… I don't know. I think I kissed him. I think I—oh gods…"
Vivienne took her hand, holding it gently. "There's only one way to know now."
Seraphina's brows lifted.
Vivienne looked her dead in the eyes.
"Only Soren can say if something did happen between you two or not."