Empire of Revenge

Chapter- Nine

Serafine - POV

"Take her away, Mr. Mosley." Zavier's voice cut through my reprieve, bitter as broken glass.

Mr. Mosley pulled Celeste away. The crowd swallowed the moment whole chatter, drinks, and laughter, like nothing had happened. Like this was normal. I looked at Zavier. His gaze stayed locked on Celeste a beat too long. Something raw. Something he wasn't hiding fast enough.

Don't tell me they have history.

I'd ask him about it later. He wouldn't tell me the truth. I already knew that. But Celeste's face had said enough. That wasn't jealousy dressed up as politeness. That was obsession. They'd been something. Maybe they still were.

Zavier straightened, the mask sliding back into place. "You alright, Princess?"

There it was. The act is back on cue.

I smiled sweetly, perfectly, and practiced and rose on my toes to whisper in his ear. "I'm not fine. You kissed me. I need to go to a washroom. I'd like to scrub your taste off my tongue, if that's not too much trouble."

His grip closed around my wrist before I could step away. "You're not going anywhere." His voice was ice-cold. "Trust me, Princess, if I could erase the last thirty seconds, I would. But we have bigger problems than a kiss neither of us wanted."

"Daughter-in-law Serafine." My head snapped toward the voice and there he was. The man who'd ordered my death, standing in a

tailored suit like he belonged in a cathedral.

Godfather Dominic Ventura.

His eyes swept over me, cataloging. Amused. Like I was something he hadn't decided whether to keep or discard.

"The wedding stream cut out. Shame. I missed the rest."

"Technical glitch," Zavier answered flatly.

"You look... well." Dominic's gaze lingered. "Healthy."

"Thanks to my husband." I let the words sit warm and sweet, a knife wrapped in silk. "He takes excellent care of me."

Zavier turned to me with a look so tender, so adoring, it nearly turned my stomach. God, he was good at this.

"I've been meaning to ask you something." Dominic paused, just long enough to make it hurt. "I was grieving my son." Something flickered across his face, pain maybe, or its very good imitation. "How long have you known my grandson, dear?"

"A year," Zavier answered, too fast.

Dominic's smile didn't move, but his eyes did, sliding from Zavier to me, waiting. I hadn't said a word. He noticed. Of course he noticed.

"Why didn't you bring her around before?" His gaze found mine. "Why announce a wedding out of nowhere?"

"Our families have more enemies than allies." My voice didn't shake. "Secrecy was safer."

"Of course," A murmur. "Danger has a way of finding loose ends."

His smile stayed exactly where it was. It never touched his eyes.

"If you'll excuse us," Zavier said, already moving.

"Oh, you should meet the rest of the family before you vanish." Dominic lifted a small box, holding it out like an offering. "But first.

A wedding gift. For Ventura's new daughter-in-law."

I took it. It felt heavier than it should. I took it.

"Open it."

I glanced at Zavier. He was tense, jaw tight, but he gave me the smallest nod. I opened it. A pendant sat inside, heavy and polished, the Ventura signet stamped into it like a claim.

"Welcome to the family," Dominic said, his tone sweet on the surface, but something underneath made my skin crawl. This man wasn't a fan of my family name. That much was clear.

"I'll cherish it," I replied.

He nodded, his stoic mask holding for a beat before he added, "Hope you don't disappoint Montravo." Hate laced every word.

"Let's go, Princess," Zavier said, his voice cutting through the tension. We moved on to more family, more faces. Cousins, extended bloodlines, people who looked at me like I didn't belong here. They weren't wrong. The list didn't end.

Ren Ventura. I remembered the name from the briefing: if anything happened to Zavier, Ren was next in line to lead the Ventura

family. His eyes were blue too, but lighter than Zavier's. Where Zavier's eyes were a storm-dark sea, Ren's were ocean ice.

And right now, they are on me. Studying me, the same way Zavier did. Zavier noticed. His gaze shifted, hardening the second it landed on Ren.

"Brother. Congratulations on your wedding," Ren said, calm as still water. "Welcome to the family, Serafine." His tone was smooth and polite, his hand taking mine, brushing, lingering, and lips pressing the back of my hand. His eyes held mine a beat too long.

Why does it feel like he's seducing me?

"You're a dimwit when it comes to this stuff," Naomi's voice echoed in my head, something she used to tell me back at the academy.

God, I missed her. I pulled my hand back. I'm not getting swayed by this.

Ren looked at me, mild surprise flickering across his face like he'd expected his charm to land. Not happening. Not with Ventura men. I glanced at Zavier, who wore an amused look.

"She's a real catch," Ren said.

"Yes," Zavier's eyes landed on me. I had to fight the urge to roll mine. "Too bad your charm doesn't work on her."

"No woman can resist me for too long," Ren said, smirking.

Zavier turned to him, his voice going cold. "She's already charmed by me. Try somewhere else."

Ren rolled his eyes at the threat.

"Zavier, I need some fresh air," I said.

I couldn't stand another second of this. I slipped into the washroom, turned the tap on full, and rinsed my mouth like I could wash the whole night out of it. I looked at myself in the mirror.

The kiss replayed. Uninvited.

Why did it feel so different?. It was good. I don't have much experience with this kind of thing. Random hookups, sure, but not that. Not the way he kissed. That asshole was a player. That's all it was.

Get your s**t together, Serafina.

I cursed under my breath, fixed my makeup, and took a deep breath.

This needed to end.

I could steal a phone. Get word to Naomi. Get out of here. End this stupid farce and come back stronger to kill that asshole Zavier.

I scanned the room, looking for my opening. I found it with an elderly woman, not exactly tech-savvy, phone within reach. I distracted her, slipped it free, and unlocked it without much trouble. I typed a message to Naomi: CODE SOS. Raven. I hoped she'd see it, hoped she could track the location. I deleted the message and handed the phone back.

I grabbed a drink and headed for the balcony.

"Hiding, Princess?"

I frowned at the words.

"Did you send an SOS to Naomi?" I turned to face him, narrowing my eyes. How the hell did he find this out?