Seraphine's POV
The wolf inside me stirred, lowering his muzzle to his paws. This could be a trap, he warned, but it’s also the shortest path to safety.
He was right. Speaking openly in this house rarely earns reward, but silence earns even less.
“What does ‘under my protection’ actually mean?” I asked. “I understand the word—but I want to understand the reality before I behave as if I do.”
Cassian answered first.
“Two guards will stand at each end of your corridor, even at night. Not at your door—because the corridor matters more. Your sleeping place will move to a small room in the inner wing. Only those on my list may enter. I write the list, and every name has a responsible person beside it. You go to the kitchen only with an escort. If you want something from there, Zoey will bri
