Chapter 7
763 Words
JULIAN POV
The castle never truly slept.
It breathed.
Every corridor inhaled secrets and exhaled ghosts. Every stone had been mortared with blood, every chandelier polished by servants who understood that silence was the first commandment of House Valerius.
I stood alone on the western balcony, watching the sea batter itself against the cliffs below.
She was here.
After twenty three years of searching…
The last Thorne slept beneath my roof.
A slow smile touched my lips.
The game had finally begun.
Behind me, the ancient oak doors groaned open.
“You brought her.”
The voice belonged to Cassian Valerius.
My younger brother stepped onto the balcony with effortless elegance, dressed in an immaculate black suit. Golden hair framed a face far too beautiful to belong to a monster. Unlike me, whose darkness announced itself the moment I entered a room, Cassian wore his cruelty behind charming smiles.
His sapphire eyes settled on me.
“I almost didn’t believe the rumors.”
I didn’t answer.
Cassian laughed softly.
“So… she’s real.”
“She is.”
“And she’s alive.”
“For now.”
He leaned against the stone railing.
“You’ve broken every law our House has followed for eight hundred years.”
“I know.”
“You kidnapped the only Thorne left alive.”
“I know.”
“You placed the Alabaster Blade within her reach.”
“I know.”
He studied me for a long moment before sighing.
“You’re completely insane.”
I looked back toward the ocean.
“That isn’t news.”
Before Cassian could reply, another pair of footsteps echoed across the marble floor.
Heavy.
Measured.
Disciplined.
Magnus Valerius entered the balcony without announcing himself.
Our eldest brother.
The heir before he surrendered the throne to me centuries ago.
Silver threaded through his black hair despite our immortality, an old scar running across one eye, the only wound that had never healed.
His gaze landed on me.
Then Cassian.
Finally…
On the closed doors leading toward the eastern wing.
“She’s awake.”
My heartbeat stumbled.
Magnus noticed.
His expression darkened.
“You’ve become attached.”
“I’ve become interested.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
Silence.
Cassian looked between us with obvious amusement.
“Oh, this is fascinating.”
Magnus walked until only inches separated us.
“When Father learns you’ve hidden the girl inside this castle…”
“He won’t.”
“He already knows.”
The words settled over the balcony like snowfall.
For the first time in centuries…
I felt fear.
Magnus reached inside his coat and handed me a crimson envelope sealed with black wax.
The royal crest.
Three ravens surrounding a broken crown.
Father’s seal.
I broke it open.
Inside was a single sheet.
Only six words had been written.
Bring the Thorne to the throne room.
Before the next full moon.
No signature.
None was needed.
Cassian let out a low whistle.
“He’s summoning her already.”
“Impossible,” I muttered.
“He hasn’t even seen her.”
Magnus folded his arms.
“He doesn’t need to.”
A long silence followed.
Then another presence entered.
Lighter footsteps.
Confident.
Mocking.
A woman.
Selene Moretti, the House’s chief strategist, strolled onto the balcony dressed in an elegant emerald gown. Her dark curls spilled over one shoulder, and amusement glittered in her emerald eyes.
She bowed lazily.
“My prince.”
I barely looked at her.
“What?”
“A servant from the east wing sent me.”
“And?”
Selene smiled.
“It seems your little Thorne isn’t sleeping.”
My eyes narrowed.
“She’s searching the castle.”
Cassian chuckled.
“Already?”
Selene nodded.
“She stole a candle.”
Another pause.
“And,” Selene added with unmistakable delight, “she’s heading toward the Forbidden Wing.”
Cassian burst into laughter.
“Oh… I like her.”
Magnus cursed under his breath.
I closed my eyes.
Little bird…
Always flying toward danger.
I turned toward the doors.
“No one follows her.”
Cassian frowned.
“Julian.”
“Not one guard.”
Magnus stepped forward.
“If she enters the crypt…”
“Then she enters it.”
Selene tilted her head.
“You planned this.”
I smiled.
Cold.
Patient.
Predatory.
“I planned everything.”
Without another word, I disappeared into the darkness of the castle.
Because deep beneath House Valerius…
Beyond the forbidden halls…
Beyond the tombs of kings…
Something had been waiting centuries for Penelope Thorne.
And tonight…
It had finally awakened.
- Writer
