~ Alaric's POV ~
The mist clung to my skin like a suffocating second layer, curling around my throat, seeping into my bones. The scent of earth, blood, and old ruin filled my lungs… a scent that should’ve made me feel at home.
It didn’t.
Not tonight.
Not with her here.
Seraphina moved ahead of me, her steps light but brimming with purpose, and damn if it didn’t drive me mad. The stubborn tilt of her chin. The fury in her mysterious yet captivating eyes. The way she glanced at me when I decided to silently follow her.
If I don’t want her tangled in my mess, I should keep my distance. If I truly care about my little niece’s safety… I should never let Seraphina step into my cursed world.
And yet — some reckless, primal part of me keeps whispering. Telling me to leave my mark on her, t
