Chapter 31
[The Valley—Inside Mikhail’s Dwelling]
The door shut behind Seraphina with a muted thud.
The inside of the stone dwelling was sparse. Shelves carved directly into the walls held old books, rolled parchments, jars sealed with wax.
A single lamp burned low, casting long shadows that stretched and bent across the floor.
Mikhail didn’t offer her a seat.
He stood near the hearth with his arms folded and his posture closed in on itself like a shield that had never been lowered.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said.
Seraphina removed her coat slowly. “You wouldn’t have opened the door if that were true p>
His jaw tightened. “I opened it because you used her name p>
Silence fell between them.
“You don’t get to do that,” he added quietly. “Not after everything p>
Seraphina met his gaze. “I wouldn’t have if it weren’t necessary p>
Mikhail let out a breath that sounded more like a scoff. “Necessary,” he repeated. “That word has buried more people than any spell p>
She didn’t argue.
He turned away, pacing once across the room before stopping near a shelf crowded with books that hadn’t been touched in years.
“Tell me she is alive,” he said suddenly. “And tell me you didn’t come here because she is dead p>
Seraphina’s voice softened. “Gemma’s daughter is alive p>
His shoulders stiffened at first and then it relaxed, as if the news had bought him a sense of relief which he refused to show.
“And where has she been all these years?” he asked, not turning. “Hidden? Suppressed? Pretending the world wasn’t hunting her p>
“Yes,” Seraphina answered. “All of that p>
Mikhail closed his eyes briefly.
“I warned her,” he said. “I warned you both p>
“I know p>
“She chose a human,” he continued, bitterness threading through the words. “She chose a quiet life and believed love would be enough p>
“She chose happiness,” Seraphina said gently.
Mikhail laughed once, sharp and humorless. “And look how that ended p>
The lamp flickered.
Seraphina stepped closer. “This isn’t about past choices p>
He turned on her then, eyes flashing. “It always is p>
She didn’t flinch.
“What happened?” he demanded. “Why are you here now p>
Seraphina hesitated just long enough for him to notice.
“Mikhail,” she said carefully, “something that should not be possible has happened p>
His expression hardened. “Those words never mean anything good p>
“The Blackthorn curse surged,” she continued. “And it didn’t break p>
That stopped him.
Slowly, he lowered his arms. “Say that again p>
“It surged,” Seraphina repeated. “And it settled p>
Silence pressed in around them.
“That curse has destroyed cities,” Mikhail said quietly. “It does not settle p>
“And yet,” Seraphina replied, “it did p>
His gaze sharpened, calculating. “Because of her p>
Seraphina didn’t confirm it but she didn’t deny it either.
Mikhail turned away again, this time bracing his hands against the stone table. “If that has really happened then she is in grave danger]
“That’s what I am afraid of,” she said.
“And you came to me,” he said slowly, “because you want answers without waking the world p>
“Yes p>
He was quiet for a long moment.
Then he said, very softly, “If she is involved, they will come p>
“I know p>
“They won’t care who she loves,” he continued. “They won’t care if she knows what she is or not p>
“I know p>
He finally looked at her again, something raw breaking through the restraint.
“Do you understand what you are asking me to do?” he asked. “You are asking me to step back into something I barely survived p>
“I am asking you,” Seraphina said, “to help us make sure Gemma’s daughter doesn’t end the same way p>
That did it.
The name hung between them like a wound reopened.
Mikhail turned away, his voice rough. “You should never have let it come this far p>
“And yet,” Seraphina said quietly, “here we are p>
He exhaled slowly.
“I won’t promise answers,” he said at last. “And I won’t promise safety p>
She nodded. “I wouldn’t trust you if you did p>
“But I will look,” Mikhail added. “Because if the curse has gone quiet—” He glanced toward the valley beyond the walls. “then something old has already woken p>
Seraphina felt the chill settle deep in her bones.
“When?” she asked.
“Give me time,” he said. “And keep her hidden p>
“I will try p>
Mikhail’s mouth curved into something like a smile, sad and sharp all at once.
“Trying won’t be enough this time,” he said. “But it will have to do p>
The lamp dimmed slightly.
And far beyond the valley, forces that had waited centuries were already adjusting their gaze.
[Blackthorn Enterprises]
It had been two days since Kaelen had returned to work as the Alpha he had always been.
Nothing in the building was out of place, meetings resumed, reports stacked neatly on his desk.
The company moved with its usual precision, every cog turning exactly where it should.
And yet, something was missing.
Kaelen noticed it every time he stepped into his office
The curse was quiet—unnaturally so and the silence inside him should have been a victory.
Instead, it felt hollow.
He set his jacket aside and moved toward the window, his gaze dropping instinctively to the floors below. He didn’t need to look long to realize what his instincts were searching for.
She wasn’t there.
The awareness settled slowly, heavy and unmistakable.
The door opened behind him and Riven entered the room.
“She didn’t come in today as well p>
Riven paused, then nodded. “No, she took another personal day p>
Kaelen’s jaw tightened.
“She is fine,” Riven added, reading the shift immediately. “Just exhausted p>
Silence stretched between them.
Kaelen finally spoke. “I said I would stay away p>
“And you are,” Riven replied calmly.
Kaelen turned to face him. “Distance doesn’t change what she is to me p>
Riven didn’t argue. Instead, he leaned against the edge of the desk, folding his arms loosely.
“No,” he agreed. “But avoidance isn’t control either p>
Kaelen’s eyes sharpened. “You think I should go near her p>
“I think,” Riven said carefully, “that pretending she doesn’t exist is only going to make you lose focus p>
Kaelen exhaled slowly. “The curse is steady p>
“For now,” Riven said. “And that’s exactly why you shouldn’t treat this like a threat waiting to explode p>
Kaelen studied him. “Then what is it p>
Riven met his gaze evenly. “A variable p>
The word hung between them.
“You don’t know what she does to the curse yet,” Riven continued. “Neither do I but what happened wasn’t destruction, it was regulation p>
Kaelen’s fingers curled slightly. “That doesn’t make it safe p>
“No,” Riven agreed. “But it makes it different p>
He hesitated, then added, “And if she is not here, you are distracted but maybe if she were, you would be aware and controlled p>
Kaelen let out a quiet breath. “You are suggesting proximity p>
“I am suggesting balance,” Riven corrected. “Not pursuit, not avoidance but observation p>
Kaelen looked back toward the window, the city moving endlessly below.
“How long do you think I can keep this distance?” he asked quietly.
Riven answered honestly. “Not long p>
Kaelen nodded once.
“That’s what I thought p>
He straightened as resolve settled carefully into place.
“Arrange it,” Kaelen said. “But quietly p>
Riven’s brow lifted slightly. “You are sure p>
“No,” Kaelen replied. “But I won’t make decisions based on fear p>
Riven gave a small, approving smile. “Good because fear is exactly what the wrong people are counting on p>
Kaelen returned to his desk, the stillness inside him no longer empty.
He had promised himself he would stay away, he hadn’t promised he would remain blind but fate had different plans.