Chapter 3
Alaric had always resented my connection to the Vale family. Even when my younger brother fell gravely ill, I was only permitted to visit him once every fortnight.
Now, with the date of my next outing drawing near, the steward of Thorne Estate pushed open my chamber door.
“His Lordship commands,” he announced stiffly, “that you copy the Book of Prayers a thousand times in the Hall of Grace, to petition heaven for Lady Celeste’s unborn child. Her condition is… delicate.”
By the lake, Celeste reclined sweetly in Alaric’s arms, her face the very image of fragile beauty. His gaze, soft and tender, lingered on the slight curve of her belly.
When she saw me, she blinked back tears and reached for my hand like an aggrieved sister. “You’ve always had such a kind heart, dearest,” she murmured. “If even you won’t help me, then I truly don’t know what to do…”
“There’s no need to beg her,” Alaric cut in coldly.
“If she refuses, then strip her of food, clothing, and firewood. Let her go without until she complies.”
Pain seared through my abdomen like needles driving into flesh.
That was how much he cherished Celeste’s unborn child. How gently, how reverently he spoke of it—as if it were a miracle sent by the heavens themselves.
“…Very well,” I said softly.
“I’ll do it.”
Alaric’s eyes flickered. For a moment, something almost like pain passed through them.
Celeste’s smile sharpened.
“I knew you’d come through for me, Seraphina. With you and Alaric looking after this little one, I know he’ll be born under every star’s blessing.”
As she shifted, a hairpin slipped from her sleeve.
She picked it up and waved it slowly in front of me. “This morning, a filthy mongrel barked at me in the streets,” she said with a pout. “Nearly scared me into a miscarriage. I had the guards break its legs. Couldn’t risk it scaring anyone else.”
“Maybe this pin fell from its mangy coat,” she added with a cruel little laugh.
Alaric’s voice floated over, low and indulgent. “You’re too soft. If it frightened you, we should’ve put it down.”
But I recognized the pin. My blood turned to ice.
It wasn’t from a dog.
It belonged to my brother.
The world spun.
All I could see was Elias sick and thin, coughing blood sister,” he’d said, “you’ll have to kill me first.”
as he staggered forward to shield me from blows. “If you want to hurt my
What did it feel like, I wondered–having your legs shattered while you were already too weak to stand?
Rage boiled in my chest. My vision turned red.
I lunged at Celeste, shaking, barely able to breathe.
She screamed and, without warning, drove the sharp end of the hairpin straight into her own stomach.
Tears spilled down her face. “Seraphina! I know you hate me for carrying the regent’s child–but how could you–how could you hurt
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my baby?!”
Alaric was on me in an instant.
He shoved me aside and caught Celeste in his arms, pale with panic.
Blood seeped through her gown.
“Seraphina!” he roared. “You lost your own child–so now you want to kill hers?!”
“I didn’t!” My lips were bloodless. My voice barely a whisper.
But his face twisted into something cold and unreadable. “Still lying?” he spat. “Seems I’ve spoiled you far too much.”
“Guards. Bring the rods.”
Buckets of blood–soaked water were carried out into the night, one after another.
I was dragged into the courtyard and forced to my knees.
The rods they used were thick as a man’s wrist. A single strike could kill.
Alaric stood a short distance away, eyes darker than night, his voice hoarse with fury. “Why must you always push me, Seraphina? Why can’t you just stay in this estate and behave?”
Tears hit the ground as I writhed under the maids‘ grip. “I didn’t do it! I swear, I didn’t! Alaric, you have to believe me–she’s the one who-”
“Let it go,” came Celeste’s fragile whimper from inside the room. “Even if the child is gone… please don’t punish Seraphina. She didn’t mean it…”
Alaric inhaled sharply. When he spoke, his voice
razor–sharp.
“Believe you?” he asked. “After all I gave you,
hat did I
in return?”
“Your father destroyed my house. You threw me
for another man. And now you want me to believe you wouldn’t harm a child?”
“Seraphina Vale… how could I have ever loved something so?”
The first strike tore through my back like fire.
But even that pain paied in comparison to his words.
I knew–Alaric loved me.
And hated me just as deeply.
Our love had long since rotted into a curse neither of us could
escape.
I bit through my lip to hold back the scream, choking down the blood.
With each strike, he asked, “Will you admit what you’ve done?”
My vision blurred.
But every time, I said the same thing through clenched teeth. “I won’t.”
His eyes turned bloodshot.
“Then keep going. Until she does.”
By the sixtieth blow, my back was shredded raw.
Celeste stood in the doorway, leaning delicately on her maid, and whispered into my ear with a smile like poison.
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“Do you see now?” she cooed. “Even after you followed him into exile, even after you carved your own flesh to make medicine when the plague hit… his heart still belongs to me.”
“Why else do you think he never named you his wife? Why else would he kill every child you bore?”
“The only reason he ever touched you… was because you looked a little like me.”
Her laugh was quiet and cold.
“Oh, Seraphina. I didn’t win the match back then. But now? Now I’ll make sure there’s not even a grave left for you to be buried in.”
I curled into the rain–soaked blood at my feet, my body convulsing with agony.
But she didn’t need to finish me off.
She wouldn’t have to.
Soon, I’d be gone from this world anyway.
And no one would remember my name.
