Page 12 of Severed Heir

Family. The word rang hollow in my ears. I should have said something. I should have told him the truth, but I couldn’t. I just… couldn’t.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said.

“I’m one of the lead guards. My name is Klevor Sorpine, but some call me the Warden.” He smiled faintly, like my guilt and panic were written all over my face.

“Warden, got it.”

“I try to make this a home away from home,” he said. “All we ask is your dedication. Your desire to protect. After three years, you’ll be eligible to be stationed across the realms, if you choose to stay with the guards.”

“Three years,” I repeated, barely above a whisper. “Got it.”

I needed to get away from this man before he threw me in solitary confinement. Gods, with how pale I must have looked, he probably thought I was sick.

His gaze flicked to the grandfather clock ticking softly down the hall. “It’s late. Rest tonight and we’ll go over protocols in the morning.”

He was kind,sokind. And I wished he’d been cruel, because then maybe the guilt wouldn’t be tearing through my ribs like this.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

“If you know anyone else here,” he added, his voice softer now, “we’ll place you in their bunk.”

I latched onto the smallest truth I could find. “Myla Reinhart.”

Recognition lit his face. “She’s advanced to lead border guard. We’re sorted here, like the houses at Serpent. What’s your quell, dear?”

As my palm whirred ash, I fisted the crescent moon on my other hand. “Fire-wielder.”

“A fighter as well,” he said, chuckling with a wink, though the scarred side of his mouth barely closed. “You’ll make ranks fast being a Blanche, but don’t tell anyone I said that.”

“Ranks… got it.” I smiled faintly.

“We have room in her bunk,” he said, leading me down the narrow hallway. “Had a lot of outcasts from Serpent come through in the last week. Most will arrive tomorrow. You came at the perfect time.”

Had I been wrong about Malvoria? The halls felt almost welcoming, warm in a way that went against everything I’d been told.

We stopped at a heavy iron door. He gestured for me to open it. “None of the doors are locked by wards,” he said. “We trust everyone after you pass initiation.”

I cleared my throat. “What’s initiation?”

Klevor gave a tight smile, then placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Get some rest. We’ll go over everything in the morning. Normally, you wouldn’t be bunked with others until after passing, but given your tie to Charles… I trust you.” He nodded once and turned away.

I held my breath as I pushed open the door to my assigned room. Four beds lined each side of the barracks-style space. Two were already taken. Myla’s familiar curly braids fanned across her pillow on the left. Across from her, a silver-haired girl slept curled beneath a hunter-green duvet. I crept toward one of the empty beds. The mattress groaned beneath me as I slid under the stiff covers.

Myla stirred, blinking groggily into the dim light. “Who’s there?” she muttered, rolling onto her back. Her hand reached instinctively for the empty sheath at her thigh.

“It’s me,” I whispered. “Severyn.”

She shot upright, palm pressed to her chest. “What the hell are you doing here?” she hissed.

“I have no idea.”

She lunged from her bed and threw her arms around me, nearly knocking the breath from my lungs. “You got expelled?”

I nodded into her shoulder, breathing in the scent of campfire smoke and ink. But the other girl sat up suddenly, gaze narrowing with a sharpness I recognized instantly—Antonia. She looked so different without the nose rings or heavy eyeliner that I had to do a double take.

“Severyn Blanche has joined Malvoria?” she deadpanned. “Is this a nightmare?”

I nodded again. “I’ll explain everything tomorrow.”

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