Page 17 of Severed Heir

Cully’s notebook slipped from his hands as his face paled. “Excuse me? You two know each other?”

“She saved my life during Serpent initiation,” I said. “We met on the first day.”

His jaw locked. “You never told me you knew my sister, Myla.”

I blinked. “Wait. Youtwoknow each other?”

A snort echoed from behind us. “Oh, they know each other well,” Antonia drawled. “Better than most. If you catch my drift.”

My jaw dropped. “You’reseeingmy… brother?”

Myla tucked a curl behind her ear, glaring at Cully. “I’m not sure what we are.”

“Cully!” I smacked his shoulder. “I didn’t even know you talked to girls.”

His gaze dropped to my shadow relic, and his expression shifted. “Severyn,” he said slowly. “I have a lot of questions.”

“I have a lot of question—questions,” I corrected, heat rushing to my cheeks. “Most of which I’m not sure I want the answers to.” I folded my arms. “But please—enlighten me with your questions.”

“No one’s getting titled here,” he said, though his mouth tightened. “After three months in the prison sector, I transferred. Malvoria keeps better records. If someone’s crowned, I’ll know. This place…” His eyes swept the walls, as if already imagining the headline within the cobwebs and faint smell of death. “It has potential.”

“Well,” I said coolly, “do let me know if I can be of service.”

“You won’t be able to do much from in here,” he muttered, then hesitated. “But I’m glad you’re alive. I thought about you and Knox every day. How is he?”

To him, our legacy was dead. No Blanche heirs left to claim the Northern title. “Knox is fine,” I said, though I wasn’t sure it was true. I hadn’t seen Knox since the Bid.

Then a voice slid into my mind. “Severyn Blanche. Meet me at the entrance. Alone.”It was Archer, and he sounded furious.

Cully bit his lower lip. “You seem… different.”

“I’m not twelve anymore, Cul. And I’d prefer if my name didn’t end up in your notes.”

“I can’t promise that,” he said, too softly. “I’m a journalist.”

Archer hissed through the bond again,“Severyn, I’ve been patient. But now that I’m no longer bound by flame—don’t tempt me. I might just throw that punch at Rok after all.”

“I’ll be back,” I muttered, casting a pointed look between Cully and Myla. “And don’t go into any rooms alone.”

By the time I reached the doors, Archer was already there. His jaw was locked, arms folded tight across his chest. I didn’t give him the chance to unleash the fury I’d just kept from boiling over.

“I just found out Cully’s sleeping with Myla,” I said, stepping into the courtyard. “It’s a disaster.”

Archer didn’t even blink. “You were nearly on your knees from a forced quell test, andthat’swhat you’re worried about?”

“Cully doesn’t date,” I snapped. “He lives in books. Not... people.”

His brow lifted, mouth twitching. “Could be worse. Myla might end up your sister-in-law.”

I groaned. “They are hooking up. That’s not the same. If he were courting her—fine. But she had no idea what they were. And that’s—”

Exactly what we were.

Archer stepped in, close enough that his shadows skimmed my sleeve. “Forget your brother’s sex life for one godsdamned second.”

I stilled. “Why am I here? You should’ve had a say.”

“I did have a say.” His jaw ticked. “I brought Kian here to watch over you.”

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