Page 19 of Severed Heir

The words cut deep. I looked away, a warmth curling in my gut.

“Delair’s father is here,” I said, my voice quieter. “How am I supposed to face him?”

“He would’ve found out when she didn’t come home for the Winter solstice holiday.” His voice lowered. “Delair was next in line to inherit my title. He deserves the truth from me.”

I stared at him, the weight of it settling like ash in my lungs. He hadn’t just delivered my brother’s death. He’d delivered hers, too.

I asked, “Is that why you want to keep this quiet?”

His gaze dropped to the gravel between us. “I don’t care what the others think anymore. But you—” He looked down. “You defeated the lindworm. Alone. If you were anyone else, it wouldn’t matter. But there are only two ways this ends.”

My throat closed. “We end it. Whateverthisis.”

The king’s warning echoed through me—An heir cannot be with their ruler.I didn’t know why. Only that I was sure it caused some kind of political unease.

He reached for me, fingers curling under my chin. “Or... you prove yourself. Prove you earned your title the moment you faced the Serpent. Being a Serpent means showing the realm you deserve the power you wield.”

I blinked, the words striking like a slap. “The king called it treason.”

“You earned this. And I won’t be the reason you’re questioned for it.” His jaw clenched. “The choice is yours. Come back with me now—as my heir, and nothing more.”

“An ultimatum?”

“These are the choices, Sev. Charles knows it. That’s why you’re here. He had every right to send you to the prisons with the proof of your forbidden quell. He didn’t. And option one? It’s worthless if we’re both dead.”

“Then tell me what you want.”

“I won’t tell you what to do,” he said, gaze hardening. “But if you walk away from this institute, we don’t exist—and that would be a slow, cruel death. I could announce it now.” He nodded toward the gates. “There are a dozen starving journalists inside, all waiting for a headline.”

I leaned in, our breath brushing. “Fine. Take me back with you and I’ll deal with the consequences.”

He exhaled, slow. “An heir should not be in a Serpent’s bed. And if you come back with me... that’s all you’ll ever be. An heir. I don’t want that.”

I swallowed hard. “What happens if I don’t prove myself? What happens after?”

He took my hand, pressing it to his chest. “Burn this place down, Severyn. You’re not at the Academy anymore. No one here gets to tame you.”

“Fine,” I said again, quieter.

He moved my hand to his jaw. “My mother was raised to serve a man’s kingdom. She gave everything so Night could see the sun. I won’t watch you accept a life a man carved out for you.”

I almost kissed him. Gods, I wanted to. I wanted to collapse into that heat, that promise. But the things I longed for didn’t have space here.

“I should head in,” I murmured, stepping back. “It’s not exactly formal to skip whatever the hell bladecasting is.”

He caught my wrist as I turned. “You’re allowed one more moment of irrationality. But so am I.” His thumb brushed along my jaw, lips hovering just above mine. “One last chance,” he murmured, “before your brother writes our love story across every headline. The Valscribe reporters are desperate for details about my love life.”

I brushed my thumb across his mouth. “Our love story?”

He nodded. “Kissing you here would surely be treason.”

Our mouths met in a fleeting, desperate kiss. It lasted only a second, but when I pulled back, he held me tighter.

“I’ll see you soon,” he murmured. “The bond goes both ways, in case you’re incredibly lonely at night.”

“Oh, I’m not entirely sure I can moan in my mind,” I said dryly.

“I meant to talk, Severyn—but good to know you’re up for a challenge.”

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