Chapter 287

AURELIA’S POV The door of the carriage swung open with a groan, and a gust of cold air rushed inside, carrying with it the heavy scent of iron, smoke, and damp earth. It clung to my skin, thick and suffocating, so unlike the fresh forests of my own pack. Seraphina was the first to step out, her chin lifted high, her posture regal, as though she were arriving at a ball rather than a cage. I followed, my feet hitting the hard stone ground. The courtyard stretched wide before us, ringed with soldiers in dark armor, their eyes sharp and their expressions unreadable. They stood in disciplined rows, their presence more intimidating than welcoming. Every detail here spoke of strength and control: banners stitched with Draven’s crest, stone walls rising like a fortress around us, the clanging of weapons echoing somewhere nearby. This wasn’t a home. It was a reminder. And I was stepping into the heart of it. “Lady Aurelia,” a voice boomed, deep and commanding. I looked up. At the top of the sta