Chapter 288

AURELIA’S POV The silence lingered like smoke. I didn’t turn back to face her. I dipped my hands into the basin, the water cold against my skin, scrubbing harder than necessary as though I could erase the memory of Draven’s hand on my chin. The scent of iron and stone clung to me, but beneath it, I could feel something else—something warm, humming faintly beneath my skin. Seraphina finally found her voice. “You’re getting bold, sister,” she said, her tone light, but I heard the edge under it. “Careful. Words like that can come back to bite you. Especially here. Especially under Draven’s roof.” I lifted my head, meeting her reflection in the mirror above the basin. “Then maybe you should be careful too. You’re here now. Whatever cage I’m in, you’re in it with me.” Her smirk returned, but it was thinner, stretched too tight. “You really think you can survive him? You? You’ll be broken before the wedding even happens.” I dried my hands, turning slowly. “You want me broken, Seraphina. You’