Chapter 87

Chapter 87 Seraphina's POV The first snowfall of the season came early. I stood on the eastern balcony of the Blackthorne Keep, watching as delicate flakes drifted from the sky like falling ash. The ground below had only just begun to fade from autumn’s golds to winter’s whites, and the cold bit gently at my cheeks. It was quiet. Peaceful. Almost. Behind me, the halls were alive with preparation. New banners were being sewn, new alliances drafted. Blackthorne was not just recovering—it was becoming something new. Something stronger. And yet, I felt restless. Kaelos approached quietly, wrapping a warm cloak around my shoulders before stepping beside me. "You're out here early." "Couldn’t sleep," I admitted. "Too much in my head." He looked out at the snowy horizon. "We should take a day. Just one. No council meetings. No envoys. Just us." I smiled faintly. "We should." But we wouldn’t. We both knew it. The doors to the war room creaked open behind us, and Callista’s voice called, "Serap