Chapter 73

Chapter 73 Seraphina's POV The smell of smoke still clung to my clothes when we returned to Blackthorne. The victory at Maelin had bought us time, but not safety. Every step closer to home felt like walking a tighter rope, stretched between survival and ruin. The gates opened before us. Guards saluted. Citizens lined the edges of the courtyard, eyes wide, expressions wary. They had seen the fire on the northern horizon. They knew something had changed. Callista dismounted first, pulling back her hood. She didn’t say a word, just nodded toward me before disappearing into the west wing. Probably to begin debriefing the Crescent Guard. Kaelos remained at my side. "You should rest," he said. "You haven't stopped since we left." "Neither have you." He offered a faint smile. "Yes, but I didn’t take a blade to the ribs." I glanced down at the shallow cut still wrapped beneath my armor. "Barely grazed me." "Still." I waved him off and made my way to the upper chambers. Every stone stair echoed