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Thorns of the midnight rose

Chapter 2 A Blade in the Shadows

Word Count: 1037 | Released on: 24/11/2024

and tailored suits now a blur of fleeing bodies. The haunting echoes of the servant'

as she descended the marble staircase. The stranger-Cassian, as he called him

he asked, his voice low and amused

ther I run to it or away. Now, if you're as useful as yo

othered by her commanding to

. Their faces were obscured by masks, their blades gleaming in the chandelier's light. The Duke's guards, tho

as no random act of violence. Someone had orchestrated it-l

ian. "You're a fig

ied with a grin, drawing a pa

need answers, and I can

ving, her emerald gown sweeping across the

cise. His daggers danced in the air, deflecting blows and striking with lethal accu

commanding presence-stood apart from the others, barking orders in a language she didn't

y, at least-but she was far from defenseless. Hidden beneath the folds of her gown was a slender dagge

gly intent on reaching the Duke. Seraphine's lips c

s silent on the polished floor. The leader

?" she asked, her vo

n the light as she lunged, the blade aimed for his throat. He dodged at the last

tty face," he sneered, his

n," she replied, circling him li

d gracefully, her movements honed by years of secret training. She countered

attention of those nearby. Cassian, mid-duel with

get on your bad si

then struck right, her blade cutting through the assassin's s

tted, "but you're out

sharp as her blade. "Because it lo

g him with a flick of her wrist. His sword clattered to t

ow and dangerous, "you're go

searching for an escape. "Kill me if you mus

le. "Oh, I won't kill you. Not yet. But

a cloud of smoke and debris into the air. The force knocked Seraph

coughing as she tried

side, his daggers still

, though her pride stun

osion. The assassins were retreating, their mission seemingly

Cassian remarked, his tone light

im. "This isn't over.

ic stood, his expression unreadable. He met her eyes for a

ce. Alaric's fingerprints were all over it, and she would prove

thing told her that the arrogant, infur

old and commanding, "you and I a

his smirk returning. "

, Seraphine's mind raced with plans. The game had be

Chapter End

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Thorns of the midnight rose

Espada Fantasy

“In the opulent kingdom of Vynthera, Lady Seraphine Caldris is a woman of unmatched beauty and cunning intellect. Born into a noble family, she is admired for her grace but feared for her sharp tongue and even sharper wit. Beneath her polished exterior, however, lies a secret: Seraphine is the true heir to the throne, a truth hidden after her parents were betrayed and murdered by the scheming Duke Alaric-the man she was once betrothed to. The betrayal shattered Seraphine's heart, but it did not break her. Masking her fury behind an elegant facade, she weaves her way through Vynthera's glittering court, hiding her pain behind a confident and dominant demeanor. Her sharp arrogance and alluring presence make her both irresistible and intimidating. She plays the long game, quietly building alliances with those disillusioned by the Duke's tyrannical rule. When a mysterious assassin, Cassian, attempts to take her life under Alaric's orders, Seraphine does the unexpected-she spares him. Intrigued by her courage and ambition, Cassian offers his deadly skills in exchange for her protection and a chance at revenge of his own. Their partnership is fraught with tension; Cassian is as infuriatingly cocky as he is skilled, and the sparks between them threaten to ignite something Seraphine cannot afford to feel. As Seraphine edges closer to her revenge, she discovers that the Duke's betrayal runs deeper than she ever imagined. Alaric has uncovered the Midnight Rose, a cursed artifact said to grant immortality at the cost of its wielder's soul. If he succeeds in unlocking its power, Seraphine's plans-and the kingdom-will be lost. Caught in a web of deceit, mystery, and forbidden desires, Seraphine must risk everything to expose Alaric and reclaim her throne. But as secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, she begins to question who she can trust-including Cassian, whose own past may hold the key to the Duke's downfall or her ultimate destruction.”