Velvet Ruin: The Empire Of Ruin

CHAPTER 25

Seraphina

I spent the day in the library, surrounded by books and ledgers. Rain tapped steadily against the tall windows, a rhythm that matched the tension in my chest. Every few minutes, I caught myself glancing toward the door.

He was always watching. Always observing and I hated how much I wanted him to.

I thought about Elias. About the betrayal. About how fragile everything was. About how quickly a single mistake could destroy everything I had been trying to build for myself, and for him.

The thought scared me, but it also made me burn with something I didn’t want to name. Desire? Fear? Obedience? Something darker.