Cadmus POV
"Arrest the real princess," I ordered. "Put her in guest rooms. Under guard."
"What?" Seraphina's beautiful face twisted with rage. "You can't arrest ME! I'm the legitimate—"
"You're late." I smiled without warmth. "The service is complete. The binding is sealed. For one year, this girl—" I held up Elara's wrist, showing the silver mark "—is my wife. Not you."
"But she's a fake! A fake! A bastard pretending to—"
"Guards. Now."
My men grabbed Seraphina's arms. She screamed and fought, but they dragged her away.
The moment the doors closed, I turned to Elara.
She looked like she might faint. Good. She should be scared.
Because my dragon was going absolutely crazy inside my head.
MATE. OURS. PROTECT. KEEP. NEVER LET GO.
"Come with me," I said quietly. "Now."
I grabbed her hand—the one with my binding mark—and pulled her through a secret door behind my throne. She stumbled after me, too shocked to refuse.
