Seraphina's Point Of View
"I accept."
The words hung in the air for a heartbeat. Not heavy. Not light. Just… final. Draven nodded once, slow and approving, as if I'd just passed some invisible test. "Wise choice."
I rolled my eyes immediately, crossing my arms over my chest. "I hope you three will uphold your end of the bargain."
Azriel tilted his head, a lazy grin creeping back onto his face like a cat who'd spotted cream. "And what might that be?"
I cocked my hip, unimpressed by his theatrics. "Payment."
A pause stretched between us. Then, Azriel laughed. Actually laughed. His head tipped back, the sound rich and unrestrained, as if I'd just delivered the most amusing line he'd heard all year. The warmth of it filled the room, entirely at odds with the tension that had preceded it.
"You wound me, princess," he said, pressing a hand to his chest in mock offense.
