“The assassin is inside the palace.” Eryx said it the moment he stormed into Alessia’s room later that night—slamming the door behind him so hard the windows rattled. Alessia jumped from her seat, the book she had been pretending to read slipping from her hands.
 “Inside the palace?” she echoed.
 Eryx shoved a paper into her hands. His normally calm blue eyes were burning—dark, furious, and unsteady in a way she had never seen.
 “Yes,” he said, pacing like a caged wolf. “Inside. Close. Too close.”
 Alessia’s stomach twisted. “I—I don’t understand.”
 Seraphine stood by the window, wringing her hands anxiously. “What happened, Your Highness? ”
 Eryx ran a shaking hand through his hair. His voice was tight, low, and trembling with anger he could barely contain.
 “Another attack plan,” he said. “An intercepted message. Delivered to one of the guard captains.”
 Alessia’s breath stilled. “A message about… me?”
 He nodded.
 She unfolded the paper with trembling fingers. It was short—only a few words, written in sharp ink strokes.
 The girl must not survive.
 Eliminate her before the prophecy becomes public.
 Do not fail.
 Her vision blurred. The Prophecy, the word stabbed through her like a blade.
 Seraphine pressed a trembling hand to her mouth. “Princess… oh stars…”
 Alessia stared at the paper, heart pounding so violently she felt dizzy. “Prophecy? What prophecy?!”
 Before Eryx could answer, the door clicked open.
 Kael stepped in without permission. He always entered like he owned the air.
 Tonight, he looked more dangerous than usual—his dark cloak sweeping behind him, black mask catching the lantern light, and runic carvings glowing faintly. His posture was rigid, every movement taut with restrained violence.
 “Where did this come from?” Kael demanded, eyes fixed on the note.
 Eryx shoved the paper toward him. “Second floor, east wing. Captain Alran intercepted it before it reached its intended recipient.”
 “Intended recipient,” Kael repeated. “Which means it wasn’t the assassin sending it. It was someone giving orders.”
 “Inside the palace,” Alessia whispered again, the words shaking in her throat.
 She felt like she was drowning again—like Aqua had closed over her head, dragging her down.
 Kael walked toward her slowly. “Alessia.”
 She looked up.
 His tone was steady and grounding, “You cannot panic.”
 Her breath trembled. “Someone wants to eliminate me before a prophecy becomes public. How do I not panic?! ”
 “Because panic kills,” Kael said. “And you have already learned to survive fear.”
 Eryx clenched his fists. “Kael, she has the right to be afraid—”
 “She has the right to live,” Kael cut in sharply. “Fear won’t keep her alive. Focus will.”
 Alessia pressed her hand over her mouth, trying to breathe steadily.
 Seraphine rushed to her side. “Princess, sit. Please.”
 Alessia dropped onto the nearest chair. Her knees felt like wet sand.
 Kael crouched in front of her, lowering himself until his masked gaze met her eye level. “You will not die,” he said softly.
 Alessia’s eyes glistened in fear, “You can’t promise that.”
 “I don’t promise. I ensure,” Kael replied.
 Eryx ran a hand along the back of his neck, visibly forcing himself to stay calm. “Kael, we need to identify the assassin. Immediately.”
 “And we will,” Kael said.
 Seraphine’s voice trembled. “But… how do we even begin? The palace is enormous, and everyone seems to have a motive.”
 Kael’s head tilted slightly as he spoke, “No,” he said. “Not everyone.”
 Alessia nervously swallowed. “Then who?”
 Kael stood slowly, “Those who benefit most from your absence.”
 Eryx’s eyes sharpened. “Cassian.”
 Alessia’s breath hitched.
 Seraphine gasped. “But… he’s just a boy—”
 “That boy wields Ignis like a blade,” Kael said. “And his family gains power if Alessia falls.”
 Eryx shook his head. “It might not be him. It could be the Council.”
 Seraphine added quietly, “The priests?”
 Kael’s tone chilled. “Lux priests have killed for less.”
 Alessia whispered, “But the message didn’t name anyone.”
 Kael moved closer to her, lifting his hand slightly—not touching her, just hovering near her arm where the faint shadow of Caligo remained.
 “An assassin,” he said, “left that rune in the courtyard.”
 Her heartbeat quickened. Kael continued, “A different assassin fired the Lux arrow.”
 Alessia gasped, “Different?”
 “Yes,” Kael said. “Ignis traps and Lux assassination spells require different training. Whoever is behind this is hiring—or commanding—specialists.”
 Seraphine paled and uttered, “So… more than one person wants her dead?”
 Eryx’s jaw flexed. “Or one person hired multiple killers.”
 Kael sharply spat, “One mastermind.”
 Alessia’s hands shook. “Do we know who it is? ”
 “No,” Kael said. “But I know their intention.”
 Alessia lifted her eyes. “What… intention? ” she whispered.
 Kael took a breath. “To remove you quietly,” he said. “Before the prophecy is announced.”
 Eryx sat heavily on the edge of her bed. “The prophecy… Mother hinted at something earlier today. Something about Lady Keren discovering a secret.”
 Seraphine glanced at Alessia. “Princess, did the Empress say anything more? ”
 Alessia anxiously laughed and nodded, “She told me,” she whispered, “that my mother didn’t die from illness.” Her voice cracked. “She was erased.”
 Seraphine gasped. “No…”
 Eryx looked sick. “Alessia…”
 Kael’s posture stiffened. His voice was low, dark, and dangerous.
 “She was murdered,” Alessia squeezed her eyes shut. “Empress Ariadne said someone wanted to silence her because she discovered something.”
 “Something,” Kael repeated, “connected to you.”
 A chill ran up her spine. “Because of the prophecy? ”
 “Yes,” Kael said.
 Eryx leaned forward. “Then we need to find out what the prophecy says—before the Council hides it again.”
 Seraphine’s voice was barely a whisper. “What… what if the prophecy is about Alessia being… dangerous?”
 Kael turned toward her, tone flat. “It is.”
 Seraphine flinched.
 Alessia’s stomach dropped. “Kael—”
 “You are dangerous,” Kael said. “That is why you survived. That is why they want you dead and that is why you must stay alive.”
 Eryx stood abruptly. “Enough riddles. Alessia deserves to know the truth.”
 Kael met his stare calmly. “She does and she will.”
 Eryx crossed his arms. “Then tell her.”
 Kael’s gaze settled on Alessia. “Fine.”
 He approached her slowly, stopping directly in front of her.
 “Alessia,” he said quietly, “your mother discovered the truth of the prophecy and it terrified her.”
 Alessia’s pulse quickened. Kael’s next words were soft, but they shook the room, “The prophecy says that a girl born of Lux blood… with a shadowed core… will rise to unite the Empires.”
 Seraphine’s breath caught. “Unite… all three? ”
 Eryx’s eyes widened. “Impossible.”
 Kael didn’t blink and looked at Alessia seriously.
 “That girl,” he said, “will become the Empress of a single nation.”
 Alessia’s heart skipped. The Empress of everything.
 “And,” Kael finished, “before she rises… those who fear her will try to kill her.”
 The room fell silent. Alessia’s voice broke. “That girl… is me?”
 Kael nodded once, “Yes.”
 Eryx stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Alessia’s shoulder. “Then we make sure you reach that throne.”
 Seraphine whispered, “We protect you.”
 Alessia heavily breathed. Her fate. Her mother’s death. The attacks. The prophecy. Everything clicked into place.
 She lifted her head slowly, eyes shining with fear—but also fire.
 “Then let them come,” she whispered. “I’m not dying for their fear.”
 Kael’s mask tilted slightly. “Good,” he said. “Because the next attack will not be subtle.”
 Alessia exhaled shakily. “What do we do?”
 Kael’s voice dropped into a warning. “We hunt the assassin before they hunt you.”