Violet’s heart hammered in her chest.
In all her years of living, this kind of tension had always been reserved for bad news. Her instincts had never failed her before.
And right now they were screaming.
The queen spoke slowly. "Trust me, daughter, I never intended to burden you with this. I would have found a solution on my own, but there’s no more time."
"No more time for what?" Violet’s voice shook.
She knew it. She felt it deep in her bones that something was terribly wrong. But she refused to accept it.
Seraphira held her gaze.
"I’m dying, Violet."
For a moment, Violet didn’t speak. It was as if her tongue had suddenly turned to stone.
Her body felt strange. Heavy. Her head swam with confusion. She felt like she should sit... or stand... or do something, anything, but her limbs refused to cooperate.
The words simply echoed in her head.
I’m dying.
Then, before she knew it, tears filled her eyes.
"No," she croaked.
She was supposed to be brave. Strong.
But how did anyone respond to something like this?
"No," Violet said again, shaking her head. "You can’t die."
She had only just found her. They had barely spent any real time together as mother and daughter. Barely begun to know each other.
What did she mean dying?
That couldn’t be true.
"Violet, calm down," Alaric tried to wrap his arms around her, but Violet shoved him away.
"What do you mean calm down?" she demanded, her voice rising. "Didn’t you hear her? My mother is dying. I just barely met her!" Her chest rose and fell unevenly.
Asher dark eyes locked with hers.
"There’s a solution, baby girl."
"What?" Violet blinked at him, her thoughts scattered. "What did you say?"
"We won’t let her die," Roman said firmly.
Griffin nodded beside him.
"And Alaric won’t let that happen."
Only then did Violet’s eyes swing back to Alaric.
He was smiling at her in a calm and confident way.
Her voice softened into something almost fragile.
"You’re sure?"
"Yes, little minx."
He stepped closer this time, lifting a hand to gently brush away the tears sliding down her cheeks.
"I’ll save your mother. Nothing will happen to her."
For a moment, Violet could only stare into those bright blue eyes filled with certainty.
The conviction in them steadied her racing heart.
Slowly, she wiped her face with the back of her hand, embarrassed by her outburst.
Goddess above.
What the hell had just happened?
One moment everything had been normal, and the next her entire world had felt like it was collapsing beneath her feet.


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