They were guardians.
Keepers.
Not owners.
Elara looked at the storm.
Then whispered the final line from her mother’s letter.
“Nothing that is bound remains loyal.”
The Queen’s eyes widened.
“No.”
Elara raised one hand.
Not toward Seraphine.
Toward the windows.
“I release you.”
The world stopped.
For one impossible heartbeat, every raindrop outside seemed suspended.
Then the storm answered.
Not with lightning.
With silence.
Complete silence.
The wind died.
The emerald around Seraphine’s throat went black.
She stared down.
“No.”
A crack appeared through the stone.
“No.”
Another.
The crownstone shattered.
The Queen screamed.
Alaric lifted his head.
The green fire disappeared.
Then thunder exploded directly above Seraphine.
A bolt struck the golden throne.
The Queen was thrown forward.
Her crown spun across the floor.
She landed hard.
Alive.
Barely conscious.
The court stared.
Elara lowered her hand.
The storm outside became ordinary rain.
Alaric pushed himself upright.
“Elara.”
She ran to him.
He was bleeding from one shoulder.
She touched the wound.
He flinched.
“You’re hurt.”
“I heal.”
“You were thrown through a pillar.”
“Not my first.”
“That is not comforting.”
A weak laugh rumbled from him.
Then guards surrounded Seraphine.
This time they did not await her orders.
The captain lifted the fallen crown.
Looked at the Queen.
Then at Elara.
“What do we do?”
Elara looked toward Alaric.
He understood.
“You are the heir.”
He laughed bitterly.
“I look like a nightmare.”
“So?”
“The people will never accept—”
“Stop deciding for them.”
He looked at her.
She smiled slightly.
“You sound like you hate when people make choices for others.”
“I do.”
“Then don’t do it.”
Alaric stared.
The captain slowly knelt.
Not before Elara.
Before Alaric.
“My Prince.”
One guard followed.
Then another.
Then twenty.
Across the throne hall, nobles began kneeling.
Not all.
Enough.
Alaric looked terrified.
More frightened than when soldiers attacked.
Elara whispered, “Interesting.”
“What?”
“The giant monster is afraid of a room kneeling.”
He looked at her.
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
His eyes softened.
“No.”
Seraphine laughed weakly from the floor.
Everyone turned.
“You fools.”
The captain raised his sword.
Alaric stopped him.
“No.”
Seraphine coughed.
“You think she freed the storm.”
Elara frowned.
The Queen looked toward her.
“You released the binding.”
“Yes.”
The Queen smiled through blood.
“Exactly.”
Something deep beneath the palace groaned.
The floor shook.