Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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​​

I stepped out onto the terrace and stared at the darkness that stretched beyond the illuminated garden.

The chilling night air helped with the fluster that overcame me and I gripped the concrete railing for support.

I was mad at Graike that he brought up my inexperience (again!). And I was madder at myself for not hating him.

Graike is shameless, despicable, and let's not forget that he is actually a one-ton dragon set on taking me into his harem. Why can't I see him as dangerous?

I decided. No matter how I see Graike, I will stay away from him. Graike is bad news and the last thing I want is to be tangled with such a man. I don't want to provoke him, but if I don't retaliate, I might end up kidnapped and stuck in a harem or worse.

A mental image of Graike flying to who-knows-where with me on his back (or in his claws) gave me shivers.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to compose myself. The right thing to do is to calm down and go inside, find Aldus, and pretend that the last ten minutes didn't happen. Or let's make that last half an hour so I forget about Elias and Bolek also.

I told myself to focus on the positives. Dinner is over and this is mingling hour and soon I will go home.

A gust of cold wind wrapped around my exposed shoulders and my eyes snapped open.

Why do I feel so cold? And what happened to the lights? What the…?

Why am I in the forest? I was on the terrace, I'm sure of it.

I panicked slightly when I realized that my legs won't budge. It was like my feet were superglued to the ground.

The faint music from the back told me that I'm not far from the castle, probably in the trees just beyond the garden. How did I reach here?

I heard some rustling, or did I imagine it?

"Hello?", I called.

Three creatures wearing black hooded capes emerged from the darkness and approached me without a word.

If not for the crunching below their feet, I would believe they are hovering.

I swallowed softly. What happened with the secure event, and no one will attack me? Because this definitely does NOT look good.

Does this mean I'm still not allowed to use my powers? What power would be useful? I could blast them away with winds and cause commotion until I figure out how to make my legs move.

Calm down, Serina. Maybe it's not so bad.

Let's try talking. "Excuse me."

"You need to come with us…", a gargled voice sounded.

I blinked. "With you? Where?"

"There is no time to explain. Come with us."

I realized that they can't kidnap me. Aldus told me about various protections around the castle and one is that no one can leave against his (or her) will.

Well, they can't kidnap me, so that gave me a boost of courage as I tried to force my legs to move.

The closest creature extended his hand toward me like he wants to touch my face and I jerked backward.

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Come with us…", the gargled voice repeated.

"No!", I exclaimed and thought that maybe if I shout Aldus's name he will hear me. Or I could just randomly scream for help.

While I thought about what to do, the hooded trio talked amongst themselves, like I'm not there.

"Stop playing and break her."

Break me?

"She is resisting."

I am?

"Break her!"

"Don't you think I'm trying!?"

I had no idea what they are trying, but the chills around me increased and my teeth started clattering as I shivered.

"I can sense a mental block that is preventing us from going in. It seems it's a two-way block."

Mental block? Are they trying some mind control?

"Who would set a two-way block?"

"Who cares? Focus on the mission!"

What the hell is going on? They are talking jibberish while my legs won't move and I'm freezing.

"We are running out of time!"

"Shit!"

"Abandon her or we will be caught!"

And the three black figures disappeared.

This was weird. Where did they go?

"Princess!", I heard Lazarus shouting and then another shadow dashed past me, into the darkness. Was that Graike?

Lazarus put his hand on my shoulder and his palm was so hot that it burned me.

"Why are you so cold?"

I opened my mouth to respond, and my legs gave in.

Before I could plop on the ground, I found myself in a firm embrace.

Lazarus held me and he was warm. Hot actually.

I was freezing, and I snuggled into his chest, searching for a way to thaw myself.

"Serina!", Aldus called, and I saw him approach us.

"She is very cold.", Lazarus said. "We came too late to see who it was. Graike went after them."

"T-three of them…", I stuttered through my shivers. "Bl-black cloaks…"

"Don't talk, Serina.", Aldus said while touching my forehead with his palm. Even Aldus was hot, but Lazarus was warmer.

"Let's take her into my room.", I heard a voice that sounded like Elena.

"I will go after Graike. Don't leave her alone.", Aldus said, and I felt Lazarus carrying me.

I was cold and tired, and Lazarus was warm and soothing, and I closed my eyes.

"Don't sleep off, princess…", Lazarus said to me. "We need you to stay conscious. Talk to me. What happened? Why did you come to the forest?"

"I didn't…", I said weakly. "I was on the te-terrace and then in the forest. I don't know how."

"Open your eyes.", the woman said and this time I knew it was Elena.

My eyes fluttered open, but it was hard. I really wanted to sleep.

"Let's take the side entrance.", Elena said. "We don't want to attract attention."

I watched as Lazarus carried me through the hallway and up the stairs and then into another hallway before Elena opened one door.

"Put her on the bed.", Elena instructed, but I clutched Lazarus's suit jacket and I didn't want to let go.

Can I die from excessive cold? So much for being immortal. The only thing preventing me from freezing completely was the warmth that radiated from Lazarus.

"St-stay with m-me."

I felt Lazarus's hold on me tightening. "I'm not going anywhere."

Instead of going to the bed, he sat on the sofa and Elena touched my forehead before reaching for the quilt and putting it over me.

"This looks like cold magic.", Elena said.

"She is not getting better.", Lazarus's voice was full of concern. "I believe that her temperature dropped compared to when I found her."

Elena hummed in understanding. "I'm going to get help. Keep her warm and don't let her sleep."

The door closed with a thud and then it was just the cold me and the warmth from Lazarus.

"Why are you getting into trouble, princess?", Lazarus asked.

I laughed weakly. "Wh-what trouble?"

"I remember clearly you destroying the sunroom, and last year I felt the explosion you caused in the basement. And this seems to be the trouble for this year."

I remembered the basement explosion. It was the first time when I tried using air control to manipulate alchemic flames. I didn't know that Lazarus was visiting.

"One tr-trouble a year is n-not a lot.", I protested and he hummed ambiguously in response.

I looked up at him, even though my eyelids weighed a ton. "Laz?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for being here with me."

My vision was getting blurry, but Lazarus was close enough that I could see him staring into my eyes. And then his hot palm cupped my icy cheek, and I felt his breath on my face… and then he kissed me.

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