Chapter 5 The Full Moon Bride

The palace was too quiet that morning. Like even the walls were holding their breath. Elaria sat at her mirror, dragging the brush through her hair slow, half-awake, half-numb. Then- a knock. Not soft. Not nervous like a maid. Firm. Familiar. She didn't even turn. "Come in." The door creaked open. Her stepmother walked in-violet robe, black crows stitched along the sleeves. The same one she'd worn on her wedding day. She closed the door behind her. "The full moon rises tonight." "I know." Silence hung for a beat too long. Then: "Have they started to show?" Elaria blinked.

"What?" "Your powers." No warmth in her voice. No motherly softness. Just that cold curiosity, like Elaria was a sealed box and she was trying to see if anything inside rattled. "You come from a line that's never failed," her stepmother went on. "Fire. Mind. Storm. The Old Magic still remembers our name." Elaria looked down at her hands. "I haven't felt anything." A lie. She had. A whisper in the candlelight. That weird pull behind her ribs. The heat in her palms when she got too angry. But she wasn't about to hand that over. Not today. Her stepmother nodded like she already knew she was lying. "If they come, they'll come tonight. Be ready." She started to leave-then paused at the door. "One more thing," she said. "He won't tolerate weakness." The door clicked shut. - Not even five minutes passed before another knock. This one was light. Arrogant. The kind that didn't wait for permission. Elaria sighed. "Who is it?" Door opened. Seren. Of course. She leaned against the doorframe like she owned the whole place, arms crossed, eyes full of that casual malice she wore like perfume. "Just came to check if the blushing bride has sprouted wings or horns overnight," she said. Elaria didn't move. "You're early." "I wanted to be the first to say congrats. Or... condolences. Depending on how tonight goes." "Don't you have something better to do?" Seren's gaze slid over to the mirror. Then to the small dagger sitting on Elaria's table. "Still carrying that little knife? Cute." Elaria stood. Finally. "Do you have a point?" Seren stepped closer. Not too close. Just enough to be irritating. "We both know you're powerless," she said, voice low. "You always have been. You can dress it up in courage, but that won't change what you are." There wasn't even any venom in it. Just... need. Like she needed Elaria to stay small so she could feel big. But Elaria didn't shrink. "I've learned something," she said, voice quiet. "Even powerless things can burn if you push them hard enough." Seren blinked. Just once. Then turned and left.