Seraphina's voice thundered with such force that the chandeliers above began to swing. I glanced up at the rattling crystals, fearful that one might fall like a deadly spear. Her command left no room for argument. The brothers rolled to a stop, their chests heaving from exertion and their clothes in disarray. While Cillian looked away from Seraphina's blazing blue eyes, Fionn's insolent gaze lingered a moment longer. She stared unblinkingly back at him. Finally, Fionn's gaze broke away from hers, and the fury within the brothers gradually faded.
Fionn’s eyes shifted again, the darkness draining into a pale, icy blue. I blinked hard, blaming the exhaustion clawing at my vision.
"Get up, both of you!" Seraphina said, approaching the table. "You shame Tilly with such behaviour." Her disdainful glance then turned to Torin, who sheepishly set down his wine glass.”
Fionn and Cillian rose and seated themselves at the table. They still glared at each other, but the tension had left the air and I didn't think they were about to fight again any time soon. At least not while Seraphina was around.
Seraphina's gaze flickered from one brother to the other.
"Children. Seraphina muttered, shaking her head. Yet you dare to claim superiority over humans. Absurd”
Approaching me, she radiated an aura of authority tinged with warmth, easing my apprehension. Her touch sent a shiver down my spine, a blend of power and comfort. Despite my wariness, I found comfort in her presence.
"Leave the children to their play, we have much to discuss. Come with me."
She slipped her hand into mine. I felt immense relief that she was taking me away from the brothers. Her skin was amazingly soft, but her fingers gripped mine with surprising strength. Although Seraphina was calmer than the brothers, I knew I would have to keep my guard up around her and not let myself trust her too much. Her firm grip told me I was still very much a prisoner, and I thought that if I crossed her, her friendly manner would soon disappear.
As we left the dining room, Seraphina's grip on my hand was both comforting and confining. I glanced back at Cillian, whose expression softened into concern as our eyes met, a silent communication of worry and connection. Yet, as quickly as it appeared, his attention shifted back to Seraphina at her command.
"Seraphina," Cillian said quietly, hesitation in his voice. "Where are you taking Tilly?"
"To her room, where she can rest and recover from your boorish manners," Seraphina replied dismissively, leading me away.
"I can escort her," he offered.
"That won't be necessary, Cillian. I suggest you and your brothers discuss your behaviour before you ruin everything. Tonight, I'll watch over her."
“Fionn’s voice then reached my ears, cold and calculating. "Ensure that she has no means to escape. You may be a Starward for the Seraphel Order, but Tilly is like a little bird always looking to flee its cage."
I turned and caught his gaze. His hard eyes showed no sympathy or concern. He was so cold he could pass for an ice sculpture.
I looked away quickly, not wanting to see him smirk as he registered the shudder that ran through me.
Tense silence descended on the room as Seraphina stopped and turned to look at Fionn. Her stare was as cold as his. It was atodds with the warmth that flowed through my fingers where she gripped them.
Cillian and Torin stared down at the table as though afraid of what Seraphina would do next. I gasped when I noticed the wine glass in front of Fionn tremble then shatter.
He flinched. For the first time, I saw compliance in his demeanour.
"Did you have anything else to say, Fionn?"
He remained silent. Only the twitching of his jaw betrayed him.
"Tilly's our guest, and she'll be treated with respect. Is that understood?" Seraphina turned to me with a gentle smile. Once again, I felt wrapped in a strange warmth. I looked back at her, grateful for the reassurance she offered. I tried to remind myself that she knew I was a prisoner, and she was doing nothing to help me.
As we walked out of the dining room, the doors silently closed behind us. She led me to a sweeping spiral staircase flanked by a magnificent chandelier. With each step we ascended, the crystals above us softly chinked.
"Have you been introduced to the energy of the universe by the brothers?" Seraphina inquired, her voice pulling me from my spiralling thoughts.
I hesitated, recalling Cillian's fleeting explanation amidst the chaos of their conflict. "Cillian mentioned it briefly," I confessed, my curiosity piqued.
Seraphina nodded, her eyes alight with a subtle glow.
"Observe."
With a graceful gesture, she directed my gaze to a nearby chandelier. To my amazement, it swayed gently at her command, the intricate crystals shimmering with an otherworldly brilliance. As she wove her hand through the air, the chandelier swayed faster and faster until it became a blur of movement, the clinking soundnow a constant noise, a testament to the boundless power at her fingertips.
I watched with awe. Before everything that had happened with the brothers, I would have assumed it was a trick chandelier, something a magician would use to wow his audience. Now I know better. Maybe I should have doubted the magic, but why would I? I could see it with my own eyes, and one thing I had learned from the brothers was that there was a lot more to the universe than I had ever imagined.
