Seraphina POV:
I woke to the sterile beep of monitors and the smell of antiseptic.
My back felt like a map of fire. The silver poisoning slowed my healing to a crawl. I tried to sit up, hissing as the movement tugged at the burns.
A nurse walked in, avoiding my gaze. "You're awake. The Alpha paid the bill. Discharge is pending your ability to stand."
"Where are they?" I croaked.
"VIP suite. Lady Isabella is in shock."
Shock. She had a scraped elbow. I had silver toxicity.
I gritted my teeth, grabbed the IV pole, and forced myself upright. I needed to see this. I needed the fuel.
I dragged myself to the VIP floor. Inside, it was a tableau of domestic bliss. My parents eating pastries, Isabella propped up on pillows, and Dante... Dante sat on the edge of the bed, flooding the room with soothing Alpha pheromones.
"Oh, look," Isabella said, voice dripping with syrup. "The clumsy one is awake."
Dante turned, his face hardening. "You look terrible."
"The silver..." I started.
"Isabella was traumatized," my mother interrupted, mouth full of croissant.
Isabella offered a bowl of soup. "Here. I can't finish this. You can have the leftovers."
I caught the scent immediately. Rich broth masking the faint, acrid smell of Nightshade. Just enough to make me sick.
"I'm not hungry," I said.
"Ungrateful brat!" Father barked.
"Eat it, Seraphina," Dante commanded. He didn't smell the poison. He only saw my defiance.
"No."
I turned and walked out. I needed air.
I found the hospital courtyard. A stone fountain sat in the center. I sat on the edge, the cold water soothing the fire in my veins.
"You're tougher than you look."
Isabella stood behind me.
"Leave me alone," I said.
She stepped closer, dropping her voice to a telepathic whisper so Dante wouldn't hear. You are nothing but a spare blood bag. A spare kidney. A spare life.
"Dante will find out," I said, standing.
"Dante is a blind fool," she smirked. "He loves the hero who saved him. He thinks that's me."
She saw Dante emerging through the glass doors. Her face instantly morphed into a mask of terror.
She grabbed my shoulders and shoved me backward.
Weak from the silver, I slipped. I fell into the fountain, the icy water engulfing me.
"Help! Help!" Isabella screamed, clawing her own face to leave marks. "Dante! She's trying to drown me!"
I surfaced, gasping.
Dante was there in a blur. He roared—a sound of primal fury—and gathered Isabella into his arms.
"She tried to kill me!" Isabella sobbed.
Dante looked at me, eyes glowing red.
"Get out," he snarled.
"Dante, I didn't—"
"Silence!" His Alpha Voice slammed into my chest like a physical blow. I coughed up blood.
"You will regret this, Seraphina. No one touches my Mate."
