**Author's POV**
The atmosphere in the palace felt heavier than ever as if the walls themselves held their breath in anticipation of what was to come. Something wasn't right. Seraphina's senses pickled with unease, but she couldn't place the source.
Kael had just left to foresee some council matters, leaving her with a rare moment of solitude. Yet, instead of peace, She was filled with restlessness. She stood by the balcony, staring at the distance where the city lights flickered like stars.
A sudden knock broke her thoughts. It wasn’t the soft, measured knock of a guard, but an urgent, hurried one. She opened the door to find Bryan standing there, his face pale and his posture tense.
"My lady," he said, his voice low but urgent. "There had been a breach in the dungeon."
Seraphina's stomach twisted. "A breach? What happened?
Bryan's gaze shifted to the shadows behind him as if expecting someone to overhear. "The elder is missing. The guard responsible is nowhere to be found."
Seraphina froze, her heart racing with fear as the words sank in She knew what was to come: the Elder was dangerous—his magic was unpredictable, and his hatred for her and Kael was palpable. If he was free, the palace was in danger, and so was everyone within its walls.
"We need to find him," she said, her voice steady, despite the turmoil inside. "Alert Kael and double the patrol. No one comes in or goes out without clearance."
Bryan nodded and disappeared down the hallway, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Her heart pounded as she reached for the dagger hidden inside the drawer. If the Elder had escaped, this wasn’t just a matter of palace security—it was a threat to the entire kingdom.
From the dim confines of the hotel room, Lucian watched the flickering lights of the palace in the distance. A grim satisfaction settled in his chest as Sam returned to give his report.
"The elder has been freed," she said, bowing his head slightly. "The guard was discreet and everything went as planned."
"Good," he murmured. "Now the real game begins."
He turned to the table where a map of the palace lay spread out, marked with notes and points of interest. "The Elder will not waste time. His thirst for vengeance will force Kael into action. By the time Kael and Seraphina figure out what's happening, they will be too preoccupied to stop us."
Sam hesitated, before speaking. "What if the Elder turns out on us?"
Lucian smirked, his confidence unshaken. "He won't. And even if he does, it won't matter. The chaos he unleashed will give us the confidence to frame Seraphina already."
His plans were falling into place, and the thought of having Seraphina within his reach soon sent a thrill of triumph through him.
Kael stumbled into Seraphina's chamber, her face pale but resolute.
"What's wrong," he asked, stepping closer.
"Lucian," she replied simply, her voice laced with worry. “I can feel him watching, waiting.”
Kael's jaw tightened. "He won't get near you," he said, pulling her into a protective embrace. "Not while I'm here."
The first wave of chaos erupted in the west wing, where the calm was shattered by an explosion. Kael was on high alert in an instant. “Stay here,” he commanded Seraphina, his voice brooking no argument. “Lock the doors and don’t let anyone in.”
“I can fight,” she argued, her eyes flashing with defiance.
“And you will,” he replied, cupping her face. “But not yet. Let me handle this.”
As Kael rushed, Seraphina's heart pounded. She wasn't the type to cower behind closed doors. But he knew better not to disobey Kael. For now-she would wait, but not for so long.
Ten minutes that felt like an eternity passed, but Seraphina couldn't stay calm. The chaos grew louder. With one final thought, she walked out of the room. Her movements were cautious and calculated as she glanced over her shoulders, her eyes darting around for any possible threat.
She found the Elder in the grand hall, his hunched form hovering with dark energy as he hurled waves of destruction toward the guards and Kael. Despite his show of strength, there was something off about the Elder. His movements were slower than expected, his strikes less precise.
Kael's voice cut through the chaos. "Seraphina, stay back."
But she ignored him, stepping forward with unwavering resolve. "You," she called, her voice cutting through the chaos. "What did you want?"
The Elder turned his malevolent gaze toward her, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. “Ah, mother witch, you imprisoned me for wanting you to embrace your true self. I’m here to make you pay.”
“I didn’t imprison you,” she retorted, her blade steady in her grip. “You brought this on yourself when you attacked innocent people.”
Their words clashed like a blade as Seraphina hurled a flame of fire towards them, but the Elder barely managed to catch it and threw it in the direction of the guards.
"It seems you are weak Elder," she observed coldly. "I guess old age and the harshness of the prison is taking a toll on you."
The Elder sneered, his energy faltering for a brief moment. “You know nothing, girl. This is only the beginning.”
Before he could muster another attack, Seraphina lunged, her blade cutting through the magic that coiled around him. The elder staggered his power dimming.
Kael seized the opportunity, launching a devastating blow that sent the Elder sprawling to the ground. "Enough," Kael roared.
The Elder struggled to his feet, his breathing labored. His dark magic flickered like a candle about to go off. Realizing he was outmatched, he snarled. "This isn't over. You'll regret this."
With that he vanished into the shadows, his retreat more a scrambled than a calculated one.
As silence fell over the hall, Kael turned to Seraphina. "Are you Hurt?"
"No," she replied, wiping her blade clean.
"Good," he said. Then his voice hardened, "I told you to stay inside. What if something had happened to you?"
Before Seraphina could respond, a wave of exhaustion washed down on her. She staggered backward as the blade fell off her hand with a loud thud. Then darkness consumed her as Kael caught her before she landed on the floor.
Outside the palace, Lucian watched from the shadows as he clenched his fists, frustration bubbling over him. He had been counting on the Elder to wreak havoc, to destabilize Kael’s hold on the palace and Seraphina. Instead, the plan had crumbled.
"He's weak," Lucian muttered more to himself than to Sam. "I overestimated him."
Sam standing stoically, asked. "What now, Alpha?"
Lucian’s jaw tightened. "They don’t know I freed the Elder, and they won’t suspect me. But I’m not done. This isn’t over. For now, let's go back to the hotel."