A few weeks later, during the Moonfall Festival, my father asked me to deliver gifts to Lord Alaric.

The moment I entered Skyspire Palace, I saw Celeste. She had not returned to House Drakon for days, and now she stood there in a pearl-colored gown with jewels glowing at her throat and wrists.

“Elena,” she said, smiling. “Do you like them? Adrian gave me everything. I told him it was too much, but he said only I deserved things like this.”

I tried to walk around her, but she stepped into my path.

“I only wanted to share my happiness. Why are you so cold? I know you are jealous, but no one can force love. Adrian chose me.”

Tears filled her eyes as she spoke. Before I even touched her, she dropped to the floor as if I had pushed her.

“Elena, why would you do this? I know you hate me, but I am still your family.”

Adrian arrived at the perfect moment.

“Elena, what the hell are you doing?” His golden wings flared, throwing hard light across the corridor. “Are you bullying your own sister now? Do you have any heart?”

I looked at him, then at Celeste, and laughed. “Celeste, I did not know you were this good at cheap tricks.”

A slap cracked across my face. Adrian had hit me. “I will not let you speak about her like that.”

My cheek burned. Dragonfire stirred under my skin, hot and violent. I wanted to hit him back, but guests were already gathering at the corridor's end. This was Lord Alaric's festival banquet. I would not ruin it.

Celeste lowered her lashes, but I caught the smile in her eyes.

Adrian seemed to realize he had gone too far. He reached for me, but Celeste clung to his arm first. “Adrian, my eyes hurt. Can you look?”

Guests whispered as they passed.

“Is that Elena Drakon? She is so desperate for Adrian that she attacks her sister.”

“House Drakon must be ashamed.”

Adrian's expression turned colder. “Apologize to Celeste.”

Behind him, Lucien laughed. “Lady Elena, if you cannot stand one sister, what will you do when Adrian has lovers after marriage? Burn down the whole court?”

“Maybe she will. The dragon girl who fights every woman in the sky.”

I had once trained in blade dance and combat because of Adrian. I had even declared that any woman who tried to steal him would answer to my fists. Remembering it now made me embarrassed for the girl I had been.

Adrian leaned closer, smug and cold. “Grandfather will announce our betrothal today. If you still want to marry me, remember what I said. After the wedding, we each do what we want. You do not interfere.”

I stared at him, honestly amazed. How could someone raised in the Holy Court speak so shamelessly and still think himself noble?

Before I could answer, Lord Alaric's steward stepped out. “What is all this noise? It is a festival. Do you want to anger His Lordship?”

Behind him came Cassian.

He was not in a chair today. He wore a dark formal coat embroidered with silver feathers, and although his face was pale, he stood steady. The cloak on his shoulders could not hide the broken line of his wings, but there was dignity in the way he carried himself.

When he saw my cheek, he walked past everyone and stopped before me.

“Are you all right?” he asked softly.

Seeing him, I remembered my last life. After Adrian broke me, I wandered the streets like a ghost. A black carriage stopped beside me, and Cassian lowered the window.

“Elena, why are you here?”

He never saw me as a sister-in-law. Back then, I thought he refused to acknowledge me. Only after death did I learn the truth.

“Does it hurt?” Cassian asked again.

I looked into his dark eyes and smiled. “No.”

Adrian snorted. “Whether it hurts has nothing to do with you, Cassian. She is your future sister-in-law.”

Steward's face changed slightly, but he only said, “Go inside. Lord Alaric is waiting.”

As Adrian passed me, he murmured, “Do not forget what I said.”

He sounded as if he could already feel the crown of House Seraphiel on his head.

His pride did not last long.

When everyone entered the great hall, Lord Alaric came down the stairs with his staff. His hair was white, but his eyes were still sharp enough to cut through a lie.

He stepped onto the platform and took my hand. “Today, I announce the promise I made to Lord Evander Drakon. Elena has reached her twentieth year. She may choose a husband from the sons of House Seraphiel. After the marriage, I will transfer eighty percent of my private holdings to the couple.”

A wave of envy moved through the room.

“Now,” Lord Alaric said, “let the two children come forward.”

Adrian straightened and took a step.

Lord Alaric raised his staff and stopped him. Then he smiled toward the side of the hall.

“Cassian.”

The room froze.

Cassian had changed into ceremonial white and silver. Under the chandeliers, he stood tall, nothing like the helpless shadow everyone mocked. He carried moon lilies to the platform and looked at me.

“Elena,” he said, “are you ready?”