Page 59 of Severed Heir

I stared at Hadrian. Then laughed. “Excuse me?”

Archer rose in one fluid motion. “She’s not for trade.”

Hadrian’s gaze flicked between us. “You’d deny your heir the protection of a Summer bond? Her home will collapse without it.”

“She doesn’t need protection,” Archer said, quiet and lethal. “She has me.”

Hadrian didn’t flinch. “You can’t save her home, Archer. Your own village is nearly on rations.”

My heart slammed against my ribs. I didn’t know.

“No,” Archer said again, colder this time.

Hadrian shrugged. “You could at least consider it.”

Archer didn’t blink. “Severyn Blanche is a Serpent. If you wish to court her, speak to her. She doesn’t bite.”

Would he really let them pawn me off like a crown or a treaty? Some foolish, aching part of me still believed he might have fought for us. That he might have kissed me in that cabin if the silence had stretched one second longer.

Hadrian’s smile thinned. “If not now, perhaps at the next Bid. We could make it official—like your mother’s marriage to Victor.”

“Severyn has every right to choose who she marries. Who she beds. It will not be decided by politics if I have any say.”

“I’m not marrying anyone,” I snapped.

Hadrian spread his hands in mock patience. “What if I bartered the sun, Severyn? Returned it to North Colindale. IfCaius doesn’t suit your tastes, I have another son. A guard. He’s stationed far away, meaning you’d hardly see him.”

Archer’s body tensed beside me, taut as a drawn bow.

“Who?” I asked warily.

Hadrian smiled. “His name is Ellison.”

I blinked. “Ellison is your son?”

“You know him?” Hadrian’s interest sharpened.

“I was stationed with him at Malvoria,” I said slowly. “He’s a flame-wielder.”

The possibilities twisted bitter in my mouth. Could I trade my life for my father’s sun? Would it matter, now that Archer and I were nothing?

Archer’s hand gripped his goblet until his knuckles turned bone-white. “There’s a lot to consider.”

Kamila smiled like she’d just won a round. “Spend the evening together. See if the match fits. Accidents happen. Sometimes a flame can... ignite.” Her hands twirled dramatically.

Down the bond, Archer’s voice struck like a blade. “Tell me you aren’t considering this.”

“My father’s land will die.”

“I would never hold you back, but don’t ask me to be okay with this. I will never.”

“I’m only your heir now.”

His fingers clenched beside me.“That is not all you are to me, and you know that.”

“Do I?”

I breathed slowly, then locked eyes with Hadrian. “I appreciate the offer. But I won’t be bartered.”

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