Title: "Crimson Thrones: Volume 3"
By Sabbir Ahmed
Winter had come to Veyrath, frosting the battlements of the royal palace, but the kingdom burned hotter than ever. Lady Seraphine and Prince Kaelen had struck deep at Varrick's northern allies, yet the traitor's shadow lingered like smoke. Every ally could be an enemy; every kiss could be a trap.
The court whispered of Seraphine's influence over Kaelen. Some admired her cunning, others feared it. In candlelit council rooms, she maneuvered like a queen without a crown, her mind sharper than the blades she hid beneath her gowns. Kaelen watched her from across the chamber, a storm of pride and longing in his eyes, knowing the cost of their love might be more than either could pay.
Varrick, alive and furious, had forged a dark alliance with mercenaries from the eastern wastes. His vengeance was ruthless; villages burned, envoys disappeared, and whispers of rebellion reached the palace gates. Seraphine's heart, steeled by past loss, boiled with righteous fury. She would not let history repeat itself.
Under the guise of a winter ball, she lured Varrick's spies into the palace. Music and laughter masked deadly intent, and beneath the chandeliers, steel met flesh. Kaelen fought at her side, their synergy as perfect as it was dangerous. Each strike was fueled by love, each maneuver by revenge.
After the battle, Seraphine confronted Varrick in the palace library, the storm outside echoing the one within. "You underestimated me," she said, her eyes alight with the fire of retribution. The fight that followed was brutal, but cunning triumphed over brute force. Varrick's threat was ended—for now.
Yet victory carried a bitter edge. The kingdom was safe, but secrets remained. Allies had faltered, and Kaelen's crown was still under threat from factions beyond the palace walls. And in the quiet moments, Seraphine felt a dangerous truth: power and love were inseparable, and every choice might demand more than her heart could bear.
Veyrath had survived the storm, but the war for the throne—and for their hearts—was far from over.