POV: Caspian
She's not coming.
I check my watch for the third time in five minutes. Twelve-fifteen. I've been waiting in the Forbidden Archive for over an hour, and Aria Blackwell has stood me up.
I shouldn't be surprised. I shouldn't even care. I've dealt with far more important matters than one unpredictable girl with impossible powers.
But I do care. That's the problem.
I turn to leave—and freeze.
Soft footsteps echo through the ancient library. Someone's running.
The door crashes open. Aria stumbles inside, her face pale and desperate. She's not wearing shoes. Her hospital gown is torn at the hem. And there's something wild in her eyes that makes my protective instincts roar to life.
"Caspian." She gasps for breath. "I need your help."
I cross the distance between us in three strides. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
"They have my father." The words tumble out fast and frantic. "Someone sent me a video. He's tied up, bleeding, and they said if I don't go to the old lighthouse alone at midnight, they'll kill him."
My blood turns to ice. "Show me."
She fumbles with her phone, hands shaking so badly she almost drops it. I take it gently and watch the video. Every second makes my jaw clench harder.
This isn't amateur work. Professional kidnappers. Expensive equipment. Magical suppression chains on her father's wrists. Someone with serious resources is behind this.
"When did you get this?" I ask, keeping my voice calm even though fury burns through my veins.
"An hour ago. Midnight was the deadline. I'm already late." Tears streak down her face. "What if they've already killed him? What if—"
"Aria." I grip her shoulders firmly. "Listen to me. This is a trap."
"I know that! But he's my father—"
"Is he?" The words come out harsher than I intended. "The man who let your stepmother destroy your life? Who chose alcohol over protecting you? Who knew about your mother's murder and did nothing?"
She flinches like I've slapped her. "How do you know about that?"
I should lie. Tell her I guessed. But I'm done with lies between us.
"Because I've been investigating you since the moment you touched that Sorting Sphere." I release her shoulders and step back. "I needed to know if you were the Eclipse heir. So I dug into your past. Your family. Everything."
"You've been spying on me?"
"Protecting you," I correct. "There's a difference."
"Is there?" Her voice shakes with anger and betrayal. "Everyone keeps saying they want to protect me, but really you all just want to control me. Use me."
"That's not true."
"Then what do you want, Caspian?" She advances on me, eyes blazing. "Why did you really ask me here tonight?"
I could give her the political answer. The strategic explanation. All the logical reasons why House Sovereign needs the Eclipse heir as an ally.
But looking at her now—fierce and broken and terrifyingly powerful—I can't lie.
"I wanted to show you something." I move to the ancient table where I've laid out texts from my family's private collection. "Books that explain what you are. What you can become."
She approaches cautiously, like the books might attack her. "What are they?"
"The complete history of the Eclipse bloodline." I open the oldest tome carefully. The pages glow with preserved magic. "Your family didn't just wield power, Aria. They shaped the world. Kings bowed to them. Armies followed them. They could have ruled everything."
"Then why were they killed?"
"Because absolute power terrifies people. Even powerful people." I flip to an illustration showing a woman surrounded by five different colored auras. "This is Selene Eclipse, the last recorded heir before your mother. She tried to unite all five Houses under one banner. Create peace through strength."
"What happened to her?"
"The Houses formed an alliance for the first time in history—not to work together, but to destroy her." I meet Aria's eyes. "They murdered her entire family. Every child. Every distant cousin. They wanted to erase the Eclipse bloodline from existence."
"But they missed my mom."
"Your mother was smart. She faked her death, hid for decades, married a human to seem harmless." I close the book gently. "But she couldn't hide you forever. The moment you used your power, you painted a target on your back."
Aria sinks into a chair, overwhelmed. "So I'm supposed to what? Hide for the rest of my life? Never use my abilities?"
"No." I kneel in front of her so we're eye level. "You're supposed to be smart about it. Strategic. Let me help you."
"Why would you help me?"
"Because House Sovereign has resources you need. Instructors who can teach you control. Guards who can protect you. Political connections that will keep the council from locking you up." I take her hand carefully. "And because watching you almost die in that arena did something to me I didn't expect."
"What?"
"It made me realize I'd burn this entire academy down before I let anyone hurt you."
The confession hangs between us, raw and honest.
Aria studies my face like she's trying to solve a puzzle. "What do you want in return?"
"Nothing you're not willing to give."
"That's not an answer."
"Yes, it is." I stand, pulling her up with me. "I want your trust, Aria. Your alliance. Eventually..." I hesitate. "Eventually I want more. But I'm patient. I can wait."
"My father doesn't have time for patience." She pulls her hand away. "I need to go to that lighthouse."
"Absolutely not."
"He'll die!"
"And you'll die saving him!" My voice echoes through the archive. "This is exactly what they want—you alone, vulnerable, easy to capture or kill."
"Then come with me." She grabs my arm desperately. "Please. You said you'd protect me. So protect me while I save my father."
I want to refuse. Every tactical bone in my body screams this is suicide.
But looking at her face—determined and terrified and brave—I know she'll go with or without me.
"Fine." I pull out my phone. "But we do this my way. I'm calling—"
"No!" She knocks the phone from my hand. "The message said they're watching. If I tell anyone, they'll kill him."
"Aria—"
"Please." Her voice breaks. "I know you think he doesn't deserve saving. Maybe he doesn't. But I can't just let him die. I can't."
The desperation in her eyes destroys me.
"All right." I pick up my phone slowly. "We go alone. But I'm bringing weapons. And if anything goes wrong, we run. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
I grab an ancient dagger from the archive's hidden compartment—forged by Eclipse ancestors, designed to channel multiple types of magic. I hand it to Aria.
"Keep this close. If someone attacks, don't hesitate. Understand?"
She nods, gripping the dagger like a lifeline.
We're halfway to the door when my phone buzzes. Unknown number.
The text message makes my heart stop:
Clever boy, bringing the Eclipse heir directly to us. Your family will be pleased. Payment has been transferred. -The Syndicate
No.
No, no, no.
I stare at the message in horror as understanding crashes over me.
They didn't kidnap Aria's father to lure her out.
They paid me to bring her.
Someone set me up. Made it look like I'm working for the Syndicate. Like I'm the traitor.
I look up at Aria—and find her staring at her own phone, face white with shock.
She turns the screen toward me slowly.
It's a photo. Of me. Shaking hands with a man I've never seen before. Text below reads: Caspian Nightshade. Contract: Deliver Eclipse heir. Reward: 10 million.
"You're working with them," she whispers. "You're the one. You're supposed to kill me."
"No. Aria, listen—"
She backs away, the dagger raised between us. "Stay away from me."
"This is a setup! I never—"
"All those messages tonight." Her voice shakes. "The one signed 'C' wasn't from you, was it? They wanted me to trust you. To come to you when I was desperate."
My mind races. If I didn't send that message, who did?
"Aria, please—"
She runs.
I chase after her, but she's fast and panicked and by the time I reach the corridor, she's gone.
Vanished into the darkness of the academy.
Alone.
Convinced I betrayed her.
And the real kidnappers are still out there, waiting.
I pull out my phone to call for help—and it buzzes again.
Another message. Another unknown number:
She'll be dead within the hour. And everyone will think you did it. Checkmate, Nightshade. -D
D.
Dante.
The charming assassin from House Shadow who swore to protect her.
The one with the skills to fake photos, send false messages, and frame me perfectly.
He's the traitor.
And Aria just ran straight into his trap.