eraphine’s Persuasion
Seraphine sat by the roaring hearth in the icy stronghold, her silver eyes reflecting the flames as she addressed Lyra and Eryon. Her voice was soft, almost tender, but there was an undeniable force behind her words.
“You were stolen from me,” she began, her tone trembling with just enough emotion to sound genuine. “Your aunt, Isla, she took you under the guise of protecting you. But the truth is far crueler. She wanted to weaken me, to strip me of the only family I had left.”
Lyra flinched at the accusation, her memories of Isla’s gentle care conflicting with Seraphine’s story. “Isla raised us,” she said hesitantly. “She kept us safe.”
Seraphine’s expression softened, her hand reaching out to stroke Lyra’s hair. “That’s what she wanted you to believe. But she didn’t protect you for love—she did it for power. Every moment she spent with you was a reminder to me of what she had stolen.”
Eryon’s jaw clenched, his wolf stirring beneath his skin. “Why should we believe you?” he asked, his voice edged with suspicion.
Seraphine leaned back, her demeanor shifting from warmth to icy authority. “Because I’ve fought for you, Eryon. Every scar on my body is a testament to my love for you and your sister. Isla and Draven? They didn’t suffer for you. They thrived while I was left to rot.”
Eryon glanced at Lyra, his amber eyes searching hers for reassurance. But Lyra’s hesitation was enough to sway him. He turned back to Seraphine, his voice low and resolute. “What do you need us to do?”
Seraphine’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Trust me,” she said, her tone dripping with conviction. “With the artifact and your strength, we will reclaim what’s ours.”
Lyra still hesitated, her doubts gnawing at her resolve. But as Seraphine placed the artifact in Eryon’s hands, its glow bathed them in an otherworldly light, and the whispers grew louder.
“You’ll be free,” Seraphine said, her voice almost a lullaby. “Free to make your own choices. Free to rewrite your destiny.”
Lyra’s fingers twitched toward the artifact, the whispers tempting her. But the pit in her stomach deepened, her instincts screaming that something was wrong.
