Henry woke up to two immediate problems.
One, his head was pounding like he'd been hit by a war hammer.
Two, he was no longer in the arena.
He blinked groggily, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Plush silk pillows. Gilded walls. Dimly lit candles.
Oh no.
Oh, no.
He shot up, only to realize he was on a massive bed. Not his bed. A very, very expensive-looking canopy bed.
And sprawled next to him, lounging with the kind of ease only possessed by smug villains and house cats… was Seraphina.
Henry inhaled sharply. "Where am I?"
Seraphina, draped in what could only be described as dangerously silky nightwear, stretched lazily. "My chambers, of course."
Henry's soul left his body. "WHAT—"
Seraphina cut him off with a slow, satisfied smirk. "You fainted, dear Henry. Right into my arms, might I add. Quite the dramatic display."
Henry felt heat crawl up his neck. "I did not faint."
"Oh, but you did," Seraphina purred. "Right after I kissed you. It was adorable, really."
Henry groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I'm going to throw myself out the window."
"You could," Seraphina mused, propping herself up on one elbow. "But my chambers are on the highest floor of the palace. A fall from here would be rather… final."
Henry considered it anyway.
Then, something very important hit him.
He turned back to Seraphina, narrowing his eyes. "You kidnapped me."
Seraphina feigned innocence. "Kidnapped is such a strong word."
Henry threw up his hands. "Oh, really?! What word would you prefer?!"
Seraphina tapped a finger to her chin, pretending to think. "Rescued?"
Henry let out a strangled sound. "FROM WHAT?!"
Seraphina grinned. "From making a difficult decision, of course. The tournament was spiraling out of control. I merely… removed you from the chaos."
Henry's jaw dropped. "You caused the chaos!"
Seraphina gave him an amused look. "Details."
Henry ran a hand down his face. "Okay. Fine. Whatever. So now what?"
Seraphina's smirk turned positively dangerous. "Now, dear Henry, you belong to me."
Henry immediately shot to his feet. "EXCUSE ME?!"
Seraphina leaned back against the pillows, completely unfazed. "As the reigning champion of the tournament, I claimed my prize."
Henry sputtered. "I WASN'T EVEN A PART OF THE COMPETITION!"
Seraphina tilted her head, eyes twinkling. "You were the prize, love."
Henry stared at her. Then at the bed. Then at himself.
Wait.
Wait.
A terrifying realization dawned upon him.
His coat was missing. His boots were missing.
His shirt—
Henry clutched his chest. "WHERE IS MY SHIRT?!"
Seraphina waved a dismissive hand. "You were overheated, so I helped."
Henry gaped at her. "You HELPED?!"
Seraphina raised a brow. "Would you prefer I left you to suffocate in that absurdly thick coat? Honestly, Henry, you should be thanking me."
Henry considered launching himself out the window again.
Instead, he turned, ready to storm out—only to realize something horrifying.
The door was locked.
Henry rattled the handle. "SERAPHINA."
Seraphina sipped from a goblet, utterly relaxed. "Yes, dear?"
"The door is locked."
"Indeed."
"UNLOCK IT."
"Hmm… No."
Henry slammed his forehead against the wood. "I hate you."
Seraphina chuckled. "Oh, Henry. You wound me."
Henry groaned. "WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?"
Seraphina set her goblet down and stood, sauntering toward him with slow, deliberate steps. "Because, dear Henry…"
She stopped just inches from him, reaching up to trail a single finger along his jaw.
"…it's fun."
Henry's entire body locked up.
Seraphina smiled, her violet eyes glinting with mischief. "Are you nervous?"
"No." Yes.
Seraphina leaned in, her breath warm against his ear. "Your face says otherwise."
Henry backed up—only to hit the door. Trapped.
Seraphina placed a hand on his chest, tilting her head. "Relax, Henry."
Henry could not relax.
"Let's get one thing clear," he ground out. "I am NOT yours."
Seraphina hummed, clearly unconvinced. "We'll see."
Henry pointed a finger at her. "No. No seeing. No anything. This tournament is over, so I am leaving."
Seraphina sighed dramatically. "And where would you go?"
Henry hesitated.
Seraphina smirked. "That's what I thought."
Henry scowled. "I could just go back to my estate."
Seraphina laughed. "Henry, my sweet, naive anomaly… do you really think the losing contestants will just let you walk away?"
Henry froze.
A terrible mental image formed—hundreds of rejected warriors, mages, and assassins hunting him down.
Seraphina patted his cheek. "You're safest with me, love."
Henry groaned. "You planned this."
Seraphina winked. "Always."
Henry exhaled sharply. "Fine. FINE. I'll stay—"
Seraphina beamed.
"—for now!" Henry added quickly. "But I'm setting some rules."
Seraphina folded her arms. "Rules? Oh, Henry. You wound me."
Henry ignored her dramatics. "Rule one—no sneaking into my bed."
Seraphina gasped. "You make it sound so scandalous."
"It is scandalous!" Henry shot back. "Rule two—no calling me 'love'."
Seraphina tilted her head. "But it suits you."
Henry pinched the bridge of his nose. "Rule three—"
Seraphina suddenly grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward her.
Henry's breath hitched. "What are you—"
Seraphina smirked. "Rule three: No running away."
Henry scowled. "That wasn't my rule—"
Seraphina's fingers trailed up his arm. "It is now."
Henry swallowed. "You're impossible."
Seraphina chuckled. "And yet, here you are."
Henry hated that she was right.
Seraphina, clearly pleased with herself, finally stepped back. "Now, since you're staying…"
She reached for a bell and rang it.
A second later, the doors flew open—revealing a line of servants carrying trays of food, wine, and…
Henry's jaw dropped.
"…What. Is. That."
Seraphina's grin was pure evil. "A celebratory feast, of course."
Henry blinked at the massive chocolate cake being wheeled in.
And then—
Another set of doors opened.
And in marched an entire orchestra.
Henry let out a strangled sound. "SERAPHINA—"
Seraphina clapped her hands together. "Let the celebration begin!"
The music swelled. The cake was placed in front of him.
Henry buried his face in his hands.
This was his life now.
And somehow… somehow…
Seraphina had won.
---
To Be Continued…