[Seraphine’s POV]‘Cassian, listen to me,’ I pleaded, my mental voice filled with love and urgency. ‘Remember our first meeting, the warmth of our embrace, the promises we made to each other. None of this is real, Cassian. It's all a cruel trick. Fight it, Cassian, for our kingdom!’For a brief moment, Cassian's movements faltered, as if my words had managed to pierce the veil of the illusion. His brow furrowed, and his grip on the sword wavered. But Dorian was quick to reassert control, and Cassian's resolve crumbled once more.Dorian's laughter echoed in my mind, a haunting reminder of the power he held over us. ‘You think your feeble attempts at love can save him, Seraphine? How pathetic.’I clenched my teeth, determined not to let Dorian's taunts weaken my resolve. I had to find a way to exploit his arrogance, to use his own hubris against him.As Dorian continued his relentless assault on Cassian, I searched for chinks in the illusion's armor. If I couldn't reach Cassian directly
[Seraphine's POV]In the midst of this mental turmoil, I turned inward, seeking guidance from the depths of my own power.‘Empower me,’ I silently implored the source of my abilities. ‘Grant me the strength to break through and connect with Cassian.’My plea resonated within me, tapping into the wellspring of my Luna power. It was an innate force, a part of who I was, and it held the potential to overcome any obstacle.As I concentrated, this inner power surged, surging like a tide against the interference that Dorian presented. I harnessed the essence of my Luna abilities, letting it flow through my being.‘Dorian's control cannot hold you forever,’ I whispered to myself, drawing strength from the core of my being. ‘I must reach Cassian.’In the telepathic realm, a radiant, silvery light enveloped me. It radiated from within, pushing back against Dorian's intrusion. The mental landscape shifted, and Cassian's presence, though distant, became more perceptible.I reached out to him, my
[Seraphine's POV]With the hypnotic distraction released, I continued my telepathic conversation with my inner power, searching for a way to remotely hypnotize Dorian.[It worked for a moment, but we need something more potent to truly affect Dorian from a distance.]I felt the urgency of the situation and knew that a stronger hypnotic influence was required.[Is there a way to enhance the hypnotic distraction, to make it more compelling and impossible for Dorian to resist?]I inquired, my determination unwavering.[Yes, Seraphine. You must infuse the distraction with your own emotions, your deepest desires, and your unwavering intent to protect Cassian and your kingdom.]My inner power's guidance offered a glimmer of hope. I focused on my love for Cassian and the burning desire to keep him safe, blending these emotions with my intent to overpower Dorian's hold.[I understand. I will pour my power and determination into this hypnotic distraction, making it irresistible.]With a renewe
[Seraphine's POV]With the intensified hypnotic distraction enveloping Dorian, I could sense his resistance, but I wasn't ready to give up. My inner power continued to guide me through the telepathic connection, encouraging me to press on.[Seraphine, he's fighting it, but you must remain steadfast. Focus on your love for Cassian, your determination to protect your kingdom. Pour it all into the hypnotic distraction.]I understood that my emotions were the key to breaking Dorian's control, and I had to make them stronger than his willpower.‘You're right. I won't back down.’With unwavering resolve, I channeled all my love and determination into the hypnotic distraction. It pulsed with newfound intensity, a radiant force aimed directly at Dorian.[Now, Seraphine, direct it toward Dorian. Make him see the truth.]Following my inner power's guidance, I concentrated all my strength on targeting Dorian's consciousness. The hypnotic distraction shimmered with a brilliant light, a beacon of
[Seraphine's POV]As the battle between Cassian and Dorian raged on, my inner power offered guidance once again.[Seraphine, we've made significant progress, but we must be cautious. Your magic is waning, and we can't afford to deplete it entirely. Your child's safety is paramount.]The reminder of my child's safety hit me like a sledgehammer. I couldn't ignore the fact that every bit of magic I used brought me closer to the brink of exhaustion, endangering both myself and my unborn child.‘You're right. I can't risk pushing myself to the limit, not with the baby at stake. But what can we do to stop Dorian without using all of my magic?’My inner power contemplated for a moment before responding.[We need a plan that doesn't solely rely on magic. We must outsmart Dorian, catch him off guard, and use your remaining magic wisely.]I took a deep breath, realizing the truth in those words. Magic alone wouldn't be enough to defeat Dorian; I needed a strategy that exploited his weaknesses a
[Seraphine's POV]"Ugh!"Once again, a hindrance arrived just as I had prepared myself to initiate my attack against Dorian. What my earlier warning of my powers had cautioned me about had started to manifest far sooner than I could have anticipated.My body, which I had frequently pushed beyond its limits to continue fighting, thinking, and depleting my magic and energy to defeat Dorian, was beginning to show signs of fatigue. I still felt capable of battling Dorian, even killing him. However, this did not seem to apply to the condition of my pregnancy.Suddenly, when I had already gripped the small knife I had in my gown pocket, an excruciating pain surged through my abdomen. It had been a long time since I had felt pain like this, causing me to fall to the ground, curled up in agony while clutching my swollen belly.‘It hurts so much. Is this the side effect of pushing myself too hard? Or is it time for me to miscarry? Considering how I've always pushed myself, it's reasonable that
[Seraphine's POV]"Haha."Dorian laughed.Even though I had tried to sound as natural as Cassian often did with me, even though I had used all my strength and understanding to portray Cassian's character perfectly...It was still not enough to deceive a Dorian Phoenix.He laughed after hearing me speak, asking him to admit his wrongdoing.The laughter he emitted was just like when we first met, when he doubted me and asked me to abort my baby.It was a laughter that sounded mocking and full of contempt. A laughter that Dorian would only give when he knew his enemy's weaknesses."How intriguing, Cassian. So, all this time, you still believed we were brothers?"Now, it was my turn to be surprised."What?" My lips began to tremble as I spoke. "You... What did you just say?""Haha." Dorian laughed again.This time, he didn't hesitate to brush off my hand that had been resting on his wrist all this time. For the second time, I was surprised to find that Dorian's strength had grown stronger
[Seraphine’s POV]In my thoughts, I still wondered if Dorian truly knew who was speaking to him right now. The intensity of his gaze was filled with hatred and deep wounds. I recognized that look all too well, having experienced something similar myself.‘I, too, have been in his position. When the entire village, including my foster parents, considered me a cursed object that needed to be eradicated. As proof, they even sold me to Cassian,’ I thought, my mind inexplicably drifting into the past.The aura of hatred emanating from Dorian somewhat reminded me of my former self when I once had eyes filled with rage like that.‘It makes me wonder, what sin has Cassian committed to provoke such anger in Dorian?’ I pondered, curious.I decided to forgo delving into Cassian's memories, given my uncertainty about my magic reserves. I had no idea when I might become exhausted and powerless while having to kill Dorian here.Regardless, whatever problem had Dorian so enraged at Cassian, my duty