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When he opened the doors, Gia, one of the queen’s servants, hurried in with a letter.

“Your Majesty,” Gia said as she fell into a deep curtsy. “A messenger delivered this, and based on the sigil, I believe it is of great importance.”

Airos took the letter from the servant. Peeling off the golden wax stamped onto the red envelope, he scanned the letter before passing it to the queen. Her face revealed nothing as she read it.

Then her jaw ticked.

When she looked up, Graeson’s heart dropped.

“Kalisandre and Rian are to be married in a month.”

No one spoke. At least, if they did, Graeson didn’t hear them. The blood rushed from Graeson’s body as he processed the queen’s words.

He thought someone said his name, but he didn’t stay to find out. His rising anger propelled him forward as he stormed out of the room. He barely sensed the stares of the advisors fixed on his back as he disappeared around the corner.

When he passed the staff in the halls, a couple attempted to wave, but their hands fell limp at their side once they took in Graeson’s expression, his blazing silver eyes. With their heads down, they scurried past him. They knew better than to gain Graeson’s attention in this state. Whether they had seen him in action or not, they knew what he could do—or at least thought they did. Everyone in the castle had heard the story about what had happened when Graeson was a child, and that was reason enough to strike fear in their hearts.

Many of the people wondered who he was,whathe was. Some had their guesses based on the myths that traveled the streets, but none of them truly knew. Only those who needed to know knew the truth about hisgifts.

Still, even Graeson didn’t understand the full extent of his abilities. He never let himself get that far. And he would not let his anger win now, would not allow it to unravel everything he worked so hard to protect as he tried to block out Esmeray’s words. But he was quickly losing that battle. The words cycled in his mind on a continuous loop.

King Rian and Kalisandre were to be married.

And Graeson only had a month to stop it.

Chapter10

KALLIE

At the greatdoors to the royal dining room, Kallie stopped in her tracks. Voices from inside the room seeped out into the hall, and she recognized Tessa’s voice instantly.

“She may look sweet, but do not forget who her father is, Son.”

Kallie’s nails bit into her palms. Would she always live in his shadow?

Maybe Tessa was right, for the vial of poison no longer sat against her chest. It’s victim now chosen.

“She is brazen, Rian. If she is to live here in our kingdom, she must respect our traditions, our way of life.”

Tradition, Kallie scoffed.More like hiding beneath a king.

Tessa might have been wise, but at the end of the day, she would be remembered for being the wife of a king and the mother of another. Nothing more because she followed that tradition. Because Tessa had stayed within the lines drawn in the sand by the men in power. It didn’t matter if Tessa held knowledge. She would not be remembered for it. That was how the cards fell when a woman played by a man’s rules.

Kallie, however, would not be confined to such rules. While Kallie may have been following King Domitius’ plan by marrying Rian, she would not be an obedient princess. Her goal was to rule, and rule she would.

Kallie ran a hand down the side of the elegant floor-length dress, smoothing the fabric. Tonight was more than a meeting with her betrothed. It was about facing all the choices she had made in recent months and taking the next step to claim her throne.

Kallie only hoped she had made the right choice.

“Princess?”

Kallie looked at the guard beside her, and Argon straightened. He took a step back, clearing his throat. “Is everything all right?”

Either Argon had not heard the conversation between Rian and Tessa, or he was pretending not to. Whatever the truth was, Kallie did not care. Tessa’s words would not affect her. Kallie knew who she was and knew what she fought for.

Pushing her shoulders back, she strutted forward, the guard’s question left unanswered in the hallway.

When Kallie entered the royal dining room, Rian snapped his mouth shut and swallowed whatever words had been on his tongue. The crystal glasses on the table rattled when his thighs hit the edge of the table. A blush rose to his cheeks as he steadied his glass.