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The guards watched in awe as she ascended the stone steps, approaching where I sat on the large throne.

“I am your wife, after all,” she said when she got close enough.

My eyes flickered down her body, unable to stop themselves from appreciating the pure form of beauty that stood before me.

“Where did you get that crown?” I whispered. Jade watched the way my eyes dragged back up to meet hers, and she smiled.

“Borrowed it from Adeline.”

Jade flipped a loose strand of hair over her shoulder and stepped forward, moving to sit on the armrest of the throne. I didn’t pull my arm away as she leaned against me for support. What was she up to? Showing up to a royal event like this on her own free will wasn’t something Jade would do.

“Are you sure you’re up for this?” I asked her.Give in now, I thought.Give in now, or accept your position as Queen of Rewyth.

That’s what they would see her as. Their queen.

But when Jade’s eyes met mine, only inches away, I saw fierce determination.

“Bring it on.”

Ignoring the way my stomach flipped, I motioned to Serefin to bring in the next citizen.

It was a fae I recognized. A middle-aged man who had fought in battle with me before. He stormed into the room with such strength that each guard placed their hands on their weapons.

Jade did not budge next to me.

“You kill our true king, yet you sit on his throne and demand I pay money to this wicked kingdom?”

“Careful how you speak to your king,” Serefin warned from the back of the room.

The man only grimaced. “He is no king of mine.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Jade’s jaw tightened.

“If you are unhappy here, you may leave,” I said, choosing each word carefully and calmly.

The man only scoffed. “And go where, exactly?”

“Why should I care?” I replied, letting the coolness of my voice carry through the room. “If you do not wish to pay your tithe like every other citizen because of pure spite, you may leave. Or you will be forced to leave. Choose wisely.”

“You would exile me for speaking my opinion regarding the throne?”

The man’s presence here alone challenged me.Clearly.He was far older than me. He was seasoned. I, however, was not to be messed with. Not after everything I had done for this kingdom. After everything I had done to keep ignorant citizens likehimsafe.

I slowly stood from my throne, taking a step forward before crossing my wrists behind my back. “No,” I spoke, much stronger than the last time. “I would exile you for treason. Now pay your tithe and shut your mouth, or gather your things and leave Rewyth for good.”

The man shook his head, but after a few moments, he tossed his coin to the guards.

I nodded, not bothering to waste breath on thanking him.

Once the man had left, I returned to Jade at the throne. “See?” she whispered in my ear as I sat. “This is fun.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” I whispered back, barely brushing her ear with my lips before pulling back and facing the doors once more.

I was starting to get bored of citizens entering, tossing coins, and leaving when another familiar face entered.

Another one of my father’s men sauntered into the room.Arthur.

I stiffened as soon as I saw him. He walked slowly into the room, cocky as ever.