"Killing the king would have made Elara the regent while her son inherited the throne. That would have been our first step toward reclaiming the kingdom."
Her eyes gleamed with dangerous satisfaction.
"It was surprisingly easy to plan because my daughter loves power. She never objected."
The words echoed inside Adrian's mind.
She never objected…
He sat motionless.
Everything suddenly began making sense.
Elara's obsession with the throne.
Her willingness to abandon Enzo without hesitation.
Her constant encouragement whenever ambition was discussed.
Her insistence that he fight for the crown. Had none of it been for him?
Had he merely been another piece on someone else's game board?
His fingers slowly curled into fists beneath the table.
He replayed every conversation they had ever shared.
Every gentle reassuring smiles she had offered him Every promises from those beautiful lips and Every comforting word. Had they all been lies?
