Elara's room was quiet, save for the crackling of the fire. She leaned back into the chair, legs crossed, swirling the wine glass, eyes closed as she enjoyed the silence.

It was perfect. A smile made its way to her lips as she remembered all that happened during the day. The feeling was euphoric, the screams. The curses sent her way. Oh, how wonderful.

Suddenly the door burst open.

Lord Carter stormed in, his face hard, a handful of scrolls clutched in his fist. He didn't knock. He didn't bow.

"You've gone too far," he snapped.

Elara's eyes opened, she didn't flinch. She stared at him disinterestedly. She took another slow sip of wine, eyes lazy as they lifted to meet his.

"Good evening to you too, Lord Carter."

He slammed the scrolls on the table between them. "Five nobles imprisoned. Two more missing. A council member's wife claims her husband hasn't been seen in days."

"And?" Elara said, tilting her head. "Traitors should rot." Did they think for a second that she forgot what they did to her? How they ignored her numerous letters in the outer banks when she needed their help?

"These aren't traitors!" he growled. "They're allies. Lords we need to keep the realm standing while his majesty is incapable."

Elara's eyes narrowed. "The realm does not need such clowns. They're all a waste of space, and I did a good thing cleaning them up."

Carter scoffed; he knew Elara would be a problem, but this was even more than he imagined. "This isn't leadership. This is tyranny."

She laughed, soft and unamused. "Oh, please. Don't act so shocked. You knew what I was when you backed me. You wanted control. You wanted to survive." Her eyes glinted. "Well. This is survival."

"Survival! You blackmailed me, you witch," he snarled, fist clenching and unclenching.

"Now, that's not a very good way to put it. I merely used what I have to get what I want. It's not my fault you have a beast like Radek in your home." She paused, getting up as she shook her head.

"You know, you have a whole lot of guts, Lord Carter." She scoffed again. "Coming in here, all high and mighty when you're the biggest traitor there is."

"Elara," Carter snarled.

She didn't flinch; instead, she chuckled.

"You've let power go so deep into your mind, you no longer think." He stepped closer. "This is you unraveling."

"Your downfall is just right at the corner if you keep this up, or do you think your little ploy to keep the king unconscious would work for so long?"

Elara's smile dropped at this; she frowned. "It will," she gritted out.

"You're forgetting something, Elara. You're only a regent. I put you there, and I can take you out if I want to."

Elara rolled her eyes. "I'd like to see you try. I'll always have the upper hand, Lord Carter. Nothing you do can beat what I know."

Carter stared at her for some seconds longer then shook his head. "You keep making these mistakes, imprisoning anyone who challenges you. The more mistakes you make, the more they hate you. And if you do not know, the more they hate you, the harder it is for them to believe whatever comes out of your mouth. Now imagine it, if I decide to impeach you as regent. The nobles left will only follow me because, again, they don't trust you. And even if you come to them with that piece of information you have, no one would ever believe you." He said, grinning.

"So you know what, dig yourself deeper. One of these days, I'll be done with you." With that, he walked out of the room.

Elara's chest heaved heavily, his words echoing in her ears. She screamed loudly, hurling the glass of wine against the wall violently.

Elara stood there breathing heavily, hand dripping blood from the shattered wine glass.

_________

The door creaked open again.

Jocelyn stepped in, eyebrows arched and unimpressed as her gaze fell on the mess. "Gods, what now?"

Elara didn't answer. Jocelyn's eyes drifted to the floor, broken glass shining around a small pool of blood. She sighed and crossed the room, grabbing a cloth from the table nearby. "You're bleeding."

"I noticed," Elara muttered bitterly.

"Sit," Jocelyn said, and for once, Elara obeyed.

Jocelyn sat beside her and took her hand, carefully dabbing away the blood. "You know, you might consider throwing pillows next time. Softer on the hands."

Elara didn't even crack a smile. "I had a talk with Carter," she said after a long beat.

Jocelyn hummed. "I figured, judging by the broken glass and fresh psychosis. And I saw him leaving."

Elara didn't reply, her jaw clenched hard as Jocelyn cleaned the wound. "He thinks he can get rid of me. Impeach me."

"He can," Jocelyn muttered, tying the cloth tightly around Elara's hand. "Especially if you keep imprisoning nobles and throwing tantrums like a spoiled child."

Elara yanked her hand back. "I am the regent."

"For now." Jocelyn stood. "Which is exactly why you need to be smarter. You're playing with fire, Elara. And right now, the only thing standing between you and total collapse is fear. That doesn't last."

Elara turned sharply toward her. "Then help me make it last."

The smile Jocelyn wore dropped instantly. "How much more would I help you before you do things yourself? Help yourself, Elara," she gritted out.

Elara didn't respond; she looked away, and for one long moment, there was an uncomfortable silence between them. Finally, Elara looked at her.

"For me to concentrate fully, there's something I must do, aunt." She looked at Jocelyn. "I must get rid of Adina."

Jocelyn blinked. "Gods, not this again."

"You've won, Elara. You're regent. You have the crown, the council, hell, you even have Thorne. And Adina? She's in a cell, rotting." Jocelyn scoffed. "What more do you want?"

Elara stepped closer, eyes wild. "I want her six feet under. I want her curling with maggots. I want her bones to turn to dust and scatter in the wind. That is what I want."

Jocelyn stared at her deeply, unblinking, and finally she nodded as though she'd found what she was searching for. "If that's what will bring you peace. Do it."

Elara smiled, not that she was seeking Jocelyn's permission, but she liked it better now…knowing she had her fully on her side.

__________

"So what do we do now?" Caelum asked, watching as Thessara got the things she needed for the ritual. They still haven't told Adina. Thessara didn't want to yet…she wanted no one to suspect.

"Bring Adina tonight. I'll take care of the rest," she said, finally done packing all that she needed.

"I'll make sure the warriors and guards are all asleep again. It'll be an easy exit for you and her. All you have to do is bring her," Thessara said, and Caelum nodded.

The plan was solid. It was dangerous, but he hoped none of it went wrong…

"How do we get Tho—" Caelum didn't get to finish his words as the door flung open, Mason came rushing in, eyes wide with panic.

The gamma hardly ever panicked but this…

"What's wrong?" Caelum asked.

Mason's eyes shifted from Thessara's to Caelum.

"It's Adina. She's been taken to the town square for execution."