bChapter /bb106 /b

    Mi’s POW

    “Queen?”

    I couldn’t hold back the incredulity that slipped from my lips. ra looked at me, her lips curling into a mocking smile

    She repeated the word, augh bubbling up from somewhere deep inside her,

    “What’s so funny!” I demanded, my patience running nut

    “You,” she sneered, her voice sharp and cutting “Apparently”

    She threw her head back,ughter spilling out of her in waves, the sound bing louder, more unrestrained with each passing second. I could fest my temper rising as sheughed in myce.

    “You think this is funny?” I snapped, every wordced with irritation,

    “Oh, it’s not just funny, Mi. It’s pathetic, ra said, her tone dripping with venom. “bYou /bremember how byou /bused to throw yourself at Thorne, right? Parading around, telling everyone you were his Luna? And look where that got you. You became nothing but a ve. Just like this, Mark my words, (TE blow up in your face again. You’ll be back to square one powerless and ignored. It’s only ba /bmatter of time.”

    I could feel the heat of anger flooding my face.

    “No,” I hissed, my voice trembling. “This time is different. I am Lance’s mate! I love him. Deeply”

    Before I could finish, ra grabbed the cor of my dress, yanking me forward:

    “You said the same thing about Thorneb, /bbshe /bbit out, her eyes locking with mine, full of disdain. “So which one is it? Are you really in love with Lanca, or are you just desperate to cling to any man who’ll have you?”

    I froze, unable to find ba /bresponse. The truth hung in the air between us, suffocating,

    “Maybe none of it’s true,” ra continued, her voice low and mocking. “Maybe you’re just a power–hungry, maniptive liar who’ll do anything to get

    ahead.”

    I was seething now, her words pping me harder than any physical blow could. But my hands shook with rage as tried to break free from her grasp.

    “What are you standing there for?” I yelled to the maids who had followed me in. “Do something! Tie her bup/b! I’m your queen, for Christ’s sake!”

    They exchanged uneasy nces, but none of them moved.

    “Why are you standing there like idiots?” I shouted, “I’m telling you to do something! p het Teach bher /ba lesson”

    One of the maids finally spoke bup/b, her voice tentative but firm

    “Miss Mi… We’re not here to help you with this. We’re here to help Miss ra prepare for the banquet.”

    My heart skipped a beat. “What? What do you mean? The King knows about this, bdoesn’t /bhe?”

    “Yes,” the maid said, almost meekly. “Actually, it came directly from the bKing/b. He asked us to bring byou /bthe finest gowns and jewelr bour /bmost important guest, and she must be treated with the utmost respect.”

    aid Miss ra is

    My mind reeled. I had dressed to impress, wearing the finest pieces Lance had given bme/b, and yet here was ra, receiving the King’s personal gifts like she was royalty.

    I was just about to bexplode /bwith rage when the maids brought in several racks of luxurious clothes–gowns, jewelry, tiaras ra was treated like a queen,

    and I was left to stow in my humiliation.

    “Go ahead, Miss ra,” one of the maids said softly, bowing. “Choose whatever you’d like, if nothing

    pleases you, we’ll find more ?

    The words stung as I watched them cater to ra. She looked at the racks disinterestedly before ncing at me, her expression cold,

    “I don’t need any of this,” ra said, her voice filled with disdain. “Take it all away. It’s nothing

    to me.

    The maids hesitated, confused by her rejection. But ra gave them a sharp look, and they obeyed:

    As they left, I couldn’t help but sneer. “You think you’re above all of this? What’s your game, ra? Stealing from the isn’t enough for you? Taking Thorne wasn’t enough? Now you’re after Lance?”

    ra’s gaze met mine, her smile icy. “Lance? He’s my enemy. He always will be. One day, I’ll have him on his knees, begging for mercy: But youb, /bMi. You’re just weak. You want everything but never get it. You never will,”

    Her words struck deep. Before could react, she shoved me hard on the shoulder, sending me stumbling back. I barely regained my bnced, my body, shaking with rage.

    “Now get out of my sight,” she spat, her eyes filled with disdain. “Your bpresence /bdisgusts me.”

    bI /bwanted tosh out, but the humiliation was too much. All my carefully curated beauty, my status, was crumbling in front of me, and I had no control

    over it.

    Ass

    s she turned to leave, the maids hustling to follow behind her, I stood thereb, /bseething with fury.

    The whole situation bwas /bba /bp to my faceb, /band it wasn’t over. I knew it wasn’t. ra had humiliated me, but there had to be a reason–why was Lance treating her this bway/b? What was it about herb? /b

    I stalked into the dressing room, my mind swirling with thoughts.

    Just then, I saw it. The tiara. The diamonds sparkled brightly under the light, and I felt a burning rage ignite within me.

    The maid ced it carefully on ra’s head, and my heart dropped. The bar was massive–each diamond glinted like it was designed to crush me

    “It’s perfect,” the maid bsaid/b, smiling at ra

    “Take it away,”

    ra ordered, her voice cold as ice

    “But Miss… The King insisted

    “I don’t care what the King insists, ra breplied/b, her eyes sharp. “I don’t need this. bYou /bwant to make ba /bfool of me? Take it away. Now”

    The maid’s hands trembled as she clutched the tiara. I saw an opening this was my chance.

    “Ungrateful!” I shouted, my voice breaking with rage “How dare you refuse such ba /bgill The King’s personal gift, no less!”

    ra’s eyes narrowed. “I dare, and I willb. /bbSo/bb, /bwhat are you going to do about it?”

    I saw red. I couldn’t think straight, but all I knew was that I needed to make her pay.

    Without thinking, I grabbed the ss of water on the btable /band bsshed /bbit /bacross ra’s face.

    Gasps filled the room as the maids watched in horror,

    ra didn’t flinch.

    bShe /blooked at me, her face dripping with water, her eyes colder than I could ever rem

    “bDo /byou think you can intimidate me?” she asked, her voice dangerously calm.

    I took a step back, fear creeping into my bones.

    “I will destroy you,” I bsnarled/b, trying to maintain myposure.

    But ra was already two steps ahead. She gave me a chilling smile. “You’re nothing. Do you hear me? Nothing”

    bJust /bas I opened my mouth to retort, a voice from behind us stopped me dead in my

    “What’s going on here?”

    I turned around.

    vtracksb. /b

    A woman stood by the door, her scarlet bhair /bflowing like fire. She wore a mask that hid part of her face

    “Lady Kimberly!” all the maids immediately curtseyed.

    My heart skipped a boatb. /bWho was this woman?

    She removed her mask, revealing a birthmark on her face that looked like it had been burned into her skin.

    The recognition hit me like a ton of bricks. This face. This birthmark. I knew it.

    I was staring at the woman

    who wa

    was my sister.

    E