ra’s POV

    “NO!” The cry slipped from my throat just as the axe swung down. My hands shot back, muscles straining with the force, and by ba /bfraction bof /ban inch, the de missed. The sharp, cold steel grazed my skin, just enough to make me hiss in pain before it embedded itself bwith /bba /bdeafening thud into the hardwood floor.

    “FUCK!” Mi screamed, her fury unmistakable as the de sank deeper into the wood than she intended. Her chest heaved with the anger of a failed attempt.

    “Are you fucking idiots?!” she yelled at the soldiers around her. Her eyes were wild, searching for someone to me. “I told you to hold her still! Why can’t you understand simple orders?!”

    The soldiers exchanged frustrated nces but didn’t respond.

    “You missed your mark, mydy,” one muttered, looking up at her with disdain.

    Mi’s jaw clenched. “What did you say?” She stomped her foot, her heel making an angry crack against the floor. “You think this is my fault?” She shot a venomous look at the soldier, but he stepped back, silent.

    It was obvious: She was losing control. Mi had climbed her way back to power, but it wasn’t the same. The soldiersb, /bthe maids–they didn’t listen to her. They didn’t respect her. No matter how many times she screamed about her status as their queen, they didn’t care.

    And now, to make matters worse, they all seemed to look at me with awe. They bowed to me. Me. The prisoner.

    It was a bitter pill to swallow, and Mi’s anger only bubbled up further.

    She grabbed the axe again, determination shing in her eyes. Her fingers wrapped around the handle, muscles flexing as she tried to pry it free from the floor. But the de was wedged in too deep. No matter how hard she pulled, it wouldn’t budge.

    A bead of sweat ran down her temple as she yanked at it again, her breathing shallow andboured. But it was useless.

    “FUCK!” she shouted again, her voice breaking with frustration,

    Behind her, Lance’s voice cut through the tension, smooth yetced with irritation. “If you can’t lift an axe, let the soldiers do it.”

    Mi whipped around, her face flushed with rage. “NO… I can’t…” Her voice was tight with humiliation. Sweat glistened on her forehead, and her entire body trembled with effort.

    I saw it. I saw how she was unraveling, how the pressure of the situation was cracking her, little by little.

    The door to the Counseling Hall flew open with a loud bang, and everyone froze. I jerked my head toward the sound.

    Thorne.

    He stood in the doorway, breath heavy and erratic, his body slick with sweat. His clothes clung to him, and I could see the outline of bhis /bmuscles, rigid with anger. His fists were clenched so tight that the veins in his hands bulged against his skin. His eyes were like fire- dangerous, focused, and burning.

    He scanned the room with a seething intensity, and when his gazended on me, his face darkened. His eyes zeroed in on the blood btrailing /bfrom my hand, still fresh from the near–miss with the axe.

    “What the hell is going on here?” His voice was low, deadly.

    b1/3 /b

    b20:47 /bMon, 4 Aug 19?

    Chapter b148 /b

    bMi /bbtook /bba /bbstep /bbback/b, her expression faltering. “W–What are you doing here?b” /bShe stammered, her bvoice /bbshaky /bas her bhands /bgrippedb, /bthe bchair /bbeside her for support. “We thought you were out of the city today…”

    bThorne’s /bgaze hardened, “So you thought you could torture her while I was gone?”

    With each step he took toward Mi, the soldiers stepped back, leaving her isted. By the time Thorne reached my side, beveryone /belse bhad /bretreated behind the table. I felt his hand on my shoulder, the warmth of it grounding me despite the blood loss making my head swimb. /b

    His eyes were a storm as they flicked to my bleeding hand, then back to Mi. “Who did this?”

    I didn’t speak. The answer was obvious, but I wasn’t going to make it easy for them.

    Thorne’s gaze snapped to Mi, his stare so cold it made her stagger back. “You did this, didn’t you?”

    Mi’s voice broke, her defenses crumbling under the weight of Thorne’s fury. “I–I did! But so what? You’re with us now. ra’s your benemy/bb, /bright? You shouldn’t care!”

    Lance rose from his seat, his voice full of smugness. “Exactly. You’ve been given plenty of beautiful women. What’s so special about herb?/bb” /b

    Thorne didn’t blink. His gaze was locked on Lance, unyielding. “She’s mine. And no one

    touches what’s mine.”

    Lance’s face faltered slightly, but Mi pressed on, her desperation climbing. “But you broke up with her, didn’t byou/b?” Her voice wavered, then grew more frantic. “She’s not your woman anymore, and you have someone better now-b‘ /b

    Thorne silenced her with one deadly look.

    “One more word, and I’ll rip your tongue out,” he said, voice like ice.

    Mi swallowed hard, her body trembling. She knew he wasn’t bluffing. She knew what he was capable of.

    Turning back to Lance, Thorne’s voice was low but deadly serious. “How are you going to make this right?”

    Lance hesitated. The tension was thick in the air as everyone watched, waiting for him to crumble.

    Finally, after a long pause, he gave a reluctant sigh. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t check with you first, but ra killed a lot of my soldiers. If I don’t punish her, the others won’t respect me-”

    Thorne’s voice cut through him like a de. “That’s your problem, not mine.”

    Lance’s lips pressed into a thin line, his face reddening. “Fine. What do you propose, then?”

    Thorne’s voice dropped even lower, icy andmanding. “Your woman wanted to cut off ra’s hands. Then I’ll cut off hers.”

    Mi’s face went white, her eyes wide with shock. “NO!!” ishe /iscreamed, taking a stumbling step back as she reached out for something to steady herself. She clutched a chair, her voice rising in panic. “I–I didn’t go through with it! You can’t punish me for that! I’m the Queen!!

    am!”

    Her voice cracked as she turned to Lance, eyes filled with desperation. “My King! Please–don’t let him do this. Help me!”

    Lance rubbed his temple, looking pained. “Enough, Mi. This is embarrassing,” he muttered, his patience clearly running bthin/bb. /bb“/bbYou /bbpushed /btoo far today.”

    Mi’s eyes filled with tears, but her pride refused to let her crumble. “But… my King… iYou /isaid…”

    “Quiet,” Lance snapped, cutting her off. His frustration was clear as he turned toward Thorne, the fake smile creeping back onto bhis /bfaceb. /bb“/bbIs /bthere a better way? Mi’s my mate. Letting you cut off her hands… it wouldn’t look good.”

    912

    20:47 bMon/bb, /bb4 /bbAug /b

    Thorne snorted, unimpressed.

    Before he could respond, ra’s weak voice interrupted, her hand reaching out toward Thorne’s sleeve.

    “I have an idea.”

    He bent down immediately, concern shing across his face as he met her gaze. “What is it?”

    ra’s voice was firm, despite her paleplexion. “I want her to apologize to me. On her knees.”

    Lance breathed out in relief, his shoulders rxing. “Of course. That can be arranged.”

    Mi’s face went white, and her voice was a strangled sob. “No! Not that! I can’t-”

    ra’s lips curled into a cold smile. She’d struck where it hurt.

    “YES!” Lance pressed, his eyes narrowing at Mi. “Thorne and ra have already given you mercy. What more do you want?”

    Mi’s lips trembled, her face a portrait of shame and humiliation. “But… my reputation…” she whispered, voice cracking. “How can I knee to a criminal?”

    “You’re not my Queen,” Lance bit out. “And if you defy me, you’ll never be.”

    Mi staggered back, her breath quick and shallow. The room was silent, the weight of Lance’s words sinking in.

    Thorne’s patience snapped. “We don’t have all day, Mi. Or maybe you’d prefer the first option.”

    Lance clicked his tongue in annoyance, leaning forward. “What are you waiting for? Need me toe and help you down?”

    The tension was unbearable. Mi stood at the crossroads of her pride and the reality of her position. Would she bow?