Queens questioning

Skylar POV

The council chamber was tense. Christiana had just left, still fuming over Chris's decision to distribute some of the Blackwood Cure to non-Union nations. But I knew better than to question him outright—not here, not in front of others.

Instead, I waited.

Chris remained seated at the head of the long table, his fingers lazily drumming against the polished wood. Classic and Ethan were still discussing logistics, but my attention was on him.

I stepped forward and stood beside his chair. "Was it necessary?"

He glanced up at me, his expression unreadable. "Define necessary."

I folded my arms. "Giving them just enough to survive."

Chris chuckled, shaking his head. "I knew you'd see through it first."

Of course, I did.

"You're not helping them," I said. "You're crippling them in a way that ensures they will never rise again. You're making them dependent."

He didn't deny it.

I sighed, leaning against the edge of the table. "And Christiana?"

"She'll get over it," Chris said simply.

I studied him for a long moment. Even after all these years, he still knew how to move the board in ways no one else could predict.

"You've already planned the next step, haven't you?" I asked.

Chris smirked, lifting his glass again.

"Of course."