Skylar POV – In Chris’s Chamber

The grand doors of Chris's chamber loomed before me, guarded as always by two elite sentinels. They didn't need to ask who I was or why I was here—no one questioned my right to enter.

I pushed the doors open without hesitation, stepping inside.

Chris was seated in his usual place—a throne-like chair near the towering window, overlooking the city. His presence was as commanding as ever, his back straight, his gaze distant. He hadn't acknowledged me yet, but I knew he was aware of my arrival.

"You allowed Adrian to live," I said, my voice cutting through the heavy silence.

Chris didn't turn to face me. Instead, he exhaled slowly. "And?"

I walked further into the room, my arms crossing over my chest. "And Christiana is furious. Ethan is questioning it. And I—" I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "I don't understand why."

Finally, Chris turned, his sharp eyes meeting mine. "You think I should have killed him?"

"I think leaving him alive is dangerous," I countered. "He's not just some prisoner, Chris. He's Adrian Blackwood. A man with influence, power, and a cause that people are willing to die for. You're giving him time—time to gather his strength, time to plant seeds of rebellion."

Chris leaned back, steepling his fingers together. "Perhaps."

"Then why?" I pressed, frustration creeping into my tone. "You've never been one to hesitate when it comes to dealing with threats. Why spare him?"

A small smirk tugged at the corner of Chris's lips. "Because sometimes, Skylar, a caged enemy is more useful than a dead one."

I frowned. "Useful? You expect to use Adrian?"

Chris's expression didn't change. "His rebellion isn't without merit."

I blinked, momentarily stunned. "Are you saying you agree with him?"

"I'm saying I understand him," Chris corrected. "The world sees me as a tyrant. A ruler without equal, without mercy. But Adrian? He is the one thing I cannot be—an opposition. A symbol of defiance. As long as he lives, the world will have something to fight against. And that, Skylar, is control."

I shook my head, stepping closer. "You're playing a dangerous game."

"I always have," Chris said simply.

I let out a breath, my mind racing. Chris was always five steps ahead of everyone else, but this—this felt reckless. Or maybe that was just what he wanted us all to think.

"And what about Christiana?" I asked. "She won't let this go. She ordered Adrian's execution before you even spoke."

Chris's gaze darkened slightly. "She still has much to learn."

I hesitated. "She thinks you're testing her authority."

"I am."

His bluntness sent a chill through me.

"She believes she is in control, but power is more than orders and commands. It's knowing when to act and when to wait. Christiana still acts with impulse. She is strong, but strength alone does not make a ruler."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "She's your daughter, Chris. She only wants to prove herself to you."

Chris's expression softened, but only for a second. "She will. In time."

Silence stretched between us. The weight of everything—the rebellion, the tension within our own family, the balance of power—hung in the air.

Finally, Chris spoke again, his voice quieter.

"You didn't just come here to question me about Adrian, did you?"

I hesitated, then shook my head. "No."

Chris studied me, waiting.

I took a deep breath. "Ethan."

His expression hardened instantly.

"What about him?" he asked, though I could tell he already knew.

"He crossed a line," I said. "He tried to remove my crown."

Chris's eyes darkened. He exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping once against the armrest.

"And did you remind him who you are?"

"I did," I replied. "But I don't think he sees me as his Queen. He sees me as just your wife."

Chris stood.

The room seemed smaller when he did. His presence was suffocating, his power undeniable.

"Then it's time he understands," Chris said, voice low, dangerous. "No one disrespects my wife. No one challenges her authority. And if Ethan has forgotten that—" He turned toward the door, his stride purposeful. "I will remind him."

I followed closely behind, knowing that whatever happened next—Ethan wouldn't forget this lesson.