Fiona’s POV
As Micah's biting words hang in the air, a suffocating tension blankets the grand hall, the splendor of the Queen Mother's birthday banquet fading into a backdrop of suppressed hostility. Queen Alara’s composure, already fragile, teeters on the verge of shattering.
"Watch your words, Prince Micah," she says through clenched teeth.
"But why, Alara? After all, it's always a pleasure to discuss family matters. You see, my mother, who was once the Queen, and you, her devoted maid, share quite a remarkable history, don't you?" Micah continues, not ceasing his verbal evisceration of the Queen. He looks like a tornado ready to destroy everything in his path.
The Queen's jaw clenches, and her knuckles whiten as she grips the edge of her gown. She's angry, and it's not just because
