Chapter 3

I froze where I stood, my heart sinking.

So he didn't love me anymore.

He'd fallen for someone else, yet still wanted me to fall in line.

I shook my head with a bitter laugh and walked away.

Late that night, Kael came back to our bedroom and pulled me into his arms.

He still smelled like Talia, and I pushed him away without thinking.

"What's wrong?"

Kael spoke as if he were discussing something ordinary.

"I plan to make Talia a countess so she'll have more influence. What do you think?"

I got up with my pillow and lay down on the sofa. "It's your kingdom. You decide," I said flatly.

A smile lit Kael's eyes, and he pushed his luck.

"Then I'd like her to manage your lands too."

That meant every bit of power I had would go to Talia.

But I was already divorced from Kael, so I didn't care anymore.

I nodded and said only, "Fine. I agree."

Kael was thrilled and immediately started praising me.

"Maren, only a smart woman like you can help keep the peace between the kingdom and the sea."

He thought he'd tamed me completely by putting me down, threatening me, and then offering a little praise.

I lay down with my back to him. The bedroom was so quiet I could hear the waves breaking on the rocks.

In the distance, Talia was calling to him with her song.

Kael got up with a rustle and told me, "Maren, I've still got some work to do. Go to sleep."

I ignored him. Later, the singing stopped.

The next day, Kael announced his decision in front of everyone.

Talia, newly made a countess, stood proudly on the dais as control of my lands passed to her.

The ministers were stunned.

At the handover ceremony, Talia wore a gorgeous gown and practically glowed.

She leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "Maren, we both come from the sea. Why should I be beneath you?"

To everyone else, it looked like she was giving me a polite kiss on the cheek.

Talia's eyes glinted with challenge. She seemed to be trying to bait me into losing my temper in front of everyone, but she was wrong.

I turned my head and looked at her calmly. "Is that so? Then I hope you'll show us what you can do."

I didn't cry or make a scene. I even placed the seal of authority in Talia's palm as Kael watched with a faint smile.

The ministers shook their heads.

They thought the princess they'd once served had lost all power.

But I knew all of this was just for show.

Sea trade, peace between our peoples, and the loyalty of our best commanders had never depended on that little seal.

Talia stepped solemnly into the middle of the crowd and made her announcement.

"Thank you, Prince Kael, for trusting me. From now on, I'll give everything I have to serve the kingdom."

After the ceremony, Kael followed me out and continued to threaten me.

"Maren, I want you to learn from Talia, or I'll keep freezing you out."

I didn't answer.

Kael's lips pressed into a hard line, and he was about to snap at me.

Just then, Talia came running over in a panic.

She'd barely started the job, and she'd already run into a problem she couldn't solve.