Victor's POV
The cool night air greeted me as I stepped out of the throne room, the weight of Sabrina's sharp words lingering in my chest. I walked briskly through the halls of the castle, trying to shake off the sting of her dismissal.
I should've known better than to expect anything more from her. Sabrina was a queen first, a strategist second, and a lover only when it suited her plans. And yet, I kept hoping—hoping that I meant something more to her than a pawn in her game.
"Victor," a familiar voice called out, pulling me from my thoughts.
I turned to see Jax, my second-in-command, leaning casually against a pillar in the shadowed hallway. His arms were crossed, and his expression was one of barely contained amusement.
"You look like someone just kicked your puppy," Jax said, pushing off the wall to fall into step beside me.
"Not now, Jax," I muttered, my tone clipped.
