I started to nod, then halted in the main doorway as someone appeared around the side of the carriage. Razel. The same stinging warmth that flushed my skin every time I saw her surged to life.

Her eyes fell on me, and she smiled. Had she been suspicious of Ericen’s request to remove our escort? Was she going to stop me from leaving?

“Thia,” Kiva muttered.

My nails dug into my palms, Razel’s expression turning bemused. She didn’t believe my faked subservience. How could she when I couldn’t stop my emotions from playing across my face? But she probably enjoyed seeing me struggle to try, probably knew that even though I was pretending, it still made me feel weak, still kept me controlled and powerless, exactly like she wanted.

To get what I wanted, I had to give her what she wanted: obedience.

I propelled myself forward with sheer willpower, straight down the gravel path to the waiting queen. Kiva stayed close at my back as I stopped before Razel.

“My son has informed me you wish to remove your protection,” she said.

Protection. My jaw clenched. “I do.”

“And why is that?”

“I’ve taken a position as an assistant for a man in the Colorfalls as a hobby to occupy my time. He’s very…private. He doesn’t like the guards being there.”

Razel smiled. “A servant? How fitting. Perhaps it will teach you the humility you lack or at the very least how to dedicate yourself to something. I’ve heard such stories about the princess who abandoned her duties.”

Fury prickled like a shiver down my spine, but I kept my mouth shut. Beside me, I could feel Kiva’s tension, but she didn’t betray a thing. Somehow, I had to learn to do the same.

Razel continued, “If you want to visit this man unprotected, I expect to see some proof of your progress.”

I forced myself to nod.

“For example,” she said, voice dripping with rancid honey, “you should say ‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ when I give you an order.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The words came out tight, but they came.

“And you should bow.”

Slowly, I lowered my head.

“Lower.”

I bowed lower, forcing myself to breathe slowly. To remember why I had to obey.

“Very good, Thia dear. You may go, but your friend stays.”

Kiva tensed as I snapped upright, but my protest died in my throat at the look on Razel’s face. One that dared me to contradict her, lest she take more from me than that. It was smart, really. She’d removed the guards, but she knew I wouldn’t leave Illucia without Kiva.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I said through gritted teeth.

Razel strode past me. “Be back before dinner each day. If ever you two leave together, there will be consequences.”

“I don’t like you going without me,” Kiva grumbled once she’d gone.