Scorched Earth

A pause. Then Roth added carefully, “If we play it right—leverage that neutrality, maybe offer him a crack at something long-term—he might listen. He won’t trust easy. But he’ll respect power. Especially if it offers him more than the throne ever could.”

Kaelen finally looked up, eyes glinting with a dangerous calm.

“Then maybe it’s time we make it his.”

He stood slowly, voice low and lethal.