Cat didn’t flinch. “You should see the other guy,” she quipped, then winked at him.
His smirk vanished like someone had flipped a switch. “You insolent little—”
“Oh, come on,” she cut in, her voice breezy. “You called me here for a scolding. Or are we pretending this is an intervention?”
Lord Zacharia’s eyes narrowed to slits. “You laid hands on the next emperor.”
“He laid hands on me first,” Cat said evenly. “I just have better aim.”
“You are not some mercenary brat brawling in the slums of the Southern District!” he growled. “You are Lady Arya Ryder, daughter of the Minister of Rites, and you donotstrike the emperor—”
“He’s not the emperor yet!” she snapped. “And even if he was, it doesn’t give him the right to manhandle anyone.”
Zacharia’s voice rose, the biting tone sharp enough to slice air. “Do you have any idea the damage you’ve done? The tongues wagging, the alliances strained? I had one task—one—and that was to keep you presentable long enough to marry you off without anyone seeing through the ruse you’ve become.”
Cat’s expression shuttered into something I recognized too well. I’d seen it on warriors after the first blood was spilled. Cold. Controlled. Distant.
“Well, guess you’ll have to pencil in ‘damage control’ between your wine tastings and bribery meetings,” she said coolly. “Or maybe ask Gianna to be your wingman. I’m sure she’sdyingto be helpful.”
Lord Zacharia’s face reddened. “You will be punished for this.”
Cat arched a brow. “Let me guess. A public flogging again? You really are a one-trick pony, Zach.”
“You will address me as your father!” he thundered.
“Oh, pardon, I forgot,” she said sarcastically with a mocking bow.
He took a step toward her, but I moved first.
I stepped between them, calm and quiet but unmistakably present. “Touch her again,” I said, my voice like frost creeping across stone, “and you’ll answer tome.”
Lord Zacharia blinked. Just once. Slowly. “You forget yourself, Prince Damien.”
“No,” I said. “I remember everything. Including the way you stood by while Thorne laid his hands on her like she was a bargaining chip he owned. I’ve tolerated a lot, but this ends now.”
Zacharia’s eyes boggled. He sputtered, “You don’t have the authority to—”
“I don’t need authority,” I snapped. “I only need motive.”
His eyes flicked toward Cat, then to me, calculating. “This is not your family, Your Highness. You are merely a guest in this house.”
“Then consider this my exit,” I said. “But if you ever raise a hand to her again, I’ll make sure it’s the last thing you do.”
The silence that followed was thick, electric. Even the guards near the doors stilled.
Cat slowly exhaled behind me. “Well…”
I didn’t look away from Zacharia. “We’re leaving.”
“She’s not going anywhere!” Lord Zacharia thundered, his gaze never leaving mine.
I smirked. “I’d like to see you try and stop me.”
“Damien—” Cat whispered, gripping my sleeve.
My expression hardened. “She’s not staying.”
Zacharia’s shrewd glare held the faintest trace of mockery. “You don’t get to decide that.”
