MALAKAI’S POV

She actually thought punishing her was a performance? And she planned to assign a maid to take over the punishment. Indeed this was the height of her insanity.

"By dawn," I announced with a rough and hollow voice, "you will be dragged before the entire castle assembly. You will be forced down onto your knees in the center of the courtyard, and you will publicly beg for forgiveness from Clarabel and her son. You will apologize for every single thing you did to that boy."

Talia looked up from the floor, her eyes flashing with a spiteful, desperate venom. "What?" she shrieked, her voice raw from the choking....