Maya's POV
The kingdom was falling apart.
Soldiers moved through the streets without purpose. Without fire. Without belief. Cassandra's lie had poisoned something fundamental. The trust that held an army together.
Kaden was preparing to address the troops when Maya grabbed his arm.
"Let me do it," she said.
Kaden looked at her like she had suggested something impossible.
"No," he said. "This is my kingdom. My responsibility."
"Exactly," Maya said. "And you've done everything right. But they don't need to hear from their king right now. They need to hear from someone who understands fear. Someone who was lost before they found a kingdom to fight for."
Kaden studied her face.
"If you do this and it doesn't work—"
"Then we lose," Maya said. "But we're losing anyway. At least this way we try something different."
He nodded slowly.
