Presley slowly came to a halt in the gallery, and Adeline stopped a step behind her.
"Ask," the Luna Queen commanded, turning to face her fully.
"I—I have nothing to ask, Your Majesty," Adeline replied, her voice stuttering slightly under the pressure.
Presley let out a soft chuckle. "You think I cannot read you? You are ready to bring me down alongside Gideon. The way you spoke against me in front of the King said a lot. I must say, you are far more calculating than Gideon. And if you think his curse is nothing, you are dead wrong."
Adeline's fingers tightly gripped the fabric of her skirt as Presley stepped closer, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "You will die because of his curse. And he will burn in pain every single day because of you. I may not be his biological mother, but I know exactly what it feels like to yearn for a love you will never receive."
Adeline knitted her brows together, absorbing the harsh words before offering a calm, polite response.
