Chapter 39: Trapped Beneath Scales

Saffron glared at Kingsley from behind the bars of the dank dungeon. She wrapped her arms around herself and met his eyes, which had returned to their normal blue. "I would assume that you knew of her plans?" Saffron questioned.

He dipped his head once. "I was aware. I have known since I was a child. I was raised to someday take the throne."

"You knew that you would have to kill for it?" she exclaimed, disbelief in her voice. He nodded again.

"I knew that it was the only way," he said, almost sadly. She noticed that something had changed since the last time that she had seen him. Before he had seemed fervid and confident. Now he just appeared to be resigned to his fate.

"Couldn't you have just said no?" Saffron asked, stepping closer and placed her hands on the bars between them. His blue eyes roved to hers and held them for a moment.

"You cannot resist mother, I am afraid," he stated flatly.

"Well, why not?" Saffron countered. He leaned against the bars, his arm above his