Not a Proper Queen

Knox’s POV

In an effort to bridge the animosity between us after I rejected her truce, I held out my hand to Aira when I stepped out of the carriage.

She ignored it.

Rage boiled in my gut. “I have work to do,” I told her. “But you go right ahead and do whatever you want.”

“Thank you. I will,” she replied.

It was so close to something she might have thought that without saying aloud I had to stop myself from grinning. Maybe if her thoughts met her mouth, people would see how unfit she was to be anyone’s queen.

I left her and her lady’s maid and walked over to see Xylander, who was frowning over, Goddess help me, a great snapped piece of wood.

“Another truss?” I asked, looking at the damage.

“Another truss,” he confirmed.

I swore. “Why does this keep happening?”

Xylander shook his head. “I don’t k……