Chapter 4 · The Spouse Authorization

"Don't use him to scare me."

Carson's voice stayed low, but his face changed.

Not much. His jaw locked. His eyes went cold. One hand dropped from the room-wide security screen and gripped the edge of the table.

I pressed the knife harder beneath his jaw.

A thin red line opened.

"You're the one keeping him in a cage."

"He isn't in a cage."

"What do you call a locked room under an armed tribunal?"

"Protection."

"Try again."

His eyes cut toward me. "You want the password? Fine. Say please."

I laughed once. "You're really stupid enough to die for your pride."

"It's not pride. It's control. There's a difference."

"Not from where I'm standing."

"You're standing behind me with a knife because you know I can stop you with one hand."

"Then stop me."

The banquet hall went dead silent.

Every guard watched us. Every noble in the room waited for Carson to put me on the floor and remind me who owned the power here.

Carson's fingers moved.

He caught the blade.

The edge sliced across his palm.