The rational part of her mind warned her that provoking Azul was a dangerous game, one she could not afford to play. Her husband already despised her. Jayran is indifferent to her. And if Hairan was to be believed, the queen would cast her aside the moment she ceased to be useful.
She would be alone. Powerless. No different from the girl she had once been in her father's house.
The thought alone was enough to make her pulse jump. She had clawed her way out of that darkness, survived things that should have broken her, and she had sworn that she would never return to that helpless state again.
And yet she could not bring herself to endure this. Not from him. Not after what he had implied. Her pride would not allow it.
She pushed to her feet abruptly, the movement sharp and decisive. The sooner she put distance between them, the better.
"Sit down, Elka."
His tone remained deceptively light, almost conversational, but there was something undoubtedly dangerous beneath it.
