You can't find me

Chapter 52

"You're telling me that the fucking heir found out about the girl? You useless piece of garbage! You had one job!" the masked man on the throne screeches.

Zaniyah stares at her father, tears welling in her eyes. The other board members exchange wary glances, unsure of what to expect next.

"Father, I told you he's a smart man! He would have found out eventually. I just—"

Her father slams his hand down on the arm of the throne, interrupting her. She winces from the force.

"I knew that bastard you found in that kingdom would start causing problems. He's gotten to your damn head! I won't tolerate this any longer. Give me his name right now, or I'll find out, and things will get very bad for him."

Zaniyah's heart races. She blinks rapidly to fight back the tears, but the weight of his threat suffocates her.

"Y-y-you promised you wouldn't bother him."

A servant enters with juice for her father, but he angrily tosses it across the room.

He stands, towering over her, his rage palpable. "That was before you forgot your role, Zaniyah. You're as useless as your sisters." He grabs her throat, pulling her closer. "You have one day. One day to convince the Everson girl to not marry the heir. If you fail again, I will slit your boyfriend's throat—and all the others."

Zaniyah's eyes flash with fury at the mention of "others." She rips his hand from her throat, her voice steady but laced with venom.

"Father, who will take your position once you're gone?"

His eyes widen with shock. Before he can respond, she seals his lips with a quick motion of her hand.

"No, seriously," she says, her voice cold and cutting. "Zayd is dead because of you. Samir is six feet under, too—all thanks to their dear father. Who will rule when you're gone?"

The room falls silent. Several members of the royal court gasp in shock, one even fainting from the audacity of her words.

She unzips his mouth, and he explodes, "YOU INSANE BITCH! I SHOULD'VE KILLED YOU WHEN I—"

He draws his sword, charging at her, but she casts a spell in a blink. He's thrown off his feet, his peppery hair falling messily across his sweaty forehead.

"Such monsters have no place on this planet," she grits out.

Without hesitation, she pulls a knife from her ballgown and hurls it at his heart, her aim true. Another knife follows, striking his throat, and two more pierce his wrists.

His lifeless body crumples to the floor, and Zaniyah kneels to check for a pulse—there's nothing.

The priest, still reeling, hurries to grab the crown from the king's head.

Zaniyah stands, her movements slow but deliberate. She gently closes her father's eyes and mutters prayers under her breath, which the others in the room reluctantly repeat.

The priest stands, trembling, and announces, "ALL ARISE TO HER MAJESTY ZANIYAH AL-MANSUR ZAHRANI."

Everyone in the room rises and bows their heads, the weight of the moment settling over them.

"Your maje—"

The priest tries to place the crown on her head, but she stops him with a raised hand. "I don't want that disgusting thing on my head until it's cleaned. Ask the healers to rid it of my late father's energy, and then we'll have a ceremony."

She turns to Omar, a man in his mid-30s, who has remained silent. "Omar, please prepare a speech for me. The ceremony will take place next week, during the full moon."