Chapter 1

The first time I died, my husband had already executed our daughter for treason.

Sofia was twenty-two when Isabella Russo accused the Crown Princess of plotting treason with my family.

Adrian believed her.

I gave up everything I controlled inside the palace. My authority. My allies. Every officer who still answered to me.

I begged him to spare our daughter.

He didn't.

After Sofia died, Adrian used the so-called treason to destroy the Valmonts.

My father was executed.

My brother followed.

I died last.

Years later, Adrian finally learned Isabella had lied.

Somehow, I remember even what happened after my death.

By then, there was no one left for him to save.

Then I open my eyes and find myself ten years in the past.

"Your Majesty?"

The architect's voice pulls me into the present.

I look down.

Blueprints cover the table in front of me.

The Royal Mausoleum of Valeria.

I remember this day.

Adrian had ordered the old mausoleum expanded. Kings and queens had been buried there for generations.

He had already chosen his own burial place.

And beside it—

LADY ISABELLA RUSSO.

I stare at the name.

Last time, I said nothing.

Adrian told me Isabella had spent her childhood terrified of dark places. He had promised she would never be alone, not even after death.

I swallowed the humiliation.

I was his Queen.

I thought that meant I had already won.

Now I pick up the pen and draw one line through her name.

The architect pales.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty personally approved—"

"And I am personally rejecting it."

I slide the plans back to him.

"She isn't royal."

"His Majesty said Lady Isabella—"

"If Adrian wants his mistress buried somewhere beautiful, he can build her another mausoleum."

A folder beneath the blueprints catches my eye.

I pull it free.

Palace Guard rotations.

Three days from now, two units commanded by officers loyal to my father are being reassigned from the western palace gates and the royal armory.

Their replacements belong to a newly expanded regiment under Lord Luca Russo.

Isabella's brother.

I read the orders twice.

In my first life, the Valmonts weren't destroyed until after Sofia was accused of treason.

At least, that was what I had believed.

Maybe Sofia's accusation hadn't started the purge.

Maybe it had only finished it.

I rise.

"Bring me a secure line."

The architect looks startled.

"Your Majesty?"

"Now."

Minutes later, my father's voice comes through the receiver.

"Elena?"

"Father, don't move your men."

A pause.

"What happened?"

"If the palace orders any officers loyal to you reassigned this week, delay it."

"Elena, those orders come from the King."

"I know."

Silence.

My father has known me long enough to hear what I am not saying.

"What did you find?"

"I'll explain when I can."

I lower my voice.

"And send two men you trust to Sofia. They stay with her at all times. No food, drink, or medicine reaches her without being checked."

"Elena—"

The doors open.

I look up.

Adrian walks in.

Isabella is beside him.

Of course she is.

Around her neck hangs an emerald necklace I know very well.

Adrian's grandmother wore it as Queen.

Then his mother.

After our wedding, it was entrusted to me.

Adrian looks at the plans.

"Why did you remove Isabella's name?"

I end the call.

"Because she isn't royal."

"It is a grave, Elena."

"Then why does she need this one?"

"I don't," Isabella says softly. "I told Adrian it wasn't necessary."

"Really?"

I look at the necklace.

"Take that off."

Her hand flies to the emeralds.

Adrian steps between us.

"I gave it to her."

"It wasn't yours to give."

"Elena."

"No."

I walk forward.

Isabella takes a step back, but I catch the clasp and remove the necklace myself.

She gasps.

Adrian grabs my wrist.

In my first life, I would have looked at his face.

I would have wondered whether I had gone too far.

Now I only look at his hand until he releases me.

"You are the Queen," he says coldly. "You have the Crown, the palace, and everything that comes with your position. Isabella asked for one thing."

"One?"

"She is wearing a necklace that belonged to two queens while you put her name beside yours in the Royal Mausoleum."

"She was afraid."

"And Sofia will be afraid too one day."

His expression changes slightly.

He doesn't understand.

Not yet.

I close my fingers around the emeralds.

"Isabella will not be buried with the royal family. She will not wear what belongs to the Queen. And from today on, she stays away from my daughter."

"You're punishing her because you're jealous."

"No."

I meet his eyes.

"I'm correcting a mistake."

Heat rises from the table.

I look down.

A folded sheet of paper protrudes from beneath the mausoleum plans.

I know it wasn't there before.

Dark red stains spread across the page like dried blood.

Then words begin to appear.

In my handwriting.

You changed what happened.

I stop breathing.

A second line slowly forms.

Tonight, Isabella Russo will poison the Crown Princess.

This never happened in my first life.

The future has already changed.

And Sofia is only twelve years old.