Chapter 1

"He'll change his mind!"

I ignored the wailing. It was a lie, and we both knew it.

It had been hundreds of years since the dragon king had been taking humans for the Trial of Fire. She was putting on a show at this point. I looked up as a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky and closed my eyes. My brother was too young to do much, even if he got

out of his coma. My father was dead, and his widow was useless.

I would have to make a plan forward to make sure my brother would survive the mess his mother had made. I glared at her, glanced at the grave, and turned away.

Tomorrow, I would be dead, but my brother had a chance to be the next head of the family if I could keep Goro from finishing what he started.

Goro...

Dad should have kicked him from the family years ago, but he had always been more loyal to the snakes in his family than they deserved. I walked into the house, leaving the sliding door open that led outside open.

"Where are you going?" She sniffled, following me. "Your father--"

"Is dead, and now I have to keep my brother alive. I want this done with before dawn."

"Done with?" She jumped up, flushed with anger. "How could you say that? Your father's dead! Your brother... my baby--"

Aren't I your daughter? I smiled wryly at the thought. No. I guess I never had been.

She let out another sob. "It should have been you."

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks for the confirmation."

dumb. The way she'd looked at me when she'd come into my room mere minutes after Dad had left

knew what

Stupid.

floor, but I didn't care. I opened door after door until she found Goro, my uncle, seated in the main dining hall, dressed in solemn black. The rest of the family was seated

already taking over. Goro lifted his head and looked at me, meeting my gaze. There was

probably couldn't wait to

The bastard...

the central aisle, breathing deeply and focusing on what had to be done. My anger, the

to do

aunt tried to grab me. "You

me. "If you're here to change my

to a stop in front of him. "I'm here to talk

eyes widened. "You have a

eldest, his living flesh and blood. I am the new head of the family, and with a word, you'll be prosecuted for violating imperial will with this stunt, and your daughter will be in the caravan

How lucky do you think your daughter is?" I cocked my eyebrow even as my stomach

baring them briefly. He looked behind me and

us," he said. My father's widow turned to follow the rest of the

said, glaring at her. "You have

settled down beside him. The sight of them together turned my stomach. The rest of the family shuffled around and left. The door slid closed behind them. Silence

head. "You must think

"I think you're

His eyes widened.

all, your daughter was summoned, not me. The palace won't be happy about you trying to pull

his eyes.

documents state is an age, and it's never the child of the current head. That's why you did all of this." I approached him, glaring at him. "You'd do anything for your daughter." I looked at

my head and gave Goro a cold

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