The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 1

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."

The way she'd looked at me when she'd come into my room mere minutes after Dad had left with my brother had told

what

Stupid.

she dripped on the 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 in rows, all facing him as the new head. No one ate, but it was clear that Goro was about to start announcing how things were going

looked at me,

wait to take from

The bastard...

had to be done. My

had to

grab me. "You

Goro said, looking at me. "If you're

came to a stop in front of him. "I'm here to talk to you: head to heir

"You

brother is in a coma. I am the 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 when it

to me privately--civilly--or should I not bother? How lucky do you think your daughter

briefly. He looked behind me and nodded

My father's widow turned to follow the rest

her. "You have

my stomach. The rest of

"You must think I'm being

blinked. "I think

His eyes widened.

an agreement," I said. "After all, your daughter was summoned, not me. The palace won't be happy

narrowed his eyes. "They

head. That's why you did all of this." I approached him, glaring at him. "You'd do anything

head and gave Goro a cold smile as I

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