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."

when she'd come into my room mere minutes after Dad had left with my brother had

knew what

Stupid.

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.

and looked at me, meeting my gaze. There was no remorse in his eyes, of course not. The medallion that my dad had worn since becoming head of the family

couldn't wait to take from Dad's

The bastard...

had to be done. My anger, the injustice of it all

had to

aunt tried to grab me. "You can't

me. "If

came to a stop in front

"You have a lot

new head of the family, and with a word, you'll be prosecuted for

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

grit his teeth, baring them briefly. He looked behind me

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

you," I said, glaring at her.

them together turned my stomach. The rest of the family shuffled around and left. The door slid closed behind them.

"You must

blinked. "I think you're being

His eyes widened.

daughter was summoned, not me. The palace won't be happy about

eyes. "They documents

head. That's why you did all of this." I approached him, glaring

a cold smile as

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