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."

into my

what Goro's

Stupid.

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

and looked at me,

probably couldn't wait to take

The bastard...

to be done. My anger, the

to do

to grab me. "You

said, looking at me. "If

in front of him.

widened. "You have

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

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

teeth, baring them briefly. He looked behind me and

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

you," I said, glaring at her. "You

together turned my stomach. The rest of the family shuffled around and left. The door

lifted his head. "You

"I think

His eyes widened.

think we should come to an agreement," I said. "After all, your daughter was summoned, not

eyes.

I know. All the documents state is an age, and it's never the child of the current head. That's why you did all

gave Goro a cold smile as I

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