Page 34 of Undertow
I chuckled. “You are smarter than most. Yes, they are.”
“I’m still confused.”
I moved my elbows onto the table and cradled my chin with my hands. “Did Father strike you as the type of man to not train his daughter?”
“No,” almost the whole room said immediately.
“And if I was shorter than most female dragons, most would underestimate me. Do you think he’d allow any less training for me then, ormore?” I was glad when a few started to catch on. “The best part is I’ve seen all of you fight. You allloveto record and post your fights or events to prove why you should be Alpha.”
“While none of you have seen her fight,” Fraser chuckled darkly. “I haven’t seen it in… Three years?”
I shared a glance with him and we shrugged. It was about then that he’d seen it.
Up close and personal when I’d kicked his ass all over the place.
Kole’s father glanced at him and then between us. “But—surely Kole has—”
“I haven’t,” Kole muttered with a frown.
“That was intentional,” I told them both, snorting when they both seemed upset. “A conversation for later, but we’re not even engaged. Mylifeis always at risk being the heir to the throne.” I gestured around the room. “And the people who are supposed to follow my rule and listen to me can’t even keep it together to not talk about me like a baby-making whore.”
“To your face no less,” Aunt Maple seethed. “I’m ready to take them all out back, and I’m very sure Rhys will haunt them in their nightmares for a while.”
That made them at least squirm a bit.
Good. It should.
I stood and stared down each Alpha in turn. “Let this be yourone lessonto not underestimate me again. None of you had the balls to be blunt and simply spit it out. You allknewyou were selfish monsters taking advantage of a horrid situation for your own gains. Taking advantage ofyour future queenbecause you saw me as a young, weaker than you, unprotected woman.”
I stared them all down again.
“I am the rightful ruler of Thovudin, daughter of Rhys and Amelia, and I amneverweak.” I used my fire dragon’s power to burn all of them for the insult. I was impressed when at least five didn’t show any sign of pain at all and only a few made any sort of noise. “Never forget this moment because next time I won’t be so lenient.”
Thatgot a reaction because getting a burn from a royal wasn’t a small thing. Those were deep, deep burns on their left arms that they were all to show in shame that they had committed a sin against their leader. It would take a month to heal and it was no small punishment.
I snorted. “You want to treat me like a whore for sale?” I let them see my evil smile. “You all have daughters too, right? Should we make alliance matings apractice?If you think it fine for me,of courseyou would say the same foryour families, yes?” I was glad when the females of the royal family all chuckled darkly.
“The merfolk have been asking for sons for eons to be traded too, Sagan,” Aunt Maple reminded me as if that wasn’t part of the plan.
“Oh yes, we can’t forget the needs of some of our other allies and how we can best utilize ourstockof Alpha families and their bloodlines,” I said, my tone amused while my gaze was cold. I took my time meeting the eyes of each Alpha. “This never happens again. Ever. Or it will become normal practice. Decidenow.”
The decision was fast and easy.
Duh.
They wanted to enact a law to ban it. It was the way of dragons and tradition, but they wanted it in writing now.
“Glad to hear it,” I said trying not to gloat. “I will see it done the moment I become queen. Now, as I warned you all, demanding this meeting while I was supposed to be observing mourning would come with a cost.” I ignored when several of them flinched, probably thinking they had already paid it. “The coronation happens next full moon as is tradition.”
Elder Hardin jumped to his feet but unfortunately caught himself at the last second.
A different elder wasn’t as smooth. “That’s not for you to decide, Your Highness.Weare the only way you become queen.”
I didn’t even have to give the order to remove him before the guards already were. I did shoot Hardin a smirk before focusing on the Alphas. “Normally, the elders confirm the heir, but given what has happened and as stated in our ascensionlaws, as long as every Alpha gives their witnessed verbal approval of the heir, the coronation happens.”
Kole’s father chuckled. “Well done, Princess. And yes, we more than deserve it.” He stood and slapped the table. “Aye, I confirm Princess Sagan De la Rosa. More than that, I’ll personally challenge any Alpha who contests and anyelderwho questions the decision later.”
I had trouble hiding my reaction to that. He was throwing down.
