Page 12 of Microburst

“That’s probably the dumbest lie you’ve ever uttered.” I turned to leave but then looked at him over his shoulder. “Enjoy your remaining time. I’m sorry you won’t make it to become an ancient. I know how much you really wanted to have the pretty hair like us.”

And with that I left, ignoring his ranting and threats as I did.

Would that keep him from coming after Sagan?

No… But it would buy us some time and have him looking over his shoulder. Plus, I meant what I said. I was going to take out all the elders for their treachery the moment people wouldn’t blame Sagan.

The veryairaround the castle was wrong and I raced past the guards as I reached the entrance, making a note later to apologize for knocking them away with my magic. I arrived at Sagan’s suite and into chaos. She was drunk, Maple and Fraser were frantic. Darren was beside himself and Benson was ready to explode.

And the girls her age were a range of everything I couldn’t process it was so overwhelming.

One extremely upset look from Maple and I knew I was getting one of the mobile devices if she had to smack me with it until I caved.

Yes, fine, I now saw a need. My magic didn’t alert me and—fine.

And after hearing what Sagan told us, I wouldn’t object… Well, to that. I would object to a lot else. My heart hurt for her beyond words as she slurred that she should never have become queen, and then she said the words that I knew she meant and broke her to say.

That she wished she’d never been born.

Luckily, Benson had quick enough reflexes to catch her when she passed out. I left him to handle it and focused on the discovery she’d made. I picked up one of the journals and started flipping through it. It was normal royal family tedious this and that until I found a passage that made my blood boil.

“‘Rhys was drinking tonight and asked me what we’d done to deserve this fate of a daughter cursed by a dark god,’” I read for them. “‘I know he believes Sagan being born a monster ishis punishment—his punishment or maybe the royal family’s punishment for something we’ve all done, but sometimes I wonder if it’s biology.

“‘I heard some species that have twins can sometimes absorb the twin if it dies in the womb. Maybe we were to be blessed with the first ever dragon twins and something happened and Sagan absorbed the other dragon. Maybe it was something I did—I wasn’t special enough to carry a miracle and that’s why our daughter is a monster?

“‘He didn’t completely dismiss the idea, but he truly believes that a dark god plagued the royal family with Sagan, and if we don’t have another child to replace her, it will be the end of their rule. It’s why he can’t even have her here more than a week. By the end of it, his thoughts turn violent because she will bring down the family’s whole dynasty.

“‘I wish I was stronger to do what I should and tell him that my dragon will never let me conceive, but she won’t knowing it’s to replace Sagan. I promise her over and over again that he won’t kill Sagan, but will simply make her step aside for a new heir. It’s fine. The elders all want a male heir and it’s the perfect cover.

“‘But she doesn’t believe him. It makes me hate her. I hate my dragon and Sagan most days, and Rhys looks at me with less love every year we haven’t conceived another child and he’s stuck pretending Sagan is his daughter and not the royal family’s ruin. If I had known this would be our fate—maybe he was right we should have reported she died when her streaks grew in.’”

I snapped the journal shut and looked at Maple, Fraser, and Darren in turn. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but Fraser turned and vomited into a decorative basket that was probably supposed to hold throw blankets no one bothered to provide for Sagan.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” I admitted once he finished.

And honestly, I didn’t think there was anything else to say.

I really didn’t.

4

Fraser

“I’m going to need you to repeat that, mate,” I said to the guard at my door.

“The queen has ordered every member of the De la Rosa family be removed from the castle and not permitted to return,” he repeated. “You can pack and we’ll escort you—”

“Yeah, no, that’s not happening unless I speak with Sagan,” I told him, glancing at the other guard who looked uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry, Prince Fraser, but I was right there when Benson received the order from the queen and—”

“I’m not leaving without talking tomy niecewhen this place still has a bunch of Alphas here and—I wasn’t here for the last coup attempt and I’m not going to be dumb if this is another one,” I said coldly.

They shared a look and the second one spoke. “I understand that, but we have our orders, Your Highness. So you can pack or—”

“Yeah, then sorry about this, mate,” I mumbled before decking him and shoulder-checking the other one to get past them. I took off for the stairs that would take me up to Sagan’s floor.

“Fuck, I figured he would do that, but he didn’t have to make it hurt so bad,” the one I hit moaned.