Ivo lifted one brow. “And I’m that king?”
“As soon as you are announced, but essentially yes.”
Ivo’s eyes narrowed to tiny slits. “Then get your hands off of me.”
Pretty much everything Ivo said was true, but Vitki had one trick up his sleeve. “I am Dýka…the dagger that seeks vengeance, the right hand of the king. In all matters except one I must defer to you, and that one is your safety. In that, my word is absolute.”
Vitki had always thought that law was ridiculous until that very moment. Like anyone in their clan, he had to do as the king commanded, except for when it came to the king’s safety. Maybe Max knew that when he put Vitki in charge of Ivo’s safety. Vitki had dedicated his life to protecting the king.
There were always guards, but they came and went. Even the king’s personal bodyguards came and went. There was only one Dýka. There would only be one until Vitki drew his last breath. As of now, he was it.
“When it comes to your safety, I am in charge.”
Ivo pulled on his wrists, trying to struggle out of the grasp Vitki had on them. Vitki tightened his grip. Not too much—he didn’t want to mark Ivo. Protecting him was a lot different from injuring him.
“You can’t keep me a prisoner here.”
“Ivo, you are not a prisoner, but—”
“Then let me go.”
Just that fast, Vitki released his hold on Ivo. The man stumbled back into the cabinet behind him. Ivo’s chest heaved as he stared at Vitki. After what felt like a thousand aching minutes, the air seemed to deflate out of Ivo. He slumped before sliding to the floor.
Vitki stared at the dejected man for a breath of a moment before walking over and sliding down the wall to sit next to him. “I will answer whatever questions you have, Ivo.”
He didn’t care if it cost him his life. Ivo needed to know.
“Dragons? Seriously?”
Vitki chuckled. “Seriously.”
“Is that how you melted those bars?”
“It is. A dragon can breathe fire a thousand times hotter than any man-made fire.”
“Wow.”
“We can also fly, see farther than the average man. Hell, we can see farther than an eagle. We are stronger, even in our human form, and—”
Ivo blinked owlishly at Vitki. “You can fly?”
Vitki chuckled again. “Yes, Ivo, I can fly.”
“Will you show me?”
Vitki swallowed hard. Ivo had no idea the honor he was giving Vitki by even asking to fly with him. He just didn’t think now was the time to talk about that. “Yes, Ivo, I will show you.”
After a moment, Ivo looked away, dropping his gaze to his hands. “What if I don’t want to be king, Vitki? Do I still have to be?”
“You can abdicate your throne as your father did.”
Ivo snapped his gaze back to Vitki. “My father abdicated his throne?”
“Remember that I said your mother came from a different clan?”
Ivo nodded.
“She also was not of royal birth. I suppose you would say she was a commoner. They were not born of the same class. Your father loved your mother, so he gave up the throne to be with her. They changed their names to your mother’s maiden name and moved to the United States after you were born. I guess your father didn’t want you to have to make the same choices he had to make.”
