And he looked so much like Mother. They had the same dark green eyes and classic nose. He raised his eyebrow the same and oddly enough, they were both electric dragons, so they had bright lemon-yellow streaks in their hair.
Which was exceedingly rare. Dragon types weren’t by genetics or bloodline. It was solely about the best fit for the soul and a blessing from the gods.
“How are you holding up?” he asked me after we were alone in Father’s study. He snorted. “Ignore my stupid question. None of us are fine.” He gave me a crushed look. “They loved you, Sagan. So much. I know there were issues and—I heard about the fight. Don’t—these things happen. I snarked at your mother the last time I talked to her too.”
“About what?” I asked, shocked he was admitting it.
He sighed. “It was judgmental and—I wasn’t being fair. Or maybe I was and honestly, now that they’re gone none of it matters.”
“Tell me,” I pushed.
“I said they needed to do more and stop trying to keep peace or what was the point of having the power besides keeping the power?” he admitted, wiping under his eyes. “And we were talking about you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know, and that kills me,” he huffed. “They kept so much from you to protect you and prepare you to be strong so you were ready decades from now. But that’s not how things always work out.” He gestured around as if to say clearly not.
I licked my lips. Uncle Darren was one of the few who knew I was different, even in the family. “It really wasn’t just to hide me because they were—”
He was in front of me and pulling me into a tight hug before I could even finish. “Never.Neverthink that, Sagan. Your parents—you were everything to them. All they did was brag. Your mother—each call it was honestly obnoxious how she bragged. This degree or this lecture you gave. Boasting the countries you studied in were impressed with you.”
“Why could they never tell me that?” I wondered.
He leaned away and pushed my hair off my face. “Because you are the rare gem, my darling niece. You aren’t a spoiled princess. You are a hard worker and dedicated to whatever youput your mind to. I might take issue with so much of how your parents raised you, but they weren’twrongbecause you are amazing.”
“I don’t know I can do this,” I finally admitted.
“You can and you will because no one else can and they believed in you,” he told me firmly. He booped my nose just like when I was a child and was too serious. “The plan was always for you to fix things out there while they did better internally so it was a better nation for you to rule. You did your job, but now you have to do theirs as well. And you can.”
I didn’t know that they’d felt that way and that had been the plan.
I also didn’t know if I agreed with him.
“I need your help,” I told him instead of arguing opinions, especially when I needed to put on a confident mask no matter who was in front of me.
He searched my eyes and let me go. “As my niece or future queen?”
I flinched, unable to hide my shock at his question. He mumbled an apology and tried to hug me, but I backed away. “I’m not sure how to answer that. It’s kind of toxic to ask me that.”
“I didn’t mean it that way, not at all, Sagan, but I’m sorry.” He wiped under his eyes and then spun away, the grief I was getting off of him making me forgive him. “I was trying to decipher if my niece is asking me for help or my queen is asking me to step up and serve our realm.”
“I don’t know the answer. I can’t think enough to know that answer. I just know if Mother were here, she would tell me to trust you more than anyone else, and that is—I would never doubt you and that’s more than you being my uncle.”
He sniffled loudly and turned back around. “Well, glad my reputation is that good at least.” He bobbled his head. “Okay, what do you need?”
“Your help.” I gave a pathetic chuckle when he simply raised an eyebrow. “I need you here as an advisor.” I internally winced when he flinched this time and went a bit pale.
“That’s a big ask, Sagan,” he whispered.
Immediately, I started backpedaling, knowing better than to reach out instead of handling things myself. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”
“No,” he said firmly with a bit of a growl. “No, don’t you fucking do that.” He chuffed when I took a step away from him. “Sorry, you’re doing exactly what my sister did and immediately—sorry. Yes, you should ask. We’re family and I love you. Yes, ask. Ask anything, and even if—I can always say no and we’ll find another way.”
He’s saying no.
He sighed, love in his eyes as he studied me. “You give away nothing, but those eyes. Your mom’s eyes—always I could read them. They might be the color of the royal bloodline, but everything you feel is in your eyes just like it was with her.” He grabbed my arm and made me sit on the couch even if I was hesitant. “I’m going to need some allowances.” He snorted at whatever my reaction was. “I’m not going to abuse your rule, Sagan.”
“Sorry, sorry,” I sighed, rubbing the side of my face. “Everyone else is trying to.”
