“I immediately recognized him because he video called Treena two or three times a week when we roomed together,” I said as easily as I could. “King Taryn is a very hands-on parent and I heard how understanding and good he is at giving counsel. I’d prefer he remember I’m Treena’s roommate and keep on that path instead of thinking of me as a contentious leader.”
The room was awkwardly silent for a few minutes. Oddly enough, it was Taryn who spoke first.
“The two most difficult jobs in the world are being a parent and leader of a people, Sagan.” His voice was gentle, which shocked me, and I glanced at him. “I haven’t been the father I should to my other children and I will never forgivemyself for that. I neglect mymatetoo often and that is something people pick at.
“I know you hurt—validly. No one should ever take that away from you.Butas a parent and king, I know your parents did the best they could, and even if it hurts, you are well-equipped to handle this monstrous challenge in front of you. You have the… Distance to make it work that I’m not sure even Treena could.”
“I agree, and I hate you went through what you have, but I’m also jealous because I think you will be a better queen than I will,” Treena added. “I hope to learn a lot from you and even this distance—I see my father as a father first. You saw your parents as king and queen, and that will help you to not fall into the traps others will lay out for you.”
“You did?You do?” Darren rasped, his heartbreak filling the room.
I cleared my throat and focused on my food. “It was the side of them they showed me most. I was given orders by my king to follow as his heir, not as a father hoping his daughter would take his advice. This last time was the first I…” I shook my head and blinked back tears. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“I disagree, but that is for you to work out in your own time, so do not allow anyone else to push you. Not ever. You are your parents’ daughter and to disrespect you is to disrespect them,” King Taryn advised. “And you have done well framing everything like that. Next, we get you through this mess your elders have set up.”
I swallowed loudly. “The only way I see to circumnavigate it is to allow one candidate from each territory to have a potential suitor…” I swallowed loudly again, unable to say the crazy I was about to.
Pity filled his eyes. “Unfortunately, I think you’re correct. The only way I see you not springing another trap or beingbacked into a corner is to allow one candidate from each of the seventeen regions.”
“That’s insane to even say, Your Majesty,” Benson argued. “Forgive me, but it is.”
“Is it?” he challenged, sitting back and assessing Benson. “These elders have obviously planned for the moment she would take over.” He snorted when Darren and Benson flinched but met my gaze. “You’ve considered this.”
“I see snakes everywhere and I’m not always wrong no matter what some people think.” I didn’t even mean to shoot Benson a glance, but others caught it. “I don’t think—I think my parents’ accident was truly an accident, but it should still be investigated, and they shut it down too fast. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone helped.”
King Taryn held up a hand to hold the others off. “Why go there? Your uncle himself heard the recordings and said he believed it.”
“Devil’s advocate and not what I believe?”
His lips twitched. “You will only survive your rule—the coming months especially—if you always play devil’s advocate, Sagan.”
Treena snorted. “Very true.” She let out a long breath and met my gaze. “I have questions even, and I didn’t want to—it sounded offensive.” She glanced at her father as if asking something without words.
And it hurt my heart they could do that. I never would have been able to with my parents. I hadn’t known them well enough.
“You want to know how dragons can die in a plane crash when we can fly,” Darren offered, sighing when the royals both nodded. He scrubbed his hands over his head. “Shifting isn’t that simple or—”
“Any danger and our wolves want to take over,” King Taryn interjected. “That is where we’re stuck.”
“And we’re trained that’s always the last resort, our dragons know that because of how large we are,” Darren countered. “If either of them shifted—the plane and others were done. Shifting while falling—we train for that, but given the weather—all it could have taken was the lightning or conditions and concentration was broken.”
“It sounds simple, but it never is,” I agreed. “Butthey would have tried.” I nodded when people reacted to that, glancing at Darren. “You know Father would have tried to save Mother. You said it yourself. He would have tried just to save her even if it killed him.”
“Yes.” His tone and confidence in that one word was everything. “I assumed the lightning that hit—whatever exploded the engine was just too fast.” He opened his mouth but then closed it.
“Forgive me,” King Taryn said gently. “Yes, life-ending wounds are life-ending wounds no matter how durable we are.”
I swallowed loudly. “We’re sure?”
“The report I received made it conclusive,” Benson answered.
I held King Taryn’s gaze. “I want another outside opinion before they are sealed in the crypt. Quietly. Someone we trust and not the court whoever that Hardin and others could influence.”
“You will—” Benson started to argue.
“Whose side are you on here?” Treena snapped. “You’re supposed to be on her side, not the side of not making waves.” She growled when he did a double take. “Have some loyalty for her parents. She has questions andyou should too, not just reports.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” Benson whispered after a moment, his eyes on me even if I wouldn’t look at him. “I can’t—there’s not a world where I can seem to wrap my brain around your parents being assassinated.”
