Page 14 of Betrayed By Dragons

"Name a group more likely to have information about the culprit." Name a group more likely to be the culprit, is more like it, but I swallow the words.

The flare of anger in his eyes says he may have heard it all the same. "Besides the Fire Kingdom, who we have already denounced as the guilty party?"

"You have no proof."

"Neither do you," he spits.

"Which is why I'm trying to get some."

Stepping out from behind the ancient desk, he rolls his shoulders, and I can almost see the outlines of great, white wings. He advances on me, but I stand my ground, and then he's all but on top of me. "Stop thinking with your dick instead of your brain."

I blink hard. "What the f--"

"You think I don't know that that whore 'mate' put you up to this?"

He might as well have slapped me again. "She's not--"

"Fucking two men. Using you both for your influence and power. Give me a better explanation."

The anger welling up inside of me is molten and bubbling, threatening to spill over. "Watch your tone."

"Watch yours." Dangerous blackness eclipses his irises.

It's all I can do not to take a step back. This man is my father. He's the king. He's one of the most powerful dragons in the world, and so am I, but all I can feel is the weight of his disappointment. His censure cuts into me like talons, reopening old wounds I've tried so hard to heal, but the years and decades don't matter. The scars will always be fresh.

"Father," I try.

But he shakes his head and jabs a bony finger toward my chest. "That summit getting blown up was the best thing that could have happened."

This time, I can't suppress my flinch. "Excuse me?"

"If you thought about it for a second, you'd know I'm right."

Smoke must be coming out of my ears, I'm thinking so hard, scrambling at possibilities, but only one claws to the top of my mind.

And I know it can't be true. It's impossible.

My voice cracks when I ask anyway. "Did you plan it?"

He has the audacity to laugh. "If only."

I have half a second to be relieved before the anger crashes over me again. "But--"

"I didn't plan the bombing," he interrupts, "but unlike you, I know how to seize an opportunity when I see it."

"I was trying to seize an opportunity for peace."

For the first time in a decade, the Fire Kingdom and the Stone Kingdom could have been united. We could have been friends again. Not skirmishing over a border that doesn't matter. Not mistrusting each other at every turn.

My father drops his hand, his gaze murderous. "There is no peace to be had with Fire Dragons." He spits the words. "Savages."

Pain lances through me, followed by shame. A few weeks ago, I might have thought the same.

There's another level to my shame, though. I feel like a fool. "Then why send me?"

"As if we could refuse, when the Fire Kingdom had accepted. But you went to rub their faces in the dirt, not suck the other delegate's cock."

He says it so casually.

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