Page 41 of World At War

He meets my gaze with a steady look, his eyes filled with concern. “Your mom is bringing King Tao Qin here, along with his daughter Jade and your brother,” he explains quietly.

I draw in a deep breath, attempting to rein in my turbulent emotions and calm my enraged dragoness. “Fine,” I reply tersely, taking my seat at the head of the table and waiting impatiently for the others to arrive.

Before long, my brother Ladon appears at my side, his brow furrowed with confusion and concern. “Sissy? What is the meaning of this?” he asks, his voice laced with uncertainty.

I sigh heavily, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on me. “I’m fixing things,” I tell him, my tone resolute. “A true mate or a fated mate trumps all betrothals. What he is doing, I am considering an act of war.”

The deep rumble of my dragoness echoes through the room, a tangible presence that fills the air with tension and anticipation. I can sense the apprehension in Ladon’s eyes, but I know I cannot back down now. The stakes are too high, and I will do whatever it takes to protect my family and uphold the sacred bond of mates.

As we wait for the arrival of our guests, the atmosphere in the meeting room crackles with tension. Each passing moment feeling like an eternity as we brace ourselves for the confrontation that lies ahead. The air is heavy with anticipation, every breath tinged with uncertainty and apprehension.

Finally, the door swings open, and my mother enters, followed closely by King Tao Qin and his daughter Jade. My heart clenches at the sight of them, knowing the difficult conversation that awaits us.

I rise from my seat, my gaze fixed on King Tao Qin as he approaches, his expression guarded yet curious. “Your Majesty,” I say respectfully, inclining my head in greeting. “Thank you for joining us.”

He nods in acknowledgment, his eyes flickering with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. “Queen Tiamat,” he replies formally,his tone polite yet cautious. “You mentioned you wished to speak with us?”

I nod, steeling myself for the difficult conversation ahead. “Indeed,” I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within me. “I have grave concerns regarding the betrothal of your daughter, Jade.”

King Tao Qin’s brow furrows with concern, his gaze flickering to his daughter before returning to me. “What concerns do you have, Lady Tiamat?” he asks, his tone guarded yet receptive.

I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before proceeding. “I believe that Jade and Ladon are true mates,” I explain, my voice tinged with conviction. “Their bond transcends any betrothal arrangement, and I cannot stand by and allow their happiness to be sacrificed for the sake of political convenience.”

There is a moment of stunned silence as my words sink in, the weight of my declaration hanging heavy in the air. I can feel the tension in the room mounting, every eye fixed on me as I await King Tao Qin’s response.

To my surprise, he doesn’t react with anger or hostility, but with a thoughtful contemplation. “I understand your concerns, my Queen,” he says at last, his tone measured yet sincere.

King Tao Qin’s expression shifts from guarded to incredulous as he processes my words, his eyes widening in surprise. He opens his mouth to respond, but before he can utter a word, I feel the power of my dragoness surging within me, a fierce and primal force that demands to be acknowledged.

With a confident smirk, I reach up and remove the pins from my hair, allowing my snowy white locks to cascade down to my waist in a shimmering cascade. As I do so, I feel the boneplates beneath my skin shifting and sharpening, my features transforming into those of my dragonic lineage. Opalescent scales line my eyes, their iridescent sheen reflecting the light in dazzling patterns.

Sensing the tension in the room, my father steps forward, his expression calm yet authoritative as he places my great-great grandmother’s crown upon my head. It serves as a potent symbol of my lineage, a reminder of the power and prestige that comes with being a descendant of the Blood Queen.

“You’re right,” I say, my voice low and resonant as I meet King Tao Qin’s gaze with unwavering intensity. “My brother may not be a royal Chinese dragon, but he is a direct descendant of the Blood Queen, Skaldi Atriox Nyx.”

I lean forward, my eyes locking with his, the silent threat of my dragoness simmering beneath the surface. It is a warning, subtle yet unmistakable, a reminder of the formidable forces that stand behind me.

“You should be honored,” I continue, my voice laced with a hint of challenge, “that my brother’s dragon has aligned his bloodline with yours. It is a testament to the strength and prestige of your lineage.”

There is a palpable tension in the air as my words hang between us, the weight of their implications echoing through the room. King Tao Qin’s expression is a mixture of surprise and uncertainty, his eyes darting between me and my father as he struggles to process the magnitude of what I have revealed.

For a long moment, silence reigns in the room, broken only by the soft rustle of fabric and the steady rhythm of our breathing.I can feel the weight of expectation bearing down upon me, the pressure to assert my authority and defend my family’s honor.

Finally, King Tao Qin breaks the silence, his voice measured yet tinged with apprehension. “I... I did not know,” he admits, his tone betraying his uncertainty. “I apologize for any offense I may have caused.”

I nod in acknowledgment, my expression softening slightly as I recognize the sincerity in his words. “Apology accepted,” I reply, my voice calm yet firm. “But know this: my family will not be trifled with. We stand united, bound by blood and legacy, and we will not hesitate to defend our honor and our kin.”

There is a moment of tense silence as my words hang in the air, the gravity of our exchange weighing heavily upon us. But even as the tension lingers, I can sense a shift in the atmosphere, a subtle easing of the animosity that had threatened to engulf us.

With a nod of understanding, King Tao Qin rises from his seat, his demeanor respectful yet guarded. “Thank you, Queen Tiamat,” he says, his tone sincere. “I appreciate your candor, and I will take your words to heart. I will speak with my daughter and see if this is her heart’s desire.”

I return his nod with a gracious smile, a sense of relief flooding through me as I realize that perhaps we have reached a tentative understanding. Though our encounter may have begun with tension and uncertainty, it has ended with a measure of mutual respect and understanding.

As King Tao Qin and his entourage take their leave, I feel a sense of satisfaction wash over me, knowing that I have upheld my family’s honor and defended our legacy against any who would seek to challenge it.

As my parents offer their words of encouragement and support, I feel a swell of gratitude wash over me, mingled with a lingering sense of apprehension. Despite my outward composure, there is a knot of tension coiled within my chest, a silent reminder of the weight of responsibility that rests upon my shoulders.

Drawing in a fortifying breath, I hazard a glance at my mother and father, their proud expressions serving as a balm to my frayed nerves. My father, Alaric, offers a reassuring smile before pressing a kiss to my temple and making his way towards the door.

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