Page 78 of His Fate

"I'm still pissed at you."

He nods and drops his eyes completely.

I round the table, come to stand next to him and immediately feel like a little girl again because I forgot how big my dad is.

Even at five foot eight my dad dwarfs me, his six foot six and a half towers over me despite the slouch of his shoulders, the defeat in his posture.

It's been a long fucking time since I've stood next to him and felt small.

My heart softens though, because regardless of what he did, it's thewhythat's important and I know it came from a place of love.

I reach out and touch his forearm, give it a little tug and when he turns I smile. "I'm still pissed but I understand. You did what you had to do because I basically forced your hand, essentially made you keep things from me because I blocked them out anyway." When he lifts those mossy gray eyes and they connect with mine, I melt a little more at the love and remorse shining back at me. "I get it, dad, and I forgive you. And I'm also sorry for putting you in such a shitty position. You did what you had to do in order to protect me and probably because you didn't know what the fuck else to do."

He snorts and finally smiles. "I had no goddamn clue. When you glamoured yourself into believing all those things about Anna, about Claire, I just... I had no idea how to handle it so I did what I thought was right." Dad reaches out and cups my cheek. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Josey Posey, I just wanted to protect you."

With a sigh, I wrap my arms around him, bury my face in his chest and breathe deep, reveling in my dad's recovery and this miracle he was given. "I know, Daddy." I squeeze him a little tighter as he does the same, "I love you, you old fart."

He snorts into my hair as he hugs me hard like he used to. "I love you too, peanut, and I am sorry."

We stay like that for a few minutes and when Dad finally lets go and plants in his chair, I turn to the other three dragons sitting at the table with very guilty looks on their faces.

"I love you assholes, too, and I know learning everything you did about my dad and I probably put you in rather difficult positions."

Andrej's lip twitches, Milos nods emphatically, and Henrich smiles sheepishly. "The entire situation was rather peculiar, to say the least, but we didn't feel we could discuss it until Kai shared his true nature with you." He sits up a little, eyes bouncing between mine. "And we didn't know of your nature until your father was well enough to explain. We did not mean to keep things from you, my queen, just simply needed to figure out how to share them."

I nod because I really do get it.

It's not like any of them had any idea I'm a dragon, not like I even knew until my dad explained things. These last few weeks have been full of surprises for everyone and we're all dealing the best we can.

"Thank you." I look to Karel then Andrej. "Thank you for helping Kai save me, for putting yourselves at risk to bring me home."

They both nod, bow, and don't speak, but I see a flicker of genuine pride and affection in Andrej's black eyes that makes me smile.

"So let's get down to business." I kiss my dad on the temple, give Andrej's shoulder a squeeze then walk back to sit next to my mate, who apparently has other plans because he pulls me into his lap instead. "Tell me about this Ivan."

They all straighten up, look amongst themselves then turn their gaze to Kai, which irritates the piss out of me.

"I understand that he is King, that my hot as fuck mate is ruler supreme but I'm pretty sure that makes me your fucking queen as well as your family so let's get this straight—I'm no submissive little female, not some wilting flower. I expect to be included in talks of our enemies and war, especially when those fuckers bring the battle to my front door and tie me up in a goddamn hunting blind. I understand we're all getting to know each other still, but I can feel the love coming off of you gorillas so if that's true, if you feel it at all, give me enough respect to include me in this shit without seeking permission from my mate first."

Kai snorts behind me and holds me a little tighter as he leans into my hair.I find it incredibly sexy the way you assert dominance over our clan.

Then you're going to pop a huge boner when I start talking strategy and weapons.

Kai growls, growls deep and low as he nips my ear, that huge boner making itself known right under my butt cheeks.

But I just grin, shake my head, and wait for someone to answer.

"Ivan of the Molnarva Clan," Andrej grunts. "Cyril's cousin and closest ally. Head of the Molnarva army, next in line to Cyril's throne."

"And total crazy pants." Milos sighs. "He's incredibly reckless, unhinged even, and that makes him all the more dangerous once coupled with his skills."

"I gathered that." I frown because dude is definitely crazy pants. "He talked mad shit about you guys."

Milos smirks. "Not surprising. We do not have the most friendly relations with him or his clan."

"So this isn't the first time Cyril and Ivan have pulled this shit?"

In unison the brothers shake their heads, and I know without looking Kai is doing the same.

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