Page 58 of The Lost Princess

He blinked heavily, but wasn’t fast enough to hide his flinch. That’s when I realized he’dknown. He’d known thiswholetime.

“Why are you asking this?” he asked levelly. The tone was so different from a minute ago that it jarred me. The doting father was gone. In his place was a king, interrogating a subject. A bolt of fear shot through me. I pushed it away. My inner draken rumbled.

“I’m different from other people,” I stammered out. “My skin and hair … Surely, you’ve noticed. Surely, I inherited such traits from my mother then, if not from you?”

Silence. My father turned his head, then stood and leaned on the balcony overlooking the kingdom. I wanted so desperately for him to explain, to come clean to me.

“I’ve given you quite a lot,” he finally said after a pause. “A home. Riches. A bright future, and a life where everything is handed to you.” He glanced at me. “Isn’t that enough?”

I stood and went to his side. I gazed out with him upon the world, thinking of how much I’d changed in such a brief time, how much Nasi had changed me.

“It used to be enough,” I whispered.

I took my father’s hands in mine, and turned him to face me. This was it. The moment of truth. I closed my eyes, and shifted.

When I opened them, my father was still there. He tugged his hands from mine, his face carefully blank. There was no surprise; no shock. Almost like he’d seen it before.

“You look exactly like her,” he sniffed. “Except your eyes are more amethyst than hers,” he observed clinically.

My wings twitched in distress. “You knew my mother was a draken,” I accused, my mouth going dry at the implications.

“Is that what they’re called? We never knew,” my father responded, eyes narrowing as he took me in, observing me like an animal in a zoo.

“How didyoufind out?” he asked. My inner draken growled, warning me to be careful. There was no need—I’d give up Nasi over my dead body. I kept silent.

My father waved his hands at me. “Don’t bother. It’s obvious, isn’t it? Cilla claims to be plagued by a vicious dragon monster. They sacrifice you and then suddenly all the attacks slow dramatically, focused only on a few farms. Not long after, you show up here with knowledge of your true form.”

His eyes were accusing. “The monster is another draken. Amale.”

I didn’t like his tone. My inner draken roused, ready for a fight.

“Did he claim you like an animal? Are you sullied from your time with him?” He didn’t sound disgusted. He sounded … oddly pleased or excited.

I narrowed my eyes. “It’s not like I’d know, would I? You kept me so ignorant about the world I wouldn’t recognize love from assault!”

He clucked his tone, scoffing. “I kept you safe. You with your big doe eyes and sparkling skin. Ever since the age of twelve, it’s taken a full retinue of guards to keep your honor intact. And you threw it away for an animal, didn’t you? Was it instincts or did he seduce you? No, I bet he simply used force.”

My inner draken squawked, insulted on Nasi’s behalf. I flashed my fangs at him. “He is more of a man than you’ll ever be!”

My father’s hands curled into fists at his sides. “You don’t speak to me that way. I own you. You are the child born to my property, which makes you my property. Do you understand? Your mother was gifted to me.” He smirked. “No one realized she was pregnant of course. It was an added boon though it was unfortunate she died giving birth. I would have liked the set. There was a young male as well, but he was given to someone else. Apparently the sire was already dead.”

Disbelief and horror slowly spread through my veins as my entire world turned upside down. Had I mistaken pride in one’s possessions for fatherly affection this whole time? The zealous guarding of me hadn’t been born out of protection or love, but rather of a man who didn’t want anyone else messing with his toys. I felt sick, and it must have shown on my face.

“There now, it’s not all bad as that,” my father said in a soft voice. In the past it had always worked to soothe me. Now I saw it for what it was—manipulation.

“You can come back as my daughter, but only if you give up this … draken business. Live as a human like you always have. You would fetch a fine marriage and give the kingdom solid alliances and the finances we desperately need to feed our people.” His face turned thoughtful. “Unless of course, you’re with child. Then I insist you birth it and that creature can take your place as my main attraction. It’s only fair.”

My jaw dropped. “You can’t—”

“If you’d rather stay a monster,” he cut across me, “then you shall live as your mother did: in a cage in my audience chamber, entertaining my guests. Your choice.”

Shock and horror coursed through my veins. Had my father ever actually cared for me, or was I simply a prize doll to be trotted out to perform when he wanted? Had I been an exotic creature on display inside this gilded cage the entire time?

And now, he threatened to use the pain of his own people to guilt me further. After he’d squandered their aid. I vibrated with rage and frustration. His mess wasn’t my responsibility to clean up. If the people were dying and hungry, they should stand up to their king. I was tired of carrying everyone’s expectations. I was done and that didn’t make me a monster.

My father was the true monster. I’d been too stupid and too naive to see it. Well, now I saw him in all his glory. I felt off-balance and fuzzy. It was hard to keep my eyes focused.

I flared my wings and bared my fangs, raising my claws in front of my face. I’d like to see him or any of his guards try and take me.

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