Black Crown (Darkest Drae, #3)(78)

“Heir,” Draedyn said, rising, “Join me on the balcony.” He dabbed at his mouth with a plain napkin, same bland color as all the other fabric in his lair, and then walked sedately to my side.

The balcony? There was no place I’d rather be, even if I had to suffer daddykin’s presence.

I threw one last look to the female Drae, wondering how often I’d get to see them.

“As often as you like, heir,” Draedyn answered.

“If I stay here, right?” I asked, rolling my eyes.

The female who’d first approached me lifted a hand in farewell before leading the others from the room. It was just me and the ruler of the realm, stepping out into the sunshine for a balcony chat. At least I was fairly certain we wouldn’t get interrupted by Druman coming to beat me.

Up and up.

I dragged in a huge breath as soon as we were outside, but the briny smell made me wrinkle my nose. Draedyn and I stood on a jutting triangle of black graphite, no railing, just like Tyrrik’s balcony in Verald. I lifted my gaze, and the uninterrupted view of Draedyn’s realm was—I was loathe to admit—breathtaking.

These cliffs protruded into the middle of the realm’s western most point, and the area in front of me, facing south, was a large flat plain until land met ocean. Low, white houses were arranged in neat rows covering most of the plain, leaving a wide berth as a barrier between Draedyn’s palace and his people.

“Is it the same on the other side?” I asked.

The emperor nodded, not paying attention to me as he stared southeast.

“Are all your people Druman?”

“No,” he replied flatly.

Obviously I wasn’t going to get any more information from him, so I followed his gaze. I blinked; the edges of land around the Azule kingdom were blurry.

I sighed. “Can I have my Drae eyes for a sec?”

“I permit it,” he answered. “Don’t do anything foolish.”

Oh great. That was so nice of him. And I wasn’t that stupid. Yet.

I focused, and using a tiny gap in Draedyn’s power around my mind, was able to draw my Drae eyes forward and look afresh. I gasped. “Smoke. There’s smoke coming from the Azuli kingdom.”

I moved to stand by Draedyn’s side, barely able to contain my glee and then fear. I wanted to jump, shout, scream, and cheer. The army attacked. They were still doing what we’d set out to do. Except I wasn’t there to help, and maybe they’d attacked too early. My friends were there, my family. I might not have kinship hoo-ha with them, but these were people I loved, who chose to love me, and I loved them too. They meant more to me than any of the female Drae I’d just met.

Draedyn half turned to me, his features pulled down in confusion. “You . . . love the humans?”

Was Tyrrik there fighting? Would they come to Draedyn’s realm next? After they won? Azule wouldn’t present a major barrier, especially with Lani and Tyrrik there. And their new queen seemed far cannier than Mily, but the people were the same.

I arched a brow at my father’s callous question, ignoring the rapid beat of my heart. “You obviously don’t.”

“They are like cattle,” Draedyn said after a beat. “Their existence is necessary. They serve a purpose. I even appreciate what they can do. But love? I do not love them; they are animals. Animals which need tending in order to do what I need them to do.”

Un-freaking-believable. Draedyn’s warmth and humanity clearly set him up to be beloved by all. He was a shepherd to a flock of none. A curved staff would complete the twisted image he’d put forward. And he wanted me to be his heir? Heir of what? Savagery and deceit? Had he always been so vicious? Sick-o.

“I grow weary of your rambling,” the emperor said, his chin jutting forward.

I smiled sweetly. “Oh, pardon me. You don’t like my thoughts? Then feel free to stop listening.”

Through our bond I felt his irritation spike, and then oily darkness oozed from him to me. I lost my Drae vision immediately, and my adrenaline spiked, causing my mouth to go dry and my heart to race.

His demeanor shifted, no longer patient parent but ruthless ruler.

I reached for my tendrils on the other side of the emerald barrier in my mind, but it was futile. I couldn’t reach my lapis Drae power. Turning, I studied the edge of the graphite platform with new awareness; if I fell here, I’d be utterly at the emperor’s mercy during the fall.

“Yes, daughter,” he said, stepping closer, a predator coming at his prey. “You are subject to my mercy, but it does not have to be that way. Be my heir, and I will relinquish my control.”

“Never,” I spat. I’d die first—except I was immortal. I’d had pain before, and while I would do almost anything to avoid sadistic torture, I would not bend my will to Draedyn’s.

“Seventeen years is the blink of an eye, if you recall,” he said, stepping back. “I expect you will change your mind one day. They all do.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but his power flooded through the crevices in my mind.

I smiled widely at him, bowing in obsequiousness. “Anything to please you, Father.”





31





“Does he pull that a lot?” I asked the female Drae sitting across from me, the scarred one. I tried to remember her name but couldn’t remember if she’d told me. I hadn’t spoken since waking an hour ago in a room with five other female Drae.