“You are still too young. You don’t understand what being a king is about.”

“I understand that you’re eager to rush off and leave me as king, with no one else in my life!”

Anger had been my constant companion since I was told my mother was gone, buried under layers of magma, her life snuffed out before she had even realized it was over. My father’s eyes flashed with some emotion, but it was gone a moment later.

“Since that is a possibility, I had hoped to have one civil conversation before potentially never seeing you again.”

His words brought me up short, grasping at nothing as my mouth opened and closed with no sound coming out. Everyone said I was just like him—my scale coloring, our eyes—but why didn’t he understand? Our family, what was left of it, was the most important thing! If he died, if he left me alone, what did I have left?

“Duty to your people is the only thing you have control of. You would do well to remember that.”

I gripped the ground underneath me, tensing. “You have control over whether or not you attend this suicide mission. We still need to find a place to flee and hide. Our people are exposed.”

My father cocked an eyebrow. “And if the child in her womb is a female? Would you not tear this world apart to find her?”

“No. Never.”

No one was more important than my family, not even the last draken female. My father’s face fell, disappointment etched across his brow. It hurt, but not as much as the knowledge that one female was more important than the hundred of us left. More important than me.

“If the child is a male, then what? You are allowing Dara along on this mission. She should be kept safe here.”

My father’s lips thinned in irritation. “I would like to see anyone tell Dara she isn’t allowed to do something. Besides, we do not lock up our females, Benedict. They are not prisoners.”

I turned away, refusing to meet his gaze.

“So, this is how you will see me off then. I’m not sure why I expected more.”

Something deep within me cracked, but I wouldn’t bow to him on this. I wouldn’t. “You are choosing to leave. Mother and Baila did not choose.”

“Benedict.” He was pleading, now. He came around to the side of my bed, his hands wearily running through his hair.

“Don’t go, Father. The only likely reason she is alive is to be used as bait to draw you out. You’re giving the demons exactly what they want.”

“I know.”

That stopped me short.

“Rhyfel is still alive and is fighting to remain so. That tells me she knows that what she carries is the most valuable thing in this world. I would bet my crown that she carries a female drakling. If that is true, you know your duty.”

He was lucky my legs were broken. “You won’t force our females to your will, but you’ll force mine?”