Chapter 8

~Kamari~

I shake my head, trying to keep my composure. "No. Not at all." Nye takes my hand as I sit down. And the Councilmen stare at Nye. I watch as Browen swallows hard but tries to hide his unsettled face. I can't help but indulge in Nye's presence, throwing them in a loop. I just hoped Nye was up to questioning. Or else this would not look good.

Nye pours himself a glass and glances up at the Councilmen. "I apologize for the late arrival. Some of the questions may pertain to me and my brothers." He takes a sip of his drink. "So please, ask me anything."

My jaw almost drops. How the hell did he learn so fast?

It seems to boggle Browen's mind as well. He clears his throat, "Well, yes. The fact that Dwen was murdered the same day you three arrived is quite coincidental. We have our suspicions."

"You are unsettled by our presence, and the fact that Kamari has not one but three Dragons as mates intimidates you," Nye says while placing a couple of fruits on the table and filling mine with different food. "Is that correct?" He asks and leans back. His composed demeanor shocked me.

Browen double blinks, "That's not what I said-"

"But it's the underlying factor of why you're here. Kamari intimidates you. The council wants to control the head of the snake." Nye grabs the apple on his plate and bites into it. I glance at Browen, whose vein pops from his neck again.

Browen clears his throat, "Nye, is it?"

"Yes."

Browen shakes his head, pausing for a second. "It is correct that we have our concerns about Kamari running Nivillia. It is the Kingdom of precious history and hard work from Kamari's lineage. Her father had no choice but to put her next in line. But we have other options for her if she deems that the workload is far too much to handle."

My blood boils as I stare at him. And I see a glimmer in Browen's eyes that irks my soul. "I told you. I'm not going anywhere. I won't take any of your ridiculous "options" to retire my title. This is my lineage, not yours. And you have no right to control it."

"Hm," Browen nods, "Well, your father says otherwise." I furrow my brows as he takes a piece of paper and slides it over to me. I glance up at him, "What is this?"

"Your father's will." Browen's voice sounds a little too uplifting for my liking.

"What about it?" He slides it towards me.

"Read his fifth statement."

I search for the fifth statement, and it reads as follows:

Kamari has a Grace period of three months. At the end of this period, she may be replaced by Councilmen Browen if her seat upon the throne is subject to cause harm to the Nivillia. And if there is no heir to the throne.

Syris Devonon.

My gaze could have engulfed the paper in flames. The cold son of bitch wanted me gone, just like my mother. My body tingles with the thought of violence, especially the thought of Browen's head on a pike. I swallow my anger, "So, three months, huh?"

I glance at Browen," Of course, if you choose to retire your title earlier, that would be fine too. But yes, if your reign of three months has been less than fruitful or has not produced an heir as he said, then we will have no choice but to-"

"Did you know Nivillia is the starting point of Veldon's legacy?" Nye speaks up, interrupting Browen, "I'm sure, as you know, Kamari is from that lineage, but did you also know that Veldon was an Elder Dragon?"

Browen's brows wrinkled with confusion. "I did not know he was an Elder. But yes, I know of the rest. Is there a reason you interrupted me?"

"Yes." Nye's voice has an edge to it. "You forget my ancestors' blood has been drawn on these lands. We've ruled Nivillia before you flesh bags. Veldon made Kamari's legacy. So, it's Veldon's word you go by, and since you love reading so much into the fine print, how about you look at the Elder who ruled before you?" Nye whips out the black book and slides it to Browen.

The leer Browen gives Nye makes me press my lips in a smile. He's pissed. Browen exhales sharply and takes the black book in his hands. "Page twenty-one," Nye says with a sly smile. As Browen skims it, Nye says, "Read it out loud."

Browen's lip twitches, and he licks his lips before reading, "My body dies here, where my love bled to give life. The land will live off Dragon's flesh and be bound to me forever. And only the lineage of my offspring will continue to rule this land. By Kaldea's name, I decree,

Veldon.

My soul tingles upon hearing Veldon's written words. The way he spoke about his beloved and the sacredness of the land we lived upon; it was built on top of his body. Now more than ever, I wasn't letting Browen take me off my throne.

Browen pursed his lips. "It's a nice love note. Nothing more." He harshly slides the book back to me. "We live in the present, and the most reliable word is written by the King who passed recently. The word of Syris will be the one we go by."

My composure snaps. "You selfish Fuck." I hiss, then abruptly stand, "Your already rotting body won't last a year before you're plagued with sickness. And your limp dick will revolt against any woman you wish to procreate with, so try me, Browen, because the only way you're getting me out of this throne is if you slit my throat and bury me on top of Veldon's body."

Nye spits out his drink and starts coughing. The heat radiating off my body could light a forest on fire. Brown stands up, his eyes locked with mine. "You will watch your tongue, child." With a frustrated groan, I kick off my heels and round the table until I'm face to face with Browen. He puffs out his chest and bares down at me like the top dog.

I look to Nye, "You've got my back, right?"

Nye wears a devilish smile, "Always my darling." He purrs.

"Good." I glare back at Browen, "Because I'm about to create chaos."