HEIR OF THE DRAGON

CHAPTER 2

"I will not do it!"

Lalisa spun on her heel and stormed across the royal apartments. Behind her, her father sighed in frustration but she doubted he could be as exhausted by this discussion as she was. She'd avoided speaking to him about her presentation for as long as she could and now the conversation was going just as she'd feared.

"Please, Lalisa" he implored. "Can't you see that I'm trying to look out for you?"

"Then don't force me into a betrothal," she snapped, refusing to give him the satisfaction of turning around. "It hasn't even been a fortnight since I presented and you're already plotting to marry me off to some omega."

Henry followed her across the room, stopping in front of a replica of a grand temple. Normally Lalisa found his devotion to his stone models of old Valyria endearing but now she had an urge to start smashing them until her father listened to her. "Your presentation has put me in a difficult position and a rapid betrothal is in everyone's interest, whether or not you want to hear that."

"I'm so sorry, father," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "I disappointed you once by not being born a boy and now I've done it a second time by becoming an alpha."

Her father put his hands on her shoulders and at least for the moment, she let them stay there. "I don't blame you for any of this, Lalisa. You have always been a good daughter and someday you'll make a great queen. But before that can happen, you'll have to deal with this problem. You know what the lords of the realm will say when they find out."

She could guess. The Old Gods of the North didn't object to female alphas, but in the rest of the realm, the Faith taught that their presentation went against the order the Seven had established. The smallfolk, meanwhile, believed that they were uniquely lustful, liable to steal the wives of decent men, especially if they weren't properly mated. And yet...

"What do you care what they think?" she snapped, stepping away from her father. "You are their king and you have proclaimed me as your heir. If anyone objects to that, they can stand before the Iron Throne and say so."

"Few men would be so bold," he admitted. "But when I'm gone, those same lords who swore they'd respect my decision might well turn around and back another's claim."

"Then it will be my problem to solve, when I am queen."

"No, it will be the realm's problem. A realm that it's my duty to care for, for as long as I live. Would you have me risk a war just because you aren't ready to marry?"

She spun to face him once more. "Of course not. I know my duty as well as you do, and I will marry. But it will be when I've found the right mate, not to cater to the whims of small-minded lords and priggish septons."

Henry shook his head, looking older than his years. She had never met anyone on whom responsibility weighed as heavily as her father. "We will speak of this again later."

Lalisa didn't bother responding before stalking out of the royal apartments. She loved her father but his desire to please everyone rather than assert his authority could be infuriating. About the only thing they could agree on right now was that there was nothing to be gained by arguing further today.

Besides, your father isn't the only reason you're in a foul mood.

She hadn't planned for what happened between her and Roseanne, but since that day, it had dominated her thoughts. Roseanne had been her closest friend for years and Lalisa had always found her lovely, but she'd never thought that would come to anything. Someday both of them would present as betas or omegas and marry high lords and whatever childhood attraction they had shared would be left in the past. It might not be fair but it was the way the world worked.