DPOV

I was bored out of my mind. This is what I was missing training for? This is what I was leaving Rose with Mason for? Our highest political Dragons were sitting around debating. For about four hours now, and they were getting nowhere.

Adrian was next to me and obviously wasn't hiding his boredom or his frustrations as well as me. He was groaning and moaning through the entire meeting.

I knew why. Not only was it boring, but one of those Dragons was his father. Nathan.

Nathan was everything Adrian wasn't. He was rigid, self-centered and thought he was the most important Dragon around, next to Tatiana because he was in her bloodline. When my father went off the deep end, he was the only one smiling because he knew his brothers descend into alcoholism meant he was one step closer to the throne. He was furious when Tatiana made it clear she intended to have Adrian succeed her. Now Nathan had never been a warm, loving father, but after that, you could see that any love for his son was overshadowed by resentment and jealousy. And he took every opportunity to remind his son of what he had lost.

Adrian leaned over and started to whisper to me.

"So you know where your girlfriend has been sneaking off to today?"

I turned to him trying keeping my movement to a minimum as not to alert the others present.

"When did you see her, and is she even speaking to you?"

A sly smile crept on his face.

"Of course she is speaking to me, nobody can stay mad at me for long. Besides, who knows, we might have been seeing each other behind your back."

I produced a sound that was somewhere between a possessive growl and a laugh at his suggestion.

"No really, when did you see her."

Adrian didn't seem pleased that he wasn't able to ruffle my scales, but as much as I recognize that Adrian can indeed be charming and that many females fall at his feet, I trust Rose. Besides her clear disdain for his inconsiderate comments didn't win him any points. I think I was safe from Rose starting something with Adrian behind my back. I think Adrian knew it too, but that didn't mean he wasn't trying to win her over, or try and psych me out.

"I saw her in the hallway, with those junior recruits of yours. They were all human and stalking through the corridor. I think they were trying to prank Christian. Apparently, he had overslept, and they didn't take that lightly.

I stifled a groan. I should have known better than to leave Rose with just Eddie and Mason. She could rally the Pope to skip church if she wanted too. I also knew even though she had a weird respect for Christian, his Snarky demeanor and his new relationship with Lissa was making the interaction between those two tense.

"What did they do?"

Adrian shrugged.

"I think after seeing me bust them, the gold one left, so whatever they did it was just the Red and Rose, and I have no idea, she was still working out the details herself when I left them."

Good, maybe she had reconsidered and simply returned to the training field. Who am I kidding? Of course she didn't, but the meeting hadn't been interrupted because of an emergency, so I suppose it was all fine.

Although maybe getting interrupted would be a good thing. I would die of old age before these Dragons would be able to make a decision.

Adrian tuned back into the conversation, and I saw him swipe his claw over his snout in exasperation. After that, he composed himself, got up with a dramatic flair characteristic for Adrian before he addressed the crowd. Because unlike with Nathan, if the heir to the throne wants to speak, you listen.

"That is enough. At this point, it doesn't matter what we do, as long as we do something. Not making a decision is sometimes worse than making the wrong decision. So could we work up some common ground and see how we will distribute resources in case of an evacuation of the northern borders?"

Many of the old Dragons grumbled and none louder than Nathan. I could tell he was about to let loose a tirade to reestablish his dominance over his son, but one look from Tatiana silenced him. Tatiana nodded towards Adrian, grateful and proud of his intervention. I think after years of dealing with these relics had made her numb for these meetings.

No one said anything or argued with him, which was progress over the last few hours, and they finally came to a very carefully constructed and debated compromise - although Nathan had made sure that he had his say in the particulars.

I thought that Tatiana's decision to skip Nathan and make Adrian heir was probably the best decision of her reign. Not only because I disliked Nathan, and having him as a King would be disastrous to anyone not Royal, but also because I think Tatiana realized it was time for some young blood and changes, and she knew she wasn't the person to implement that and Nathan wasn't either.

Sometimes I forget that behind my annoying and flippant cousin lies a true ruler. Yes, he has much to learn, but I knew that when the time came for him to take the throne, he would be fine. Because if you can get these old geezers in line, you can do anything.

Of course, when they had eventually agreed on one thing, they started to argue even more fiercely on another point. Adrian threw his hands up in the air, obviously giving up and sitting back down next to me.

"When I am King, the first thing I do is fire the entire council. I will enjoy that very much, particularly my father."

He said it under his breath, but I could clearly hear him.

After another excruciating three hours, the meeting was finally done, and Adrian and I didn't know how fast we should get out of there. Although Nathan was faster and stopped Adrian in his track.

"One day, boy, you will learn that not everything can be so easily solved with your idealism. You have much to learn about the real world. Of course, the only real-world experience you have is of ale and women."

He walked away, but said 'I will never understand why Tatiana insists on destroying our world by appointing you,' supposedly under his breath but we could both hear him.

Adrian had walked out of that meeting room with elevated shoulders, proud of himself to have accomplished something, but now he was hunched over, all confidence that he had accumulated squashed. I knew Adrian worried about him being King. After years of being talked down upon by his father, he had started to believe him. But Adrian never talked about his feelings; he laughed them away or drank them away. I preferred the first, and as luck would have it, he chose the first option now.

"So I hear you are taking Rose on a romantic getaway tomorrow. Feeling the heat from me, are you?"

I rolled my eyes.

"I am not taking her on her a romantic getaway. I am taking her to Arthur. There are things he can teach her that I can't."

Adrian was laughing very hard, and I didn't know why until he wiggled his eyebrows. I groaned, realizing what I said.

"That is not what I meant, and you know it. I meant in terms of controlling her flame. We are perfectly fine in other departments."

"Riiiight," he said dragging out the I and obviously not believing me.

I simply scowled at him. But I couldn't help the tiny but in insecurity leaking in. I mean I knew I was satisfying her in that department, or at least I think I was, but I was also conscious of the fact that Adrian, despite being younger, had a lot more experience. But I guess, in this case, it definitely was quality over quantity. And I never had any complaints.

I was about to rip Adrian a new one when Christian walk passed us. He didn't seem to have noticed us at all. He was covering his snout with his claws, and I think I saw him making small flames and puffs of smoke in his claws. But otherwise, he seemed physically fine, so I was going back to my naïve idea that Rose and Mason had aborted their operation.

"Christian, wait up!"

Christian turned around and seemed surprised to see us. He really hadn't noticed us. Then his eyes narrowed at me, and I knew Rose had carried through.

"What did she do?" I tried very hard not to let the exasperation show on my face, but I think I failed horribly.

Christian seemed a little surprised that I seemed to have guessed the nature of his foul stare.

"She put mint oil in my water, and by the looks of it a lot too. I haven't been able to produce a decent flame all day. This morning I wasn't able to produce fire at all, at least now it isn't all smoke, but I swear if I am not back to normal by tomorrow, I am going to kill your girlfriend and the recruit."

I suppose I was glad Rose and I would be leaving early in the morning then. But I must admit, putting mint oil in his water was perfect. No real damage or lasting effects but a huge humiliation for someone who prides himself on his flame. I was glad for my years of training in the military where I had perfected an unmoving mask, because I doubt Christian would have appreciated my burst of laughter.

Adrian, on the other hand, was laughing so hard I saw tears rolling down his snout.

"She is a genius. Mint oil, so simple yet so elegant."

I was actually surprised Rose knew about mint oil. It was a specific Dragon trait, but I smelled Mason's hand in this.

"Yeah, well, I know she is your girlfriend Dimitri, and I should make an effort for Lissa, but I will not tolerate this kind of behavior."

He was taking this way too seriously. Besides, Christian and Rose both had no rank in the military, so even though people in my squad viewed Christian as a seasoned warrior, he had no actual authority.

"Why did she have the opportunity to prank you anyway? I imagine you were ready and set up at the field even before they arrived?" I said to Christian, knowing full well he had overslept and that that had prompted Rose and Mason to act. Not that it justified their actions, but Christian wasn't completely innocent here.

I saw him visibly pale.

"Well… uhm… you see." He took one big breath. "I overslept, okay."

I placed my claw on his shoulder.

"Just don't let it happen again… or the next time Rose retaliates, you might lose your flame for good."

He just groaned.

"Come on," Adrian said. "I know the perfect cure for mint oil."

Christian looked up at Adrian with the biggest sparkle of hope in his eyes. Those two never really get along, but if Adrian could cure this, he would be eternally grateful.

"What?"

Although Adrian's large smirk, showing his fangs, wasn't very encouraging.

"Ale, Christian. Lots and lots of Ale."

Well, I suppose that would work. If mint oil was a cure for Ale induced hyper-flame, Ale could be the cure for mint–oil induced hypo-flame.

Christian slapped himself in his snout for not realizing that earlier.

"Well lead the way, I am sure you know where we can get the best Ale."

"Well I am not sure about the best Ale, but certainly the Ale with the highest Alcohol percentage."

"Works for me."

I followed Christian and Adrian to Adrian's chambers. I shouldn't have been surprised that the thing that eventually brought those two closer together was booze.

Christian downed the first cup in one go, impressing even Adrian. He tested his flame, and I could see a bit of an improvement, but Christian wasn't satisfied.

"Another."

"Now we are talking." Adrian pored him another cup. "You too, cousin."

"My flame doesn't need boosting."

Adrian crossed his eyes. Clearly, that wasn't his intention for me.

"Oh don't be a party pooper, Dimitri. Just have a drink. Or can't you hold your liquor?"

I growled. I was a large Dragon, I could hold my liquor. But I was more pissed that Adrian actually managed to sway me to take a cup.

I let the liquid burn my throat and fan my fire. I must admit, I did like the feeling, which is exactly why I rarely touched the stuff.

Although I knew one cup didn't make me an overindulging asshole like my father, I was very conscious of the fact that this liquid exacerbated his behavior. So although I would sometimes take a cup or two, I had never been drunk in my life and was determined to keep it that way.

Furthermore, I think after that comment from his father, I needed to keep an eye on Adrian and make sure he was coherent enough to make decisions tomorrow. But the fact he was already on his fourth cup wasn't helping matters.

Three cups in, Christian tested his flame again, and he seemed back to normal. Although he couldn't test his full flame indoors, Christian seemed satisfied and put down the cup.

"What? Both of you stopping already? And here I thought we were having a party."

Christian looked over to me, seeing if I had noticed the slurring in Adrian's voice too. I nodded slightly and mouthed the word 'Nathan' to him. He closed his eyes for a moment. Christian and Adrian didn't have much in common, but a bad relationship with their father was one of them. It was something that bonded us all. But in contrast to Christian or me, Adrian's father was still prominent in his life.

"Do you think he is right?" Adrian's voice was sounding surprisingly sober now. And as if realizing this too, he took another cup and downed it in one go, hoping to make his previous statement and his father's words disappear.

"No, Adrian, I don't think he is right. Wondering if you will make a good ruler is natural. As a matter of fact, it is what will make you a good ruler."

He looked up at my words and his eyes betrayed only pain. My words weren't sinking in.

"It should have been you. You would do a much better job than me. I just don't understand how you can sit there and let me take your birthright and screw it up too."

I was a little taken aback. Adrian and I never discussed my family's fall from grace. I never knew he felt guilty about it. But it was clear on his face now. He didn't think he deserved his title, and felt guilty about the way he had gotten it. I thought long and hard about my words. I needed him to understand that he didn't take anything from me.

"Listen, Adrian. I don't want to the throne. I never have, and I think Tatiana made the correct decision in appointing you. I will help you any way I can, but my place is in the military, you know that."

He stood up and spilled a bit of his Ale, but didn't seem to notice. He threw his claws up in the air and let out an exasperated breath.

"What about your sister. She is kind and compassionate and everything a good ruler should be. I took that away from her too. Can you honestly say I would be a better ruler than Karolina?"

I stood up, took the cup from his hand and squared his shoulders towards me. My claws were on his shoulders, keeping his body and face looking at me.

"Yes, I do. Because you have something neither Karolina nor I have. You have such an insight into people, you know everyone, and how to handle them, whether it is using your charm or showing them your authority. You know what they need to be convinced. You almost seem to know what they are thinking. You understand your people and know what they need because you listen. Everything else can be thought, or we can help with. But that is something that will make you a great King, Adrian the Charming. Your heart is what people will follow you for."

Adrian's eyes were tearing up, and I could literally see him getting taller. I hope I was getting through. To be a good ruler, Adrian needed to believe he could be one. We wouldn't be getting anywhere if Adrian was deep in the alcohol every time his father made a snide comment.

"What about my father? He is never going to stop," Adrian downcast his eyes, and I could see the insecurity returning to him. It was like a physical thing, infecting him time and time again.

I picked up a cup and poured myself some ale. I did likewise for Adrian and Christian.

I raised my cup, choosing my next words very carefully. They would determine if Adrian would always be looking for his father's approval and never receiving it, or if he would finally be his own person.

"Fuck Nathan."

Christian joined me in raising my cup. "Yeah, fuck Nathan."

A small smile made its way on Adrian's face as he joined his hand with ours and lifted his cup. He seemed a little shocked I would use those words, but right now that is exactly what he had needed.

"Fuck my father," Adrian said it with so much conviction that I believed that he was letting this go.

I knew Adrian would need people around him that he could trust unconditionally and I hoped that once he was King, he would still be able to turn to me for help, maybe even Christian. I knew this point in time would be significant. Because I saw that Adrian wasn't slouching anymore, he wasn't looking for approval from any of us, and he wasn't reaching for the Ale again.

I think today he made the first step in not only being an heir to a hypothetical throne, somewhere in the future. Today he had become a little bit King. And I had a feeling that he would need that a lot sooner than we all realized.