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The council bowed before him, surprised as he barked for them to stand even before all of his sentinels finished filing inside the small hut. “Get on with it. I have little patience left.”
Loyul scowled. “We’ve heard about the female—”
“She is not your concern,” Drogann cut the elderly male off. He had a great respect for the council, as did his father before him, but like his father, Drogann would not entertain their opinion on these matters. “She will be brought to me immediately upon leaving this meeting, and I will not hear another word about it.”
Noting Drogann’s mounting anger, Berr nodded for Loyul to stand down and spoke in a more calming tone. “You have completed the hunt.”
Drogann nodded. It was not a question.
No male in this room had doubted him.
Not even Drogann’s brother had doubted he would complete the first two trials.
No, Morgann was counting on Drogann completing them yet succumbing in the final test.
“You face therefjnon the morrow then,” Berr murmured gravely. He would not say it, but he worried for Drogann and this final trial.
Drogann’s father nearly did not survive it, and he was not as weakened as Drogann was made to be by his scheming brother.
It was tradition to imprison the heir, chain him and isolate him before the eve of facing therefjn, in hopes to weaken him so his defeat was that much more glorious and his claim to the throne would be unchallenged.
However, Drogann had been chained through every trial, and that was not only unheard of, it had taken its toll on Drogann, and though Drogann could refuse his brother’s taunt, the council believed he did not out of stubborn pride, a trait inherited from his father. The truth of it though was that Drogann was not concerned with therefjn.
Never had been and never would be. In fact, he intended to end it far more easily that he had the other trials.
The first trial, a trek through the mountains of Gorr was easily accomplished as expected; however, the hunt for thelepiirbeast and its taming had been more difficult without the use of his arms. But Drogann caught and chained the creature, and it had carried his ship and cargo home—and his female.
And though his council believed him to be tired from the journey, Drogann was confident he would defeat therefjnwith ease because if he did not, it would leave his pretty little female alone and uncared for, and his instincts simply would not allow that.
“I will defeat therefjnand take the throne.”
“Your brother will try and kill you before you can,” Kletho reminded him in a tired tone. They were all tired of Morgann’s scheming.
“He will not succeed,” Drogann assured them.
Morgann was strong in his own right, but he had not been raised for the throne as Drogann had been by their father.
He was not meant to rule, and so Drogann would not allow it.
Their father had passed abruptly and without warning, their mother following soon after, which left the brothers in grief and at odds.
Drogann knew Morgann had always coveted the throne and his father had even warned him many times to keep one eye open.
Drogann was prepared for anything Morgann planned to throw his way.
Gryasi wasDrogann’skingdom.
The Gryasili werehispride.
Drogann was the Gryasili King, and he would not succumb to this final trial. He would conquer it and take his throne.
And while doing so, he would conquer his female.
“You cannot mean to take that creature for your mate.”
Drogann stared his council down; even chained at the wrists, he conveyed the strength and fortitude only the true King of Gryasi could carry.
He spoke with unbending determination and a warning that he would not be challenged on this matter. “I intend to make her my queen.”
