Chapter 166

**CAY POV

NINETEEN YEARS LATER**

Goddess, i hate these things, I’d much father be in the gardens with my mother and Yen, Why must i sit through these war meetings with my father? It isn’t like he needs me here, he barely even glances my way. I'm useless here, no matter how many times that he tries to teach me strategies of war, i just don’t get it. It isn’t something that i am interested in.

I am not built for war, there isn’t one bone in my body that wishes to fight like he and my brothers can, I’d much rather spend my time helping the people affected by war rather than fighting in it.

Father says that i will be Queen one day, and because of that, i need to know everything about being the ruler of a vast kingdom such as ours. But i don’t care about that, i don’t want to be queen. I've seen what the years of war have done to my parents and i want nothing to do with it.

I'd rather use my wealth to help the small people in the boarder territories, they need help, yet no matter how many ties i bring it up, i am ignored. My father cares more about winning than he does about the people who are actually affected by these battles.

He won’t even let me leave the main city, and no matter how many times i argue that the people need us, he says i am needed here for now. But how? How am i needed in a place that is so caught up in the thought of the next battle that i am invisible to them?

Who am i kidding, who i truly am has always been invisible to my father, he doesn’t want to see me for who i am. He only see what he wants me to be. Ye, my mother was a great woman, and still is. But i am NOT her. And i never will be. Doesn't he see that i have my own hopes and dreams? Of course he doesn’t, he’s more interested in me taking over everything for him, he doesn’t actually care whether i want it or not. Which i don’t.

I don’t know how many times i have to tell him that i don’t want to be queen before he actually pays attention to me. I am the first born child, that means that i should be the Queen and take over where my father left off. But he has left the kingdom in a state of disrepair. I know that he is trying. I know he wants peace. But the other kingdoms don’t, especially the Centaur Tribe.

They say that all mutants are abominations and they should be destroyed, but that means me too, i am half mutant, and so are my brothers. My mother is a mutant, but her blood is different, it allowed her to pick a form and stick to it. I am a dragon, just like her, my brothers are Griffin’s. I think my father is happy about that. He wanted at least one of his children to follow his bloodline, but instead of one, he has three, three men.

Then he has a disappointment of a daughter. I'll never be who he wants me to be, i can’t do it, i can’t lead an entire kingdom of people. Not when i always dream of being one of them without the responsibility that comes with being a princess.

I stand, the conversation in the room stopping the instant my ass leaves the chair, “Father.” I say softly, “I’m going to leave, you seem to have everything under control, i am going to find mother.”

My father, Dieter, looks at me with disappointment in his eyes, the same way he always looks at me. “You are needed here, Cay, there are things you still need to learn.” his voice is strong, there is no emotion in it, there never is.

Not when it comes to me.

I hate that i always disappoint him, but he wants me to be someone that i cannot be. I will not choose who lives or dies just because he says i was born to.

“I’m not going to sit here and stare at the wall while you make all the decisions anyway.” I say, my tone clipped. “I’m done.”

I turn my back on him, and head towards the door, murmurs of shock filling the room.

No one stands up to the king, no one dare, not even my brothers. But I've had enough. I’m done. No more meetings, and no more pretending that i want to be queen.

My father growls, grabbing my arm. “Do not walk away from me, Cay, i have not dismissed you.”

I turn on him, smoke seeping out of my mouth as i growl, “I am renouncing my claim to the throne.” I spit at him. “Keep the crown, i don’t want it.”

He lets go of my arm, his eyes wide as i storm from the room and rush back to my room, not wanting to spend another moment in this godforsaken place.

My mother has always supported me, she said i had my own mind to make up, no one could decide who i want to be but me, and she is right. I am the only one who gets to choose what my future is.

And i have chosen.

I am leaving, and my father will not stop me. I'll leave in the dead of night if i have to.

There's a knock at my door, my mother walking in, her blue eyes soft, no hint of anger towards me or what i had done present.

“Cay.” She says, sitting on the edge of my bed, watching me as i pack, “You don’t have to leave, your father will come around.”

“He won’t.” I say, shaking my head, “He doesn’t understand me, mother, he never will.”

“Your father loves you.” She takes my hand, “He can be a little rough around the edges, but he does try, if you believe anything, believe that.”

I take my hand back and shove one of my dresses into the bag i put on the bed, “Maybe, but i have to get away for a while, i have to find my own path to follow, because i know that i don’t want this one.”

My mother sighs, her eyes full of concern, “Then I'd advise you to take your guards, and your horse, you know they’ll follow you wherever you want to go.” she stands and helps me pack, “I’ll talk to your father, I'll make sure you aren’t followed.”

I wrap my arms around her, holding her tightly, she is the best mother a girl could ask for. She may not understand my decision, or why i have made it, but regardless, she will support me.

She will always support me.

“I love you, please write to me.” She says, letting me go.

“I love you too.” I tell her, picking up my bag, “Tell father i love him, and that i am sorry.”

Mother kisses my cheek, “He’ll forgive you, don’t worry. Take as much gold as you need, and don’t be afraid to ask for more.”

I hug her again, holding on for a moment longer before i run from the room and head down to the stables, the guards already getting my horse ready for me.

It is time to leave, it is time to live my life how i want to, and not because it was chosen for me.

I’m free.