Vesta lets out a slow breath, folding her arms tightly across her chest again. For a long moment, she simply studies the floor, lost in thought. Finally, she huffs.

“So because they’re powerful, we’re supposed to let them do whatever they want?”

She tilts her head.

“Yes, they’re dragons.” A small shrug. “I do not fear them.”

Her voice remains calm.

“Nothing I did justifies leveling a kingdom full of innocent people. I did not threaten them. I couldn’t hurt them if I wanted to. I would disintegrate.”

She shakes her head.

“If they chose to abuse their power by destroying the kingdom instead of confronting me, then I stand by what I said. The alliance with them should be reconsidered.”

She pauses.

“It almost sounds like they’re looking for an excuse, and I’m just a scapegoat that happened along at a convenient time.”

A humorless laugh escapes her.

“But I’m done being intimidated by people simply because they have power, or titles, or scales.” 

The grip on her arms tightens, nails digging into her skin.

“The famine happened because a dragon desired power over the lives of everyone else.” She raises a brow. “How many people suffered and died because of it?”

She meets Jade’s eyes with fiery determination.

“I fixed that mistake. I saved their lives by sacrificing my own. Nymera is alive because of me.”

Her smile fades.

“So no…” She gives a slow shake of her head. “I will not yield because they are more powerful than me. They will not have an apology.”

She straightens, squaring her shoulders.

“If they kill me, then they kill me. At least I’ll die as myself.”

Her voice goes quiet, final.

“That is the one thing that no one will ever take from me."

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