"That's how it always was," Akiha replied, her expression growing dark. "And I wasn't born to be the heir; my brother was. I would've had a normal life. My blood was weak and I would've been able to live without much fear of inversion. Married to one from a branch family or a family we want to bring into the Tohno."

She waved her hand dismissively. "It's not as if I ever had a choice, Katina. I was a child. What my father said was law. No one questioned it and when I rebelled against him, I was punished and sent to boarding school. Most of my extended family hates me for the things I've done since becoming Head. As if I cared what they thought."