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I frown. “Wouldn’t it be better if I ease into it? I mean, really, think about it. I woke up this morning in the human world. I’ve spent the majority of my life there. Let me adjust.”

He slams the trident down. His eyes glow yellow as his nostrils flare. “I’ve made my decision. The first lesson you need to learn is obedience. Humans are so defiant. Uncultured, hideous creatures. You will go to the academy after lunch, and you won’t put up a fuss. Understood?”

Has he lost his mind? I open my mouth to protest, but my mom speaks first. “I’m sure she’ll make us proud, Drake. She’ll adjust quickly.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “You’d better.”

Mom leans close and whispers in my ear, “Don’t question him in front of his subjects. He’ll be forced to apply strict discipline. We have to remember he’s king, even to us.”

I bite my tongue so hard it bleeds. If I say what I want to, he’ll probably have me thrown in a dungeon. Or worse. Maybe going to the academy isn’t so bad. There I won’t have to bow down to my dad’s ultimate authority. My mom’s always been a doting wife, but even this is too much. How can she go along with it? Acting like he needs to be obeyed. I want to pick up my chair and throw it across the room.

Luckily, servants arrive with food. I salivate at the aromas—I can’t say my mouth waters since water is now what I breathe. It feels as natural as air, but seems so odd. The servants set up tables and spread the food out.

I rise to scarf down as much as I can, but my mom grabs my arm. She shakes her head and gestures toward my dad. I groan, recalling something about the king doing everything first before the others follow.

The Dark Sea Academy sounds more appealing by the moment.