17 #3
She was quiet several moments before waving Onyx inside. “People pass by even at this late hour and you can’t be seen in my doorway.”
“Right, sorry,” he muttered and closed the door behind him. “I’m just stupid all around today. I lose more of my mind the deeper I learn my whole family is horrible.”
I wasn’t the only one who gave him a pitying look. Mostly because I understood where he was coming from.
“Why are you here then, Your Majesty?” the judge asked me bluntly, making it clear she wanted an honest answer.
“No one likes to be blindsided,” I answered honestly. “I also wanted you to hear it from me that this wasn’t only about how he was ruling on Kole. He’s completely corrupt.” I nodded when she snorted. “Gambling addict in debt to the illegal dens the elders own and corrupt to top it off.”
“Lovely, but that’s not an answer,” she purred.
“No, it’s context. The answer is when I made it clear he was retiring and his plan wouldn’t happen, I asked him who he didn’t want the case to go to.
He was very clear it was you. So I’m asking if you’re willing to take up this mess before just kicking it to you.
That’s it. No pressure on how to handle it or involving myself in the agreements. ”
“Really?” Fraser muttered. “We’re not fighting back?”
I slowly looked at him. “We fought back. That judge is out and Belinda might eat him for all she’s probably found.
We’re not letting him set Thodudin’s legal system back and hurt women in this country, not just me.
You know that was the goal—slapping women back when they’re finally realizing it’s time to make progress. ”
“Yeah, so punish that piece of shit harder,” Fraser argued. He grabbed my arm and shook me when I sighed. “He should be dead for what he threatened you with, Sagan. It’s not just texts and words. Kole would do all of it if he could and anyone sane knows that.”
I stood on my toes and kissed his cheek.
“I love you too. We both know I’ll twist him into a pretzel with a smile before I turn him to ash if he tries.
The nation isn’t on my side about this. I can’t push back on this now.
I can’t. It will ruin the progress we’ve made. Let the prosecutor handle it.”
“It’s not right,” he rasped, leaning in and kissing my hair. “They have to start valuing you.”
“I agree with your uncle and even more so now that I see you are truly a leader worthy to rule Thovudin,” Judge Joanna muttered. “I will handle this, Your Majesty. I assume you’ll get it assigned to me?”
“I wasn’t actually sure how that worked when a judge puts in for an emergency retirement?” I admitted, giving a half shrug when a few people snickered.
Hey, they didn’t either.
The judge called out to me as we went to leave and I waved for the others to go, but Lydia basically snorted at the idea of me being alone with someone we didn’t know. The judge took it in stride and smiled, nodding she could stay as well.
“I agree this is a turning point for women in the nation, not just for you and your popularity,” she told me slowly as if weighing her words carefully. “But like you, I’m losing the battle—or fighting a losing battle because I’m not supported as apparently you are starting to be.”
“I don’t mean to be rude, but please spit it out because I’m missing where your head is and all of this has been beyond overwhelming,” I said after a moment.
“We need more female judges, Your Majesty,” she sighed.
“I couldn’t agree more,” I told her. “And some female Alphas would be great as well.” I held up a finger to her.
“But knowing who to advance to those positions and wouldn’t fail so every sexist problem won’t immediately gloat and say that just proved their point is the dilemma.
I have no idea who to nominate for the robes.
“And I won’t have the time to get into it ever.
It’s very intentional. The elders gave their names always and that’s why so many were loyal to them.
I’m going to have to get most of them out, but who will nominate them next?
The Alphas because they do have time. I keep cleaning up their messes or they lay traps for me like mating several of their family members. It never ends.”
“I didn’t think of it that way,” she admitted. “I know who I would recommend in Nerthus. I could have a list of five names for you with resumes tomorrow.”
“Lovely. It would be a leap for me to trust you aren’t screwing me because we both know trusting other women isn’t always smart either, but I still will because you’re not calling the police on me,” I admitted. “But what about all the other areas? I have the same problem.”
“That you do, but I think I can help on that. On several things. Let me…” She let out a slow breath and her gaze was determined.
“I’ll show you I’m worth trusting and then get to work on names from my own network and back channels as you clearly have.
You give us the path, and those of us willing to fight for Thovudin will, Your Majesty. ”
“Music to my ears, Judge.”
I just hoped she was serious and not about to sell me out like so many others would.