22 #2
I glanced at Myriam who nodded to confirm it. Whatever I’d done had somehow alerted the entire fucking huge room that I’d not slept with Onyx yet. “Okay, whoever made the inappropriate crack about your queen’s sex life needs to run. Seriously, we’re having words later.”
“Oh no, let me,” Fraser chuckled darkly. “They can’t keep treating you like a woman instead of their boss and then not be gentlemen but pigs. It’s just any reason to disrespect you.”
I was glad when several people clearly agreed. I thought it was over and I went to move on, but Thorn didn’t let it go.
“Say it. Say you haven’t been with him,” he chuffed and reached for me.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” someone shouted.
“You have screwed her. That’s why you’re acting like this.
” There was some cursing and I turned to find his uncle throwing a fit.
“That night she was drugged. You were the one. You disappeared during the feast and were weird the next morning. That’s the interview you had to help her. ”
Well, at least he just went on the record with witnesses to knowing something from his emails. I filed that away for later but focused on this new fucked up crazy.
“How could you not update me on this progress? Who do you think you are to—”
I was across the room before most could blink and backhanded Alpha Kael hard enough that I broke bones and he landed on the ground in a heap.
“Who do you think you are? Progress? I’m not a stock, Alpha.
I’m not an investment that you’re making.
I’m your boss and Queen of Thovudin. He screwed me? Are you out of your mind?”
I stood up and turned to face the rest of the room, letting out a slow breath.
“If any of you release that information, it will be—you will not like the outcome. Don’t test me on this.
I was drugged and don’t remember it. Thorn was traumatized because of it and—do not speak of this, and forget you heard it.
” I turned back to Thorn’s uncle. “Or you will lose everything. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” he bit out, knowing when he was bested. He glanced past me and shot Thorn a look of retribution.
I moved into his view. “He did as he should and kept his promise to never speak of it. We’re not together. We’ve not been together—leave it alone before you end up in my dungeon to cool your head.”
“There’s room after some elders have been cleared out,” Maple said with a chuckle. “Besides, we had to investigate Thorn wasn’t the one who drugged the queen originally since there are rumors you like to use that same drug on women for fun, Alpha.”
Kael got angry… At being busted. Not insulted.
Disgusting.
“Everyone will be signing something because I will not allow any of you to traumatize her over this,” Darren said loudly.
“Or I can just take your memories magically and not care if I take too much,” Belinda added when people argued that was a bit much.
Then they were suddenly on board.
I thanked them and went to get my flowers out of there, Onyx and Thorn right on my heels. I turned to Onyx. “I thought they were my dates being delivered and I wanted treats. Thank you. I’m sorry that—I’m sorry.”
He cupped my face and brushed his lips over mine. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I just wanted to make sure you knew I wasn’t trying to make a show of anything. It was to spoil you, not make an ass of myself again.”
“I believe you.” And I did. He’d looked beyond annoyed. I shot Thorn a pissed look. “It’s his job to make an ass of himself and embarrass me.”
I walked away while Thorn was chuffing. Fuck him. It was beyond over the line he’d done that even if I’d outed myself or—fuck him.
Onyx didn’t hover, more just walked with me to make sure I was okay as I found Pearl who was in charge of my suite. I asked her to find the best spots for the arrangements. She let me know the new nightstands had been delivered and asked if I wanted to inspect them or just have them brought up.
I smiled at her. “I trust you to look them over. You’re doing a great job. Really, thank you. It’s nice to feel—thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, Your Majesty. Thank you for the opportunity.”
“I’m glad she’s working out,” Onyx said as we headed back.
“She’s very protective of you, and I heard her tell one of the guards to shut it about your stopover at that local shop.
They were saying it was cute you had such a soft side, but she said gossip is gossip and not appropriate in the castle where you live. ”
“She’s right, and it’s a point to bring up to Raquel,” I said after a moment. “This is their place of work, but it’s my home. And yes, Pearl is amazing.” I shot him a shy look. “You are too and yes, come over later. Just be discreet.”
He stopped us by grabbing my arm but then let me go. “That’s not why I did it.”
I smiled up at him genuinely. “I know. If you thought flowers could get you a sleepover, you wouldn’t be someone I’d want. And three would be—thank you.” I gave him a quick peck and then hurried off.
Yeah, Myriam wasn’t wrong that I needed to work on not being such a dork.
He caught up with me again before we reached the meeting. “I’m going to have a chat with Kael though.”
I gave him a look not to but made it clear I wasn’t mad, just warning him. He frowned, but then his eyes went wide realizing something serious was going on. He slowly nodded and looked nervous.
Yeah, Kael Blount was powerful and had his claws into a lot, so he wasn’t someone most would fuck with.