Dewpoint (The Prospects #2)

Chapter 1

Sagan

“It seems some of you didn’t take my warning seriously,” I said as I walked into the meeting with all the Alphas the day after the coronation. I bit back a smirk when Treena snorted. “Yes, ‘some’ was being kind when it was most.”

There was more I was going to say—much, much more—but a loud laugh interrupted me. I spun, ready to lay the person to waste.

Nothing surprised me more than to find it was Onyx Conley, one of my prospective mating candidates and a man who… We’d been intimate, but more than that, he basically declared I was his and he wouldn’t let me go.

“He’s just as trashy as his nephew,” Iris seethed in my head.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Your Majesty,” Onyx quickly said before slapping the table. “I was right. I was completely right. Look at him. I knew it.”

It took me a second to figure out what he meant, but then I glanced at Kole—my former lover—sitting next to his father. I was less than thrilled to see he was even there after what he’d done to me and Alpha Vex was more concerned with his family appearances over my comfort.

Something that upset my best friend Princess Treena as well from what I was getting off of her.

“Jealous,” Myriam, my aide and college classmate, said from behind me. “I don’t understand what this is in reference to, but the Alpha Heir is furious, jealous… Possessive.” I nodded, thinking that was the end of it. “Also, the lust in this room is ridiculous. Seriously.”

“That doesn’t help… But it’s true,” Treena muttered.

Onyx stood when Kole did and shoved him back in his seat before bowing to me. “I apologize, Your Majesty, truly. I knew I would be right, but his reaction—it was never you.”

“Enough, Onyx,” Vex seethed.

“No, he abused her,” Onyx snapped. “He tore down her body and made her ashamed when every man here is lusting after her. He did it so he could keep her—”

“These are your allies?” Treena interrupted when I was too shocked to handle what was going on. “Seriously? The Alpha Heir gets caught cheating on you in your own castle after refusing to leave when he tried to get violent with you when you ended things—”

Vex moved his hand to Kole’s shoulder. “That wasn’t for public knowledge, Princess.”

Rage practically dripped from Treena. “Yes, much better all the whispers at the coronation that Sagan dumped her loyal lover so she could be a whore to seventeen men. That poor Kole wouldn’t stand for it.

” She pointed at Kole. “He was cheating on her for years. I witnessed him raising a hand to strike her. You haven’t even called to apologize.

“King Rhys tried to break it off, but you refused to hear that your son is trash.” She chuckled when Kole lunged to stand like he was going to go for her.

Instantly, her guards appeared from nowhere and in front of her.

“Stand down. He’s all bark and hopefully isn’t stupid enough to start an international incident when I speak the truth. With proof.”

“Leave,” Vex ordered Kole. “Bringing you was a mistake. You promised me you could handle this.”

“Dad, they’re—”

“Leave!” Vex roared in his face.

Kole stomped out of there like a child and I simply shook my head.

“I’m more upset with you, Alpha,” Treena continued when she could see him again. Her security moved away but would stay close now.

“Davian, you may shift,” I said, shocking everyone there. “Yes, I’ve waived the rule for Princess Treena’s security, and someone from our leadership just made a threatening move towards her. Control yourselves.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Davian replied with a formal bow. He quickly stripped down to his boxers and then changed into a wolf. He was the right hand to the King of Bodach’s security and in charge of keeping the Heir of Bodach safe.

Treena kept her focus on Vex. “You ignored her uncle when he tried to inform you how far your son had gone. You were upset about her interview to protect herself since none of you will. You’re just as much to blame and this could have been handled better.

But you didn’t want the embarrassment. No, much better Sagan should be saddled with it.

“And you stayed silent. I was five feet away when people were talking about poor Kole and you said nothing. You didn’t even say that it wasn’t Sagan’s fault.” It was hard not to react because that was news to me. “So you are not an ally. Not anymore. You picked your son over what’s right.”

“Seriously, the lust is—what is going on?” Myriam whispered. She sighed when I shot her a look. “I’m a tiger, Sagan. My smell is stronger than Treena’s. It’s—”

“I understand,” I muttered as I zipped up my jacket.

Yes, that was what this had all been about.

My fucking boobs.

Onyx had said others were jealous of my large breasts since dragons didn’t normally have them. Or Kole made comments to shame me so I hid them and other men wouldn’t want me.

“I was wondering why you were finally showing them,” Treena admitted.

Onyx stood and dipped his head to her. “I made it clear that Kole chastised her body so other men wouldn’t—”

“Enough,” I bit out, giving him a look of hate. “Glad you being right was so important you’ve made it clear your nephew was body-shaming and emotionally abusing me as the start of my first meeting as queen. Well done. Glad your pride is all that matters.”

He went so pale so fast that it would have been funny any other time.

“Seriously, they’re not allies but fake friends,” Treena seethed.

I was starting to agree. “And I was going to start this meeting by handling the people I knew were actual problems. Lovely.”

It was why I was in athletic clothes for a meeting like this. It wasn’t like my tits were hanging out even. I had on a fitted tank top with a built-in sports bra and a women’s athletic jacket over it. It was cut in a flattering way for a female figure, but it wasn’t tight on me.

And I’d only had the jacket unzipped midway maybe? Nothing over the top or—there was a reason I was wearing clothes to move in.

I stopped in front of the Alpha of Jade Creek. It was probably our most prosperous area and that was why the family who led it was always a problem. They basically thought they were autonomous and just had to pay lip service to the leader of Thovudin.

Time to show him that wasn’t how things would work going forward.

“I blew things out of proportion, Alpha Dray?” I said with an evil smirk. “Really? That was your lie to the media? I was too emotional and the grief got the better of me. Hmmm, who was it that couldn’t keep his head last meeting and rambled about my eggs and ovaries?”

“I understand you’re upset, Your Majesty,” he started to say, putting on the right expression… While his eyes mocked me.

I snorted. “This isn’t me upset. You should stop acting like you understand me because you have yet to get anything right, Alpha. Not even close.” I waved him to stand, blinking at him when he simply raised an eyebrow. I shook my head. “Ahhh, I see we’re just going to compound sins. Lovely.”

“I think—” he started to say as he slowly stood, glancing around the room.

“It’s best you don’t because you just did it because of others in the room and that was more telling than your lies to the media.” I smirked when anger filled his eyes instead of mocking. “Outside. Let’s go.”

“For what, Your Majesty?” he hedged.

“Funny how I misunderstood you when you clearly weren’t listening to me at all,” I taunted. “I told you if any of you lost your heads again, I would handle it as my father would. Did I speak the wrong language when I said that, Alpha? Or did your tiny brain not understand I was serious?”

And yes, I glanced down to his groin to make it clear I thought it was his tiny penis that made him talk out of his ass.

Unfortunately, he was extra stupid and sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest. “No, I heard you, Your Majesty. We all did and understood you had to put on a tough act to—”

Yup, I was done.

I spun and landed a perfect kick to under his chin, sending the man who was over a foot and a half taller than me flying. He landed on one of the other tables and broke it.

I smirked at all the shocked faces as I glanced around. “It’s not an act. That’s the secret, you fools.” I looked over at Benson. “Drag the Alpha outside for his lesson if he won’t have the…”

Myriam snorted. “Oh, that could be a range of things. Only has the audacity to run his mouth and not back it up. I wonder if he’s the boss because he’s big and dumb and everyone assumes he can fight. Maybe he can’t?”

Wow, she was throwing fuel on the fire.

And it worked.

I didn’t even glance at the Alpha as I went for the side door that led to one of the courtyards. He came storming out after me and several Alphas tried to calm him down or stop him.

“The next one of you that ignores my orders will spend time in the dungeon, not just annoy me,” I threatened. “Stop assuming—I’m tired of your stupid. You see me as a weak female none of you have to listen to and you’re the fools.”

“This was for meetings and—” Dray seethed as he yanked off his jacket.

“Oh no, we’re not hiding behind that formality.

You called a press conference and lied about me.

You could have saved face a hundred ways, but you did it in a way that made me look bad.

Intentionally. We’re fighting this out because you idiots only see a woman and not a leader.

Well, I tried being nice. Now you’ll see that you should fear me like Father. ”

“So be it,” he practically spat and stomped towards me.

I easily dodged his first shot and took out his legs. I punched his face in a way that would make him practically taste his nose and was meant to hurt as he got back up. I kept dodging him and taking my time smacking him around while making it clear I wasn’t even winded.

In the end, he was bleeding and done.

“Never forget this moment,” I warned him as I grabbed his hair. “I’m not a woman you can mess with, Alpha. I’m Queen Sagan De la Rosa, daughter of Rhys and descendant of the first king of Thovudin. Respect that and obey me in the future or I will break you with a smile.”

I kneed him in the face and he was out before his body even slumped over.

“I think your point is made from what I’m scenting,” Treena gloated, snickering when all of her guards nodded.

I glanced at her. “Who else was on the list? Who else told the media lies to cover their own asses instead of handling the situation with grace?”

“Aren’t you supposed to fight him in all three forms?” Treena checked as she pulled something up on her phone.

I glanced from her to the unconscious Alpha. “Think he’ll cry if a tiny dragon woman breaks him that bad?”

“Would be fun to see,” she answered easily before listing the two other names.

And yes, I beat them too. Much to the shock of everyone there besides Uncle Darren and Benson.

I was looking around at everyone and saw Kole through the windows of another room. I snorted at the stupid gobsmacked look on his face.

“Things we will not say in the future no matter what discourse is happening or disagreements we have as leaders,” I said loudly to the Alphas.

“Wait, let me record this to send to the unconscious ones later,” Myriam muttered.

“Do they need medical treatment, Your Majesty?” one of Treena’s guards worried.

“It’s not allowed,” another of the Alphas said firmly. “They were allowed to tap out at any time and beg forgiveness. Their pride led to this.”

I did a double take. “I didn’t actually know that. I just wanted to make it hurt so I only had to give this lesson once.”

The Alpha met my gaze and couldn’t hide how impressed he was. “Oh, I’d said we all learned something very important, Your Majesty.”

“I’m very glad. I’m just sorry it had to come to violence instead of being more evolved dragons.

” I left it at that and glanced around once Myriam showed me she was recording.

“We are not being sexist in our statements. I’m not emotional or blowing things out of proportion. My hormones don’t impede me. Ever.”

I stared down every Alpha in turn, making it clear I was challenging them… Or daring them to challenge me really.

“Anything you wouldn’t say about each other is off the table for me,” I continued as I moved closer to them.

“You would never call another Alpha sensitive or overwhelmed. That would be seen as a direct challenge.” I pointed to the unconscious dragons.

“It is here now too. Am I clear this time? Did I make it through your thick skulls?”

They nodded while several shared looks as if trying to see how others felt or maybe they wondered if this was a fever dream? Who knew the minds of idiots—men?

“Good, because if I have to make this point again, I will cripple your dragon when we fight in that form,” I warned them, my voice cold.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, and I don’t want to break your understandable rule about comparing you to your father but…” the Alpha of Goldenbarrow hedged.

I raised an eyebrow. “He wouldn’t have taken it this far?

” I waited until most nodded. “He didn’t have to.

Believe me, he would have if any of you had pulled this with him.

” I smirked when they didn’t seem like they would accept that.

“Who do you think taught me this?” I snorted and walked back inside ignoring their shock.

“How are you not sweating buckets wearing that jacket in this August heat?” Treena asked me. She did a double take at whatever she sensed from me. “This is ridiculous. Take it off. You’re—so help me—we’re redoing your wardrobe too.”

I tried to get her to leave it be, but I knew she was at her limit.

She squared off with me when we reached our seats.

She gestured towards the tables and where the Alphas were sitting.

“They will sexualize you and demean you no matter what you wear, Sagan. Stop letting them win. Not on this. You are—I’m jealous how much more prepared you are than I am. How much better you are than me.”

“What?” I gasped, not even able to wrap my mind around what she was saying.

She grabbed my arms and shook me. “But not on this. I never knew—I thought it was your comfort level. You are a badass. Stop letting them cage you.”

“I hear you, but it’s not really appropriate to be in a tank top for this sort of meeting,” I hurried to say.

“Yeah, it is when they can get physical and you beat three huge Alphas,” Myriam drawled before unzipping my jacket. “Don’t make us take it off of you.”

“At least until you cool down,” Treena added.

I sighed and did it, mostly so they stopped and we could get on with the meeting. Whatever.

Apparently, men really did get distracted too easily. How did they constantly say women couldn’t control their hormones?

Seriously?