Chapter 8 #2
He was annoyingly silent again. “I heard whispers you’ve shown the Alphas you are not one to be underestimated, and I will not make the mistake others cause and take your words at face value.
Also, it’s nice to know your father felt I was best for Protesia even if I don’t like the rest. He’s not wrong, but—it’s never easy to be told no when your people are suffering. ”
“You’re not wrong either, but—I wasn’t in on the calls or in the room, but I heard from his lips that he would have sent someone quietly, but you wanted the win more than the help.” I couldn’t hide my reaction when he started cursing and was glad that he couldn’t see me.
“That was not how I felt, and I’m furious that was what was conveyed to Rhys.
Apparently, I have a few issues in my own house to clean up as well because I wanted it clear I would make the praise public later, not the—sometimes we men are all fools.
Thank you for being a queen and cutting through the testosterone. Truly. I will send my best and help.”
I decided in this moment to trust him. “When your people aren’t allowed to land directly at the castle, don’t take offense, and please don’t make an issue of it. You’ll learn more later.”
He cursed again. “Corruption or intentional?”
“I cannot comment on any of that, but I’m not worried for my safety at the moment,” I answered carefully.
“Glad you have Myriam Metcalf watching your back. You need someone who lives in the gray right now if you are to survive,” he muttered, sounding like he didn’t like to comment on it.
“She’s not her father, and I’m not as… I’m not mine,” I offered. I had some snide comments that I couldn’t be as principled since I didn’t have the option to leave my mess for others to clean up.
“No, but even if I hate the Metcalfs exist, we know they’re a necessary evil to keep worse problems at bay.”
I snorted, completely agreeing. “I did make it clear that he should clean up his image a bit to earn this favor to his family that I would have Myriam as an aide instead of him being stupid and thinking to use the connection. Especially when we were working to be allies. I think he’s smart enough to have heard me. ”
“Still…” He sighed. “Word has it you have security for Princess Treena. Would you be opposed to a few of our royal protection to be assigned to protect Myriam?”
Warning bells went off given what I needed Myriam for, but then also an idea quickly formed. “I would need them not to watch her too closely. I currently have her in an investigation where she needs to slip in and out of the castle. Probably more of them down the road as well.”
“Of course. You’re smart enough to utilize her. Honestly, I wish I had the same,” he grumbled.
“But yes, and I would like to work towards sending a dragon aide for you as well. That’s the vision Father saw for all of us instead of this division and never trusting each other.
” I let out a slow breath. “His reign is over. I would like those of us with the elder systems gone to have aides of our own working in our circles. It was the goal of my education in different countries.”
“I would be more than interested,” he practically purred.
Mostly because a dragon at his side meant his family would be ridiculously protected. Tigers were great, but we turned into huge semis. We were beyond lethal.
Now on to the idea that had formed. “Onyx Conley isn’t just the younger brother of Alpha Vex, but he will be announced as one of my mating candidates.”
“Oh, that’s already all over,” he drawled. “I believe he’s making it clear he’s staking his claim. I can only imagine the popcorn I would need to hear how that all played out.”
“Glad my life is a drama people want to watch,” I let slip out before I caught myself. “I would like to send some of the Queen’s Guard with him. Not to spy or report anything but given—” I swallowed loudly when he burst out laughing.
He really was smart.
“Yeah, I’ll make sure they’re checked out and who they’re loyal to, Sagan. I figured some were in the pockets of elders. It’s why we did away with our system. Corrupt old fuckers. Seriously, greedy fat cats who—I’ll take that favor later. Nothing big because—this will be fun.”
Glad to amuse him, and as much as I didn’t like owing him a favor, this was something needed.
And shockingly enough, Benson agreed. I think the blinders truly and fully came off.
We did also warn Onyx who we were sending him with so he didn’t worry. I was glad he agreed to immediately go so we had help.
What I didn’t expect were the guards we were sending to basically throw a fit.
“This isn’t up for debate,” Benson chuffed. “It’s an order from your queen who you serve, or do you work for someone else?”
Yes, yes, they did. Everyone there could see it plainly.
We were in so much trouble. Really, we were.
However, it was nice to be on the same page with Benson finally and getting things moving in the right direction. So of course, something else had to come up and fuck everything up and upset me so badly that my eye started twitching.
“I’m going to need to start flying every day,” I grumbled under my breath before walking off.
I wasn’t really joking, and I didn’t know how to handle this. I moved on to something else and thanked Raquel when she brought my lunch personally to Father’s study and came to check on me.
“When you’re ready, we should talk about changes in here,” she said gently. “I know you’re still thinking about it as the king’s study, and just as it held him back from his role, it will you as well, Your Majesty.”
I let out a slow breath. “Thank you, but I’m not ready.” I glanced around and shook my head. “I’m just not.”
She moved her hand to my arm and gave a squeeze.
“I’m proud of you for admitting that. Prince Fraser asked me to bring it up when we spoke and to remind you that you have a rather large castle.
Leave this and your memories of it alone and make a new study of your own then.
” She gave me a knowing look. “You can find the funds for that now.”
Oh boy. Just how much did she know?
Probably too much.
I covered her hand with mine and gave a squeeze. “Thank you. Truly. I… Thank you. Maybe just for now, converting a room with—thank you.”
“I am always on your side, Sagan,” she whispered. “I always was even if I never showed it as I should have. I thought…”
“What?” I asked when she pulled away.
She sighed. “I thought even if you did push her as a child, it was harmless and children do such things and she just got hurt. I was only ever upset you lied about it and thought you should be better than that, but you were a child. A child who wasn’t shown the love she should have been because you were an only child and heir. ”
“Then why did you never—why were you never nice to me?” I asked, hating that I cared and looking away.
“I don’t know,” she admitted after a moment.
“I never thought I was mean or cold. I just—I truly cared about Elira, and I never saw it as one or the other. I’m sorry for that.
I never rooted against you. I just didn’t know you.
I’m sorry we all failed you. This is—and always has been your home.
She was the guest and we were the fools. ”
I didn’t know what to say to that, but I tried to truly hear her and that they—or at least she—felt badly about what happened. It would take time, but I was glad at least she had the gumption to bring it up instead of just ignoring it and moving on.
Like others.
I noticed there was a note on my tray when I reached for the drink. I frowned and picked it up, immediately jealous of how perfect the penmanship was when my handwriting looked horrendous. It was the one thing that was always less than royal-perfect.
My Queen,
There are rare times that allies can be found in the oddest of places. I’m sorry to be nosy and insert myself, but I only wish to be of help to you and I cannot stand to see you so stressed.
My best,
Joris
And at the bottom were some numbers and letters with dashes.
Three different sets of them that I immediately recognized as news articles.
Every news article in any licensed publication was recorded in Thovudin and had been since before I was born.
Now, we simply had the internet to easily access them all.
Curious, I quickly turned to the computer and pulled up the correct search engine before typing it in.
I gasped as I pulled up an article with a picture of Father and the Alpha of Jade Creek shaking hands. The headline was about cleaning up police corruption… And working together on the law requiring all police officers in the nation to wear body cams.
I looked up the other two and it was more of the same type of information. It was about how the corruption of the police used to be the worst in Jade Creek because it was the wealthiest area, and when the now-Alpha of Jade Creek took over from his father, it was his main focus.
Even though it pissed off a lot of people and he found one ally to help him clean up what hurt his area the most. My father. They both hated the corruption and worked really hard to make their dream a reality.
“I didn’t know it was him,” I muttered, thinking back to what Father had ever told me. I remembered him and I discussing how imperative it was for the body cams to always be used and to never let that slip or the nation would fall back deep into corruption, but… I couldn’t remember the rest.
There was always so much that we spoke about and evidently it wasn’t enough. I rubbed my chest and decided to listen to Joris’s wisdom, making the call that could hopefully make my life easier.
For once.
“This is a surprise,” he answered with hesitation in his voice and then quickly tacked on, “Your Majesty.”
“I’ll bet,” I chuckled darkly. “And you can leave that off when we’re talking privately. We both know it pains you to say and I don’t actually enjoy hurting others.”
He snorted. “My shoulder says otherwise.”
I snorted right back. “You deserved it, but I’m calling for… It’s not an olive branch. It’s—” I sighed. Heavily.
“Oh, this should be good,” he drawled.
“All the bluster and issues aside, you and Father once worked on something important to you both. I didn’t remember it was you, but he once told me that the man he worked with to save the country from corruption had the most noble heart and his soul was pure,” I told him honestly.
“That when push came to shove and egos were put aside—”
“What’s happening with the police?” he growled.
I couldn’t hold back and sighed. “You seriously just interrupted the queen? I can’t imagine why Father and now I will butt heads with you, Alpha. I’m going to beat you again. As many times as it takes until you remember I’m the boss.”
“Fine, I deserve it, but not the shoulder again and not publicly,” he grumbled, sounding actually apologetic. “Sorry.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to say, “Good boy,” but even I knew that would be over the line.
He’d still deserved it.
I explained everything and could practically hear the wheels turning in his mind.
“How do you want to play this?” he finally asked.
“I just changed my answer with that being your response,” I said honestly, the pressure that had built in my chest subsiding some.
“Now I want you to have the win. You built this with Father, and you received a lot of bad press for trying to throw me under the bus when other Alphas accepted they misbehaved. Take this win as us moving forward and you…”
“Thank you for not saying it,” he mumbled.
“But don’t take over,” I warned him. “I’m willing to frame this as I knew this was your shining glory with Father and I respect the past and my elders’ wisdom when they’re not corrupt and are wise.
Not that I cannot handle being queen or issues in my area.
We both know I can handle this.” I chuffed when he didn’t say anything.
He sighed. “I’m not saying you can’t. I just don’t know you can.
I’ve not seen either way. I think you could, but I have no proof.
It wasn’t dismissive or negative, but—I might be an egotistical asshole, but I’m also pragmatic and—I don’t know you could handle this mess or even well.
I don’t think a lot of Alphas could, so it’s not your sex or age. ”
“Fair,” I accepted. It was complicated after all.
“Also, given your expertise with police corruption and that Jade Creek is now always ranked the top police force, I would like you or one of your Betas running point with maybe Fraser or Darren to help select a new police chief—either from Nerthus or not.”
He chuckled darkly. “I change my answer. Yes, you could have handled this. Smart. Very smart. Make it clear they get on your train or the train will run them over. There are always more options, and you’re not as limited as people think. Rhys taught you well.”
It was hard not to snort, but I curbed it and thanked him for the praise. Or maybe pulling his head out of his ass?
Both. Probably both.