Chapter 18 #2
I was stunned that they handled it, hearing from Joris that the Alphas put pressure on each other because he was shining too brightly and they weren’t letting this fuck up everything.
The press conference was held in Bravinthe, and I was less than thrilled to find out it was my mating candidate from there, Issa Favr, who took the picture.
However, he didn’t release it. It was one of his “friends” who knew they could make money from a picture of me like that.
Except that was illegal. That it was taken inside a private residence without permission and there were strict rules about that… Especially for the fucking queen.
“I can’t even imagine how much they paid for the first picture of you after the coronation and it was so juicy like that,” Treena bitched.
Two million apparently. They probably made that and more back, but they were going to lose it from the lawsuit I’d file because no, I wasn’t going to let this go.
I was glad when the Alpha of Bravinthe said he wouldn’t either and it wasn’t petty, but the law, and the women of our nation weren’t objects to be ogled.
He—and his son, from their own accounts—were going to be donating to my new education fund for females to prove they felt that way. Issa’s apology was heartfelt even if I didn’t know him well enough to tell if it was bullshit or not.
It played well. He took a hit though because he even showed the text messages to prove it wasn’t him. He looked like a pig saying that he changed his mind about maybe mating me now that he saw I was “fucking delicious,” along with some other things.
But he also gushed about how I’d also been awesome at the meeting and now knew Kole was really a tool and felt bad I couldn’t seem to get rid of him. And for Applerest if I did.
“Bonus points there,” Maple muttered, toasting me with her wine when that part was read off.
I couldn’t agree more. It was all… Fabulous.
Did it suck that I had to throw down for people to do the right thing?
Yeah, of course. They should have handled this already the moment it happened and done the right thing. But at least he also admitted that there was no way I’d stuffed my bra when I’d been fighting Alphas.
The way he’d said it was beyond hysterical. He was a man who liked the taste of his foot.
Both feet even.
Good.
So I kept my end, getting on a call with all the Alphas to discuss how to handle the situation with the “contest.” I listened to their calm and orderly concerns and suggestions.
“Let me sum this up because that was a lot,” I said, not just for myself, but I’d seen several zone out.
More than once.
“I’m not a mare to be won and we all now understand I will be queen ruler, not queen regent for any male child I have,” I said firmly, chuffing when a few went to open their mouths.
“I am not kidding I won’t have a child until a lot of this gets better.
There is a long line of queen ruler De la Rosas.
Stop being stupid and get on board. Now. ”
“I agree and was genuinely going to ask if you wanted us to go on the record as to that to help, Your Majesty,” one of the Alphas said firmly.
“It’s dangerous and you were right that some of the elders planned on possibly you having an accident after you had a child. This has to be nipped in the bud.”
The others said the same, but a few were full of shit. I could tell and knew they didn’t want to go so far as to publicly say that.
What? The fucking truth?
Too bad.
“And while you’re thrilled the help Joris and Onyx have both been, when your family member is committing to possibly years to do this right, it’s difficult someone has such an advantage already,” I said carefully.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Ironpeak’s Alpha replied firmly. “More than that, they’re all useful or find out they’re useless fast. I’m focused on how much help you keep needing. My nephew is just as well educated as Joris and—he is an asset. None of us thought to send duds to you and waste your time.”
Nor miss a chance to mate into the royal family. That was the unspoken part, but I still appreciated the view.
“I hear you, but for the record, I think this will backfire,” I warned them.
I snorted when they all seemed confused.
“You’re all near panicked that someone has gotten the upper hand or into my heart already.
You don’t think that will transfer over to your younger and less disciplined family members?
The ones who… Someone will be out before they’re all moved in. ”
Darren of all people burst out laughing. I gave a half shrug when he looked at me and laughed all over again.
“Would he be laughing if he knew what you’re probably referring to?” Treena asked, shooting me an amused look.
I gave her one back. “I didn’t actually think of one instance. How many times a day do you see men step over the line or act stupid? They want the other fourteen here now and that’s a lot of testosterone. One will try to steamroll Velle and—remind her breaking my castle isn’t allowed.”
Treena rubbed her temples. “Where are we on hiring you healers? I need the tonics we have at our castle.”
“Think your father would send some via courier until we have someone trusted?” I threw right back.
We both snorted. I wanted some too, but after it was confirmed I’d been drugged at my parent’s funeral feast… Yeah, I was hesitant.
Funny, right?
While none argued, they were all confident that their family member would be just fine. They would know how to behave.
“We need like an orientation rundown put together first because—we just do,” I told them. “And they’ll have to accept guest rooms and construction for now. No fits. If you want this then—everyone grow up.”
“That’s a bit…” one of the Alphas hedged.
I sighed. “I’m not even picking on Onyx, but even he snuck into our libraries that are off limits. Others broke protocol when I went to fly. Men misbehave, Alpha.”
“But are also curious about their future home,” Darren said easily to smooth over my short comments.
“Thorn was poking around and it was rooms he could but—curiosity. There aren’t maps for the castle intentionally, but a rough one drawn up of what is off limits is smart.
Going over that people need to run everything through her aide, Velle, no matter their rank. ”
“I cannot have seventeen men demand my time without order while running a nation,” I spelled out.
Before the chaos started, Ayao caught me at breakfast and asked to get involved in the updates to the planes, runways—all of it.
And by be “involved,” he made it clear he should be in charge of it like Onyx was handling his project and Joris his with replacing the high priest. And apparently, pushing to review other head priests at temples.
“I’m sorry, but I looked over your resume and you have absolutely no experience to be involved,” I said bluntly, still annoyed with him. I ignored when his uncle and a few others choked or coughed to cover up their reactions. “We can discuss another project that—”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but that’s rather dismissive of you,” he cut in, trying to curb his reaction and doing a bad job of it.
“His education and job experience would make him a good project manager,” Darren muttered as he looked over something else.
“He said it like a twit and wanted the authority to make decisions like an engineer would, which only you should approve. However, if he’s good, he’ll coordinate with all the moving parts and keep them on task. ”
I glanced over at him. “Makes sense, but if he’s not? Wouldn’t that delay my safety and our needed ability to fly in and out of the castle compound?”
The look Darren gave me said it all.
“I am good, Your Majesty,” Ayao said as he tried to hand me something.
“This is a timeline from a different repaving project that should keep them in line and—the tigers helping are annoyed that the dragons are annoyed. They want their own people brought in and not ‘outsourcing’ jobs dragons could have.”
Darren wiped his mouth and came over to us, checking with me first and taking the folder. He flipped through it and nodded. “This is good and he’s right. Michele said the same and I was going to bring it up.” He focused on Ayao. “How would you start with the situation?”
“Start asking for other bids and timelines and let them know I am,” he answered immediately.
Darren chuckled and handed me the folder. “Cunning. My advice would be to give him a week and see what he can pull off. A week won’t delay you too badly since he won’t have authority to fire anyone, but it could gain you time if he’s good.”
I flipped through what Ayao prepared and was impressed as well.
I met his gaze and nodded. “I didn’t mean to be dismissive.
I would have thought an engineer would have been required for this sort of thing even managing the pieces.
Joris is heavily involved in the temples.
It’s Onyx’s field. You’re not in aviation. ”
The tension in his shoulders eased. “Fair. Thank you for explaining. Yes, I would prefer a different area, but as you said, it’s pressing for you and I do have a few ins at engineering firms. I can help. I know I can.”
I handed back the folder. “A week then. Thank you.”
Honestly, I hoped he pulled it off just so Darren and the others helping me could stop flying in and out of Nerthus’s airport instead of the extra secure and amazing landing strip I should have. Otherwise, I wanted Ayao to… Lots of things and most of them petty.
Could anyone really blame me?