Chapter 19
Sagan
I know most people enjoyed being right—and I did most times too… But sometimes I wanted to be wrong just so my life was easier.
This wasn’t one of those times.
I was flooded with Alpha dragon idiots not using their heads for more than—I wasn’t sure what. A few of them to have fabulous hair.
They came in hot and heavy and completely over the top and competitive. Not listening to me that it was just a meal to get to know each other and I preferred to relax.
Nope, instead, I got steamrolled and their lists of accomplishments like I couldn’t read their bios and resumes. Hell, several of them sounded like they went to the same coach to learn how to interview for jobs they weren’t qualified for.
Except this wasn’t a fucking job to be prince of Thovudin. It was to be my mate.
I wondered if there was a world I could get that through their thick skulls?
Probably not.
I honestly had no hope for Ezerial from Lunaria, Rigel from Selka, Cosmo from Aursenbelle, Wilder from Nevelyn, Natrix from Azure Bay, and Vigor from Clovergarde. Really, I didn’t and couldn’t see a way to bounce back from the disasters that were their introduction meals.
And I was so over having one of these each time I ate, three times a day. Any more of them and I was going to be the first dragon in history to have heartburn. Which would suck more than normal because I didn’t have a damn healer still.
Awesome.
I was dreading Friday morning with Zevran from Goldenbarrow because his father was one of the most sexist Alphas.
While the man kept his mouth shut in meetings and to my face, it was no secret he was one of the main people pushing the bullshit my mates would be in charge while I popped out heirs and became queen regent to my firstborn son.
That wasn’t even the fucking law. It was the oldest child. I wasn’t in charge because I was an only child. It was because I was their oldest child no matter how many more my parents had had.
Idiots. Seriously, people were such fucking idiots.
Which was why I had no hope for his third son who was two years younger than me. He was an ocean—or tidal—dragon, so he had the blue-greenish teal streaks in his hair. They worked for him and his curly hair from what Velle had pulled up on social media. Especially with his super light brown eyes.
At least she was working out and taking her job seriously. That was a nice surprise.
And apparently, I deserved another one because I walked in thinking it was going to be a rage-inducing breakfast and instead there were a bunch of smiling faces… Some I didn’t recognize.
“I have so many questions it’s not even funny,” I muttered as I glanced around, shooting Treena, Myriam, Velle, Raquel, and Maple evil looks before focusing back on Zevran.
He chuckled and took it in stride. “Your Majesty, forgive the change of schedule, but the people closest to you agreed with me that this was all stupid.”
“You will have to be more specific on that, if you please,” I replied, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my tone.
I failed from the snickers.
He nodded. “The rapid-fire ‘intro dates’ like we’re all you have on your agenda and we’ll turn into pumpkins if we don’t get on your radar fast enough.
This isn’t a contest or a race and one meal—it’s all stupid.
Plus, you’re beyond busy, so taking up your time like that when you’re this bogged down is—the goal is to take things off your plate. Not add to it.”
“And you have a plan for that,” I stated, glancing around.
“Yes, but if you—they can leave immediately.” He ignored the frowns of the strangers. “No pressure. This was just something I could help facilitate.”
“And what is ‘this?’” I pushed, having an idea given the rolling clothing racks that were loaded.
He gestured to one of the women. “This is my best friend, Andra. She’s—”
“You left out she was your best friend,” Treena cut in, giving him an annoyed look. “That always goes so well to have a female best friend.”
“Forgive me, Your Highness, but I’m a lesbian,” the breathtaking woman chuckled.
Treena simply raised an eyebrow at her. “I’m not questioning your sexuality nor implying you should prove it, but so was the woman my uncle had an affair with for ten years.”
“I see why you are best friends,” Maple chuckled as she gestured between us. “I like you a lot, Treena.”
“Same, Maple,” Treena said but smirked at me.
Again, Zevran took it in stride and focused on Myriam.
“We’ve never been intimate, I’ve never had any feelings for her in that way even if I recognize her beauty, and there has never been any flirting with intent.
Only teasing other people don’t deserve us and harmless comments about looking hot or perfect. ”
Myriam nodded that it was true as she glanced at me.
“Which makes sense given she’s a fabulous designer.
” She glanced at Andra. “Big fan actually which was the only reason I voted for this.” She smirked when the dragon seemed hesitant and held up her phone.
“I’ve been following you on Instagram for two years. Your designs are gorgeous.”
Andra moved closer out of curiosity not disbelief. Myriam would have no reason to lie. Her eyes flashed shock. “I recognize your screen name. You always leave nice comments and hearts.”
“I do,” Myriam confirmed, her eyes for me. “But Andra doesn’t have wealthy parents or the right connections to get her brand off the ground since she wants to do it the right way. She doesn’t want to screw others in the process or—she wants to change the fashion industry.”
I was about to cut off the pitch, but Treena slipped something in first, already having figured out I needed money.
“It’s normal for a royal or noble to work with a private designer. I do, and I get a cut of the profits since the advertisement of me wearing the designs is priceless. I give half to my charities.”
“I know of the arrangement—not the exact details, but I was hoping the same,” Andra hurried to say.
“Back up,” I interjected, holding my hands up and focusing on Zevran. “So your idea to set yourself apart was to get me into a room handling something I needed but also where I would be undressing and you’d get a free show?”
His eyes went wide and he threw back his head laughing. Ignoring it was a good laugh, I simply raised my eyebrow at the response.
“He’ll be leaving, Sagan,” Maple chuckled.
“He hasn’t said that,” I purred.
He calmed down and nodded. “Yes, I will be leaving. This was just the introduction, and now you have two hours to handle something you’ve needed instead of another breakfast to bore you.”
I was grateful, but I didn’t think breakfast with him would be boring.
“Be somewhere visible,” I told him.
Velle figured it out first. “You think someone will turn it around. It’s why we did breakfast and not dinner.”
I met her gaze. “I wore a tank top in my own home and I’ve been a slut for weeks. Yes, I think somehow this could be turned around as a romantic fashion show that I set up to seduce the top five hottest ranked.” I frowned and glanced at Treena. “Six? I forgot who was ranked what. It’s all gross.”
“It is,” just about everyone said, including Zevran, which made me like him better.
He accepted it in stride. “With your permission, I heard several ask the protocol to go flying while at the castle. I think that was the only thing missing off our orientation. I would ask we all gather with Benson’s right hand and go over it.”
“I believe that’s scheduled for tomorrow, but someone can skip breakfast to make it work,” Lydia said, already messaging someone.
“Thank you,” I accepted from both of them. I let out a slow breath and focused on Andra while waving Zevran to the door. “Okay, you’ve got two hours to get this off the list of all the women here besides me.” I mentally sighed when her face fell.
“She’s the one they’re constantly talking about, so it’s like caving to the pressure,” Treena defended.
“She’s worried about what they’ll try to make her cave to next if she caves to this.
However, it’s normal to get a wardrobe update with a promotion.
Refresh even after another degree—let’s just get some more clothes for you, okay? ”
I went to say something but chuckled right as Zevran reached the door.
“You’re going to confirm my breasts are real, aren’t you?
” I snickered when everyone froze. “It’s one of the things that has pissed off the women in this room more than almost anything—the amount of women in the nation who have been running their mouths that I stuffed my bra. ”
Andra smirked at me. “I’ve spoken with Toni and whether this works or not, I’ll handle it.
And yes, I’m one of the furious women, Your Majesty.
You’re a gorgeous woman, and too many women in the country are just as toxic as the men.
They’re jealous you have real power when they don’t.
Instead of working harder to change the system, they’ll tear you down. ”
“We like her a lot,” Treena chuckled.
I could see why.
Zevran slipped out then after wishing us all luck. Andra normally posted couture designs from what Myriam quickly showed me but promised the designer understood the assignment. Yes, I would need some new dresses that would be worthy of a queen, but a queen ruler.
We were not turning me into my mother who constantly wore gowns to everything and now what too many sexist fools expected of me. It was honestly one of the list of reasons I was so pissed with her.
Would it have fucking killed her to ever have worn pants? There was no reason she couldn’t have done a nice suit for brunch or functions. She just caved to the expectations at every turn instead of having a spine.
And made my life that much more difficult because of it.
Great mother.