Chapter 20
Sagan
I really liked Andra. Like… Really, really liked her.
She was very genuine and kind about the fact I had no idea what my style was or what worked.
She hid her pity pretty well that I’d not been taught much and it was clear everything was just selected and made for me like I was my parents’ Heir Barbie or whatever.
I also liked her style beyond fashion as she laid into some reporters at the press conference announcing the deal made.
“Look, I understand there are too many men in the country who lust after our sexy queen and are annoyed they are nowhere near her league,” she drawled.
“And women who are jealous the queen has gorgeous breasts that fill out everything average dragon women can’t.
I’m jealous too, but I’m not petty and don’t tear her down.
“It’s grotesque that we’re here announcing a groundbreaking arrangement to move Thovudin forward so we’re not so behind the times compared to other countries, and all you sexist and jealous fools are focused on is the queen’s anatomy. I’m a queer dragon and the queen supports me and my sexuality.
“The former king and queen were never anti-gay rights but always skirted the issue. Queen Sagan is bold and is declaring it loudly that all her citizens are accepted and appreciated. And she’s making smart deals to help her people recover from the recession as her father did.
Other designers contacted her but tried to throw their weight around and tell her how to live her life.
“She’s queen. She’s the boss. People need to start understanding that and accepting things will only get better if we give her the chance she deserves.
She deserves it after the few changes she’s made in less than two months of being queen.
Thovudin is better off with less of the corruption that was right under our noses.
“So please stop focusing on her lovely—but very real breasts that yes, I will custom-make undergarments for—and on to what we’re here to discuss like grownups and not lecherous creepers.
Okay? Great. Now, the deal is simple and the queen will get a percentage of the profits as any partner in a brand deal does.
However, she is donating most of it to her new charity. ”
She went on, and when it was time for the more pointed questions geared to attack me, Darren took over.
He was perfect as normal and made it clear the person was ridiculous.
That they were basically trying to push people to make money off of me and abuse the royal family the way the elders had by suggesting things were never fair.
Yeah, he was that good like that.
Belinda went next and stole the show telling the same story she had Dray.
The half truth but close enough that it would play well on the memory of my parents but make me shine more.
She told the media that so far three ancients of different dragon types were coming to the castle for at least a bit to help right the damage the “elders” had done.
She asked other ancients make themselves known and contact her.
She understood what she was asking and she had grappled with it herself especially as a mystic dragon.
But tragedy had struck the country and mostly because the ancients hadn’t done enough and allowed elders they all knew to be corrupt to do so much damage—leading to the deaths of the rulers.
She basically threw down the challenge and eloquently laid it out that I would absolutely listen to seasoned help… As long as it was the right kind.
So basically, my Friday was looking up.
Way up.
And then I got to handle something else on my plate that I’d been wanting to. Velle had actually tried to be nice and push around the introductions since she knew something was going on with Thorn, but I wanted his over with. I hated having things hanging over my head.
It also raised eyebrows as to why his got pushed back when we were speeding the process up. I was very sure he’d gotten an earful from his uncle and some headaches.
Fine, I maybe sort of enjoyed him getting beaten up a bit.
He stood when I entered the room, shooting a glance behind me at my security. I nodded for Lydia and the others to wait outside. I wasn’t worried about Thorn hurting me.
Not physically anyways.
“I tried to reach out, and not just to apologize, but—”
“Your uncle has a bubble around your communications,” I informed him as I tossed a folder onto the table so it slid across to him.
“I suspected as much when you told me about emails you sent Father that weren’t in his—anywhere and he deleted nothing.
Not a damn thing which is another issue.
And he responded to everything even if it was to cc the right person to talk to. ”
“That sounds like the King Rhys others talk of,” he muttered as he picked up the folder, steam practically coming out of his ears as he looked it over. “He really—that’s why he immediately called me. He didn’t mean this interview. He was talking about the lie of an interview you emailed about.”
“Yes, that was a risk, but I wanted to trap him and try to have him admit he had a spy in here or someone watching you,” I admitted.
“That would have been better, but unfortunately he’s not that stupid or brazen.
” I gave a half shrug when he glanced at me.
“You’re not an idiot. You would have figured it out sooner if he wasn’t careful. ”
He snorted and glanced back down. “You’re being generous. I should have figured this out.” He swallowed loudly and then looked up at me with regret in his eyes. “And I was more than an idiot with you. I’m so, so sorry for what I said, Sagan. Really, I—”
“It’s done,” I brushed off. “You feel how you feel. Let’s stay focused because I won’t have a dirty Alpha under me.
Starhaven deserves better. I’ll introduce you to the tiger investigator who will be assisting with this.
Please understand it will probably be a long game to get as many crimes piled on as possible since… ”
Thorn sighed and set down the folder. “He has a valid claim over being Alpha now given the time that has passed. No matter how it happened, it’s been over a decade now. He’s Alpha to everyone, the history of it no longer mattering so much.”
“Unfortunately, that’s the reality of the situation no matter how unfair.
” I snorted. “Life is unfair, and honestly if that was the only issue with this, I don’t know I could or would help you.
” I met his gaze when annoyance filled it.
“You are not the only one in a precarious position and I was a child when it all happened. No one sane would take that risk.”
“Glad you’re moving past what I said to hurt you,” he bit out.
Fuck him. I ground my jaw but then realized it was better to just get this out.
“It’s not what you said that morning, Thorn.
It’s how you behaved before like you wanted us to be real or thought we could be real.
Getting jealous. Making moves and comments about me being yours. Everything that indicated this wasn’t—”
“That I’m attracted to you? Yeah, I am. And yeah, I shouldn’t have been a jealous dick about things, but my dragon isn’t—I suck.” He chuffed and moved closer when I didn’t argue. “I just thought we could be adults and understand we have an attraction and enjoy it while I’m here.”
I shoved him back when he was close enough.
“What is it with these shit offers from you assholes?” I didn’t even care about his shock that I dropped the mask.
“That’s not acting like adults. That’s childish and not looking at the future where you have an Alpha Mate I have to sit in the room with and my mate will have to deal with you. ”
I felt better when he flinched, but I wasn’t done yet.
“And yeah, I’ll be the whore queen of history scratching itches with as many future Alphas or whatever like adults do and who cares?
Are you nuts? You started shit about Onyx seeing me naked and—get your head together because I’m going to throw in to take down your uncle and put you as the Alpha of Starhaven.
Start acting like you can be an adult to handle that. ”
I walked out of there feeling so much better and completely right about all of it. Just… Fuck him.
And I deserved better. I really did.
The mood followed me into what was next… Well, what was supposed to be the next morning, but I’d made it clear it would be now and the Alphas could deal with it because I wasn’t happy. Also, if they were smart they wouldn’t ask questions like why my introduction was so quick.
It wasn’t like the Alpha of Starhaven was there, so it was none of their fucking business. At. All.
What was much more important was the reports were coming in from the first elder reviews finally… And for some reason they all went to Dray.
Yeah, I was super happy about that.
So it was time to make another statement that I was in charge, and just because I’d delegated one area of law enforcement to the Alpha didn’t mean he was in control. It didn’t mean he was somehow the boss now.
Dray, Vex, and a few other Alphas involved were gathered in the dungeon along with Belinda, Darren, Fraser, and Maple.
“They signed the extras?” I checked with Belinda, she and Fraser on board with me showing the Alphas why I was the boss.
Darren and Maple were worried more about my safety. I didn’t disagree, but my safety was in jeopardy in the long run if I couldn’t keep the Alphas in line.
Belinda snickered. “Men don’t like to be kept in the dark, but they were very willing to be gagged to learn royal secrets.”
Fair enough.
I went into the first room and smirked at Elder Bramble. He was the piece of shit who quickly slipped in that my parents had traveled through the storm to get to me after our fight—basically blaming me and my tantrum or whatever for their deaths.
When in reality it was his nephew. His nephew was the biggest culprit of the corruption and neglect.