6 #2
I hit uneven ground going backwards and threw out my arms to try and catch my balance but was off the ground and flipped around in a flash… And staring up into pretty blue eyes I knew intimately.
That were amused.
Thorn’s lips twitched. “I was waiting for that. No one can run backwards that long without falling. It’s just not possible.”
I let it go when several other people chuckled. “Thanks for the save.” I pulled away and tried to ignore what being that close to him did to my body, but my skin fucking tingled from where he’d touched.
I still hated him for what he’d done.
“Sure you do,” Iris said in my mind, sounding amused.
I focused back on Ayao. “You did great, but we agree as the royal family that Maple handle the addition of the media building. We don’t want…” I glanced at her.
“Even Amelia would never have handled any sort of new construction to the family castle,” she said easily. “Your family would be the same. Raquel is handling the inside renovations and damages, so that’s covered.”
“More than reasonable,” Ayao accepted, focused on me. “Thank you for explaining.”
“But I would like you to be co-project manager with Gavriil,” I continued.
“Me? What did I do wrong?” Gavriil asked as he moved up by us, trying to get next to me but simply rolling his eyes when Thorn wouldn’t give up the spot and moving to the other side of Ayao instead. “I thought I was doing okay. You were happy with the proposal and plans.”
“I was, but you need some help learning how to be a boss,” I hedged, giving him a look. I felt better when he sighed and nodded. I ignored when Ayao tried to hide his amusement.
It was the nicest way to say Gavriil was getting walked all over. He was the Alpha of Duskridge’s nephew and the only single male in his family to be sent… And last on everyone’s list of who should mate me.
Funny, because the one who drugged me was in a lot of the top five slots originally.
“Plus, you need the help,” I added. “Cosmo is starting the renovations side and getting steamrolled already by the Alphas trying to take over. You only really have Rigel who does nothing but whine, bitch, and moan. So you need help because the appraisers are going to steamroll you next and Ayao proved he won’t let that happen. ”
“Thank you,” Ayao said quietly.
I nodded. He deserved it. I took off for another sprint and then made a decision as I came back, shooting Thorn a glance. “You’re still up for helping, right?”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” he said as he ground his jaw.
“Can you be useful to Cosmo?” I asked, somewhat honestly, but also to poke him. But I was pleasantly surprised when he took it seriously.
“To protect him from people being pushy or with the construction side? I don’t know anything about architecture.”
I sighed. “You said you wanted to help. What can you do that’s useful?” I swallowed a snort when others snickered and he started chuffing. Then I glanced over my shoulder at others. “I have the same question for most of you. At least he has the willingness to want to help.”
“I would prefer to work with the appraisers to help Gavriil,” Thorn admitted. “I have education and experience there.” He cleared his throat.
Except I didn’t know what was going on. Fraser managed to get him out of the way from next to me and Thorn relented, moving to the other side of him.
“His parents had one of the finest art collections in all of Thovudin. They were known as devout patrons to the arts and education of it—funded restoration projects and—truly dedicated to it.”
I took off again and it helped me calm down when I came back, letting out a slow breath. “Too bad no one told me that. These are the things I should know because I would look stupid not utilizing and honoring that connection.” I felt better when Myriam muttered that they were all fucking morons.
I couldn’t have agreed more. The candidates, not my uncle.
He couldn’t keep it all straight any more than we could.
“Okay, you two handle that then,” I said. “Gavriil, you’re the business side. The nonprofit is created? You’re doing the website and all of that? Thorn handles the appraisers and…”
“I like photography,” someone piped up from behind us. “I could do that. I have gear. I know not to use like the flash on paintings and whatever.”
Myriam nodded when I looked at her and saw it was Ezerial from Lunaria who had said it. So that was how he got added to the project.
“Joris, how is the temple…” I adjusted my neck. I really couldn’t say bullshit like I wanted to.
He cleared his throat and moved up next to me, thanking Ayao when he moved over.
“There is some internal fighting on how to elect the next high priest. I’m truly disgusted, but after several Alphas made it clear that the weekly interviews with candidates wouldn’t be happening, they’re back to fighting about who takes the top prize. ”
I sighed and sprinted again, ignoring when I realized a few people were trying to run with me. It wasn’t until I was back with the group that I realized it was Belinda and the other ancients. I simply raised an eyebrow.
“It’s best you leave it alone,” she chuckled.
Probably, but at least they were all smiling. I glanced between them. “Do you want like a signal of when I’m going to go?”
“No, part of the training is to try and tell given you’re special,” one answered.
Okay then. Glad to be… Entertaining?
I focused back on Joris who seemed like he didn’t know what to do with his situation either. “Are their food pantries of any use for those who are experiencing food insecurities?”
“They are supposed to be,” he muttered. “I honestly have no idea the condition they’re in besides the ones in Wildcairn that I’m familiar with.”
“Then that’s where we start,” I sighed.
“Start with what, Your Majesty?” he asked.
I was about to answer when one of the guards came hurrying over and I halted our procession. I nodded for him to go ahead and skip the normal greeting or whatever.
“The owner of the treat shop is at the gate saying she needs to speak to you about—”
I took off before he could even finish. Toni had said in one briefing or another that I’d loved that place or—someone had seen me there?
I couldn’t remember, but while my endorsement or a brand deal would work for Andra, she didn’t have storefronts to target.
I’d been worried because this was a family-owned shop and a location for people to take their hate out on.
And a lot of people hated me.
A few voices called after me, but I ignored them, running at full speed and immediately losing Treena and Davian. Even the ancients had no chance of keeping up with me.
I hit the brakes about twenty feet from the main gate and basically slid the rest of the way, barking out one word. “Move!”
People jumped to attention and the reporters there didn’t listen, already trying to figure out what was going on. The guards there were on alert because of how I was behaving and that didn’t help.
But then I spotted her. “Are you hurt? Is everyone okay?” I couldn’t hear her over everyone else when she tried to answer.
The death glare I gave the media shut some of them up instantly.
“I warned you to not behave like rabid animals. Do not make me burn you for an insult when I give a command when it’s an emergency. ”
The shocked and scared looks on several of them would have been amusing under other circumstances. But at least they were quiet then.
The woman’s eyes were too wide. “I’m fine, Your Majesty.”
I blinked at her. “They told me… There’s not an emergency? The shop is okay?”
Her lower lip quivered. “You came racing here because you thought someone hurt my shop? Truly?”
I couldn’t get my mouth to work, and by then Belinda had caught up.
“You’re showing people you’re a good person,” she teased as she ruffled my hair. “A guard interrupted training saying you needed to talk to her, and to us women that means something urgent. You need things like air. People want to talk to the queen all of the time.”
I gestured to her like I couldn’t have said it better myself.
The shop owner chuckled. “I wanted to talk to you and thank you again for what you said.” She handed a box through the gate to the guard.
“And for your amazing idea. I added it to the menu. The Royal Treat box with a mix of nut butters and chocolates over our locally sourced dates. I wanted you to have the first one, Your Majesty.”
“Well, that’s worth interrupting your grueling run,” Belinda said as she took it. “Someone will have to check it first to make sure. You understand, child.”
The woman did, saying she was glad that people were taking my safety more seriously.
Then she beamed at me. “I knew people were wrong about you. I’m so sorry you lost your parents, but you are the leader Thovudin needs, Queen Sagan.
You came running here ready to go to battle for one citizen.
I hope people start to see that and appreciate you. ”
I managed to thank her, it was so nice of her to say, but also such a knife to my heart given what I’d learned from my own parents. Really, it was.
Life was just always such fun like that.