15 #2
I smiled as she said the last lead-in that I’d asked for.
“Actually, yes. Wilder realized he was out of touch with the reality of Thovudin after seeing the blatant sexism I was facing. When he said goodbye and apologized for not being strong enough to be the man I needed—the man worthy of standing next to the ruler of Thovudin, he promised he was going to really educate himself.”
Several people in the room looked like they could have been pushed over by a feather… June included, but she pulled it together and continued the interview. “Did he give specifics?”
“He didn’t name any charities in particular, but he made it clear that he was going to spend the next couple of years dedicating himself to helping the plight of females in the nation.
The Alphas were impressed to hear that was his pledge and response to all of this.
It shows he’s grown from this experience, and several said that they think they should bring back the aides program. ”
I went into detail how younger members of Alpha families used to try to be aides of the royal family and the honor of the education it would give them.
The humbling it would provide to see that there was more than their area or even Thovudin being around so many more moving parts than one Alpha handled.
That was why my plate was always overflowing like the Alpha of Starhaven pointed out…
Not because of my age or inexperience. Also, it was because I had to handle things that experienced Alphas couldn’t manage like his drought he had dropped the ball on.
Repeatedly, so we all thrived by working together, and hopefully he started to remember that.
Because the people of Starhaven needed a leader who would put them first, not their pride or soundbites that made the Queen of Thovudin look bad for helping them.
When we were done, I asked for that part of the interview to be cut and sent to me immediately. June nodded for the camerawoman to do it, clearly curious but leaving it alone.
“Good luck,” was all she said when she handed me the USB drive with it.
“I’m the one in charge. I have so much more than luck,” I threw right back with a smirk.
Then I sent it to all of the Alphas and opened a call on our normal server for them and waited for them to get on. I had them muted and kept working, letting them all type in the chat as they wanted. Once there were ten of them, including Wilder’s uncle, I took us all off mute.
“Have I made my point?” I asked them clearly.
“What? That you’re willing to lie to the media, Your Majesty?” Alpha Kael drawled. He was in charge of Starhaven… And Thorn’s uncle.
“You’re going to throw stones while standing in a breaking glass house and not even hiding how you’re coming after me?
” I asked him, everyone else freezing. “Oh please, you’re undermining me so I mate Thorn for an alliance with you because you think you’re sooooo great and would be the best for me.
” I snorted. “I’d pick Ayao if that was all I wanted. And Galan.
“All you’re doing is making me rethink what’s best for Starhaven and you look ridiculous.
My plate is overflowing while you fumbled your drought and food shortages that are coming and I fixed it in a few days?
The temples are under your purview. Why was there ever a problem with them to start?
Lazy leadership would be my answer and I will say that next time, savvy? ”
He opened his mouth, but I didn’t even give him the chance, focusing on the rest of them.
“You didn’t want to punish Wilder when I didn’t throw him in my dungeon because you didn’t want your other family members held to the standards they should be.
It’s pathetic. He should have gotten this and worse for lying to the media in my home.
Enough. Stop acting like I’m standing here with my hat in my hands when I’m the one in charge.
“You want to play games with me? Let’s fucking play, because I promise that I will break any of you that comes into the ring with me.
Go ahead and say that I was lying and that wasn’t what happened?
Pull that string and let’s throw down, shall we?
” I snickered when they were all quiet. “Or how about you all start doing what you promise to do when you’re standing in front of me?
“How about you stop losing sanity the moment you leave Nerthus or whatever is happening? I can still fly to you and fold you into a pretzel if you’d like.
It would be the best stress relief and the media would eat it up.
Anyone want to debate that? People all over social media wondering why I’m flying all over for quick visits in person and then the Alpha isn’t seen for days? ”
Dray snickered and I was glad he was on my side of this at least.
“Does everyone now understand that I will not give you unlimited chances to stab me in the back—lie to my face you will do things and then renege on them later? Because I can come explain it to you face to face. At length. In multiple forms. As many times as needed.” And just because I needed less stress in my life. “Or Fraser could as he did Vex.”
I was more than a little annoyed when that threat seemed to do more than the ones about what I would do. Seriously?
Like… Seriously?
Men.
Speaking of men—or a certain man—it was clear that I had one who wouldn’t wait to talk to me. I ignored his intense stares during dinner but then realized it wasn’t just Thorn but Onyx as well.
Okay, well, one at a time, and I could handle Thorn easier.
Probably.
I went to his room that night and he was already chuffing, seeming all over the place and just… Snowballing.
“I agree with Velle that you’re an idiot for not telling me and you should have,” I said firmly as I leaned against the wall and out of his reach. “People are too vocal they don’t like her and we’re not even friends. I bet you tried Myriam and she said she wasn’t getting involved.”
He winced which said a lot.
“Velle didn’t want to risk pissing me off but was annoyed to be the errand girl or whatever she said. She thought I knew.”
He let out a long breath. “Okay, yeah, I’ll apologize to her, and—it seemed like if I couldn’t get to you to give you the card, how would I have explained it?”
That was fair too and I said as much. “But that was the sign it wasn’t for you to get involved in.
” I held up a hand to hold him off. “And I’m uncomfortable with it.
So I’m going to cut up the card and Myriam will wire you what I’ve spent.
Get her the total—this is not okay with me.
Velle said she didn’t understand how rich people court, but you’re not courting me. ”
“I can still spend money on you and buy you things,” he defended.
“No, actually that—no. It makes it weird.” I shrugged when he started chuffing again. “It does for me. You can’t seem to pick a lane, Thorn. Everyone keeps saying you don’t know what you want—whatever, I’m not getting into this. I’m not comfortable with it. We’re fucking and you’re not staying.”
He tried arguing again and I lost the little patience I’d been prepared to use for this.
“I don’t want my fucking suite decorations paid for by someone who doesn’t want to be with me,” I snapped. “An Alpha I will see one day in meetings and mated to another woman while I sleep in my bed with other men and my mate, okay? What part of that doesn’t make sense to you?”
He spun away and punched the wall. Not too much or even denting it. We were across the room from each other. Nothing toxic or… It was really fine. Just showing he was overloaded.
And we were part beast. It was to be expected.
He let out several deep breaths. “I didn’t think of that. I just wanted to do something nice. Something to help you after I hurt you and haven’t been—I can’t ever seem to help you when you’re always drowning. I offer to help and—”
“You offer to help to get near me,” I interrupted, calling him out on what I’d noticed. “Have you ever just offered to help Myriam or Velle with paperwork or bullshit?”
“No,” he admitted, banging the wall with his forehead.
“I realized that too and I’ve been too selfish.
I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I’ve been so focused on how I got screwed that I’ve been ignoring the collateral damage of what I was demanding could hit you and others.
I haven’t appreciated what you’re risking to help me, even if it’s not for me but what’s right. ”
I felt better when he turned around and looked destroyed at realizing that. He looked… Not like a selfish, demanding ass anymore.
“I really just wanted to help you and do something nice. It wasn’t…
” He sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face as he slid down the wall to sit.
“I have no power and I should. It’s so fucking infuriating.
Every time I turn around for so long, I see things that are wrong or I want to fix and I can’t because he took it from me.
“And it’s like all I live in. But I have money.
I have so much money that he can’t touch because at least my stupid parents protected me in that way.
” He scrubbed the right side of his face and snorted.
“People talk so much in this fucking castle and it annoys me. Don’t let them gaslight you that it’s normal.
It’s not. Send them to Treena’s castle to show them. ”
“That’s actually an excellent suggestion, thank you,” I whispered, rubbing my chest as he gave me the answer I needed. That was… Perfect. Especially for Raquel who had completely dismissed it as women’s gossip bullshit.
No, we shouldn’t, especially when protecting another woman.
Bitch.
“And they were actually being nice and saying they felt bad you didn’t have like any adult belongings because your parents were so neglectful of you.
But I shouldn’t know that. It’s gross that I know that,” he mumbled, not looking at me.
“That they took this and that from other rooms because they pitied you and it was like a ruined family who didn’t have money.