19
Sagan
That was how I ended up in a room with Kole, Vex, Hanna, Fraser, and Maple.
Oh, and Belinda. Of course, Belinda came for the show and to cover me.
It was honestly silly to think otherwise, but no prosecutor or guards or court anyone, just the people involved. I opened my mouth but then sighed.
“He deserves to be here,” Fraser muttered, clearly understanding where my mind was. “This is his fight even if…”
We didn’t end up together.
I nodded and went to the door, opened it, and waved Onyx inside.
“Thank you. Just… Thank you.” He kissed my hair and stood behind Maple and Fraser, clearly understanding he couldn’t take front stage on this.
But all three of the Conleys were pissed at how blatantly he chose my side. Really? Behind closed doors when he did it openly in court?
Whatever.
“No cameras and this is locked to their minds?” I checked with Belinda. I bit back a smile when she shot me a look like she was almost insulted.
“We didn’t agree to that, Sagan,” Hanna bit out.
“And you don’t have permission to call me by my name, you fucking massively egotistical jealous bitch,” I threw right back. It was hard not to laugh when Kole, Hanna, and Vex had matching expressions of mouths hanging open.
Then I saw Onyx did too.
“Okay, how long have you been holding that in?” Maple snickered.
“Since the first time I met her and she made some comment that she understood why a beauty like my mother would send such a stout daughter away until I could blossom,” I answered honestly.
I snorted when Vex looked at his mate like he’d never seen her before.
“This is the biggest problem with your family and why I’m done.
“None of you know each other or see each other clearly. You all have blinders on to each other.” I gestured to my family. “We know our faults. We knew my parents’ faults and they—we have no blinders. We just don’t share them with you. But you all—I’m done.”
“I want popcorn,” Fraser chuckled. “No, those dates now. Those are so good.”
“Replace mine you ate,” I grumbled before smirking at Hanna. “Did you bribe the last judge, or was it just a sob story using your woman card playing into his sexism? For the record, it was another woman who overheard him and was disgusted with it who warned us.”
I moved closer to her and easily shoved Vex away when he went to protect her.
“You’re one Alpha Mate. I’m queen. You will never be able to compete with me. Never. Your son was never good enough for me. You forgive Elira because you are her. You came from a poor family, and instead of working hard and making something of yourself, you—”
“I did make something of myself. I’m Alpha Mate of Applerest unlike you who was born in the right family.”
“The child is delusional and truly believes that,” Belinda chuckled darkly. “Oh dear. This family really has delusions of grandeur.”
“I would like to be excluded from that, and even Vex didn’t start out that way,” Onyx defended. “Father wasn’t like that either. I would say maybe it was Hanna and her genes that made Kole that way.”
“Viable theory,” Maple admitted.
I kept my gaze on Hanna. “You used how you were born and your genetics that made you pretty to hop into the right bed. And then you look down on me being born into the royal family? Do you not pay attention to the new reports at all or only what you want to hear?”
Onyx cleared his throat. “She always believed that your studies were more diplomatic than actual classes.”
I shot him an amused look. “I know. She said a lot. Publicly and to my face. That’s why I said the new reports.
” I focused back on Hanna. “That one site has uploaded hundreds of hours of my guest lectures. The news has shown some. Reported on my degrees, my published papers in other countries. Do you have blinders on for that too? Or do you think I pay media like your mate?”
She blinked at me a moment and then slowly looked at Vex. “What is she talking about?”
“Oh, this is precious,” Maple chuckled. “She really didn’t know that he bought those focus groups to help Kole and then the little shit was lying. Yeah, we need popcorn. No, I want sweets. Those tarts we have now.”
“Wait, they can fight later. Our time is too valuable for their crazy,” I drawled.
I focused on Kole and moved closer to him, not caring at all that he was over a foot taller than me.
“I’m scared of you? I’ve never been scared of you.
You sent texts because you know I could break you with one hand and that’s what bullies do.
“I’m lame and you put up with me because I was shy and don’t know how to communicate? No, honey, you were stupid to bother with.” And then I flexed and changed languages. “Talking to you when you were on my arm was dreadful. It was a joke, but you were a good shield at times.”
“Protesia,” Onyx muttered. “I heard them speaking that in Protesia.”
I glanced at him. “Good ear.” I switched again and kept switching as I insulted Kole to his face, loving how easy it was to push his buttons.
Then I smirked at Hanna. “Yeah, I’m the one riding on my family’s coattails.
His grades weren’t even honors-level and his three degrees you boast are all bachelor’s in Thovudin that took him how many years to complete? ”
Kole reached out to grab my arm and probably force me to face him, but I was quicker. I caught his wrist and broke it before he got close.
“You will never touch me again,” I said evenly as I twisted his arm until he fell to his knees in pain. “You weren’t satisfied? I was the virgin who never orgasmed with the one who had all the experience and cheated all over the place. I hated having sex with you, Kole.
“It was gross and I hated being with you, but I didn’t want to make a mess dumping you.
So I would ignore you until you were useful, idiot.
I needed a date to a party or it would be a problem for me and you were obedient like a pet who came flying to wherever I wanted. You think I care that you cheated?”
I snorted and let him go, shoving him away. The confusion in his eyes, along with the anger, was delicious.
“Treena wasn’t lying. I lost a bet. That’s all you were and then a shield against other idiots until I was older and had to take mating seriously.
” I pulled up my pants leg and squatted down.
“I was never going to mate someone so far beneath me like you, asshole. You’re a fucking moron, shit in bed, and all you do is brag about being rich.
“You didn’t make that money. It’s not your accomplishment.
I speak sixteen languages and you didn’t even know that.
I didn’t even tell you about some of my double degrees because I had to be careful not to make you feel as small as you are.
And I was careful in bed because you would know how strong I was if I did too much and I had to hide that. ”
“Oh, he really is a slow one,” Belinda said with a laugh. “He hadn’t figured that out yet. Nor that you hid your training from him. He thought you were lazy like others said.”
I sighed and stood. “I really didn’t spend enough time with him to know he was this big of a moron.
I would have ended it the first month if I’d known.
It’s embarrassing that he’s this dumb and I was with him for years.
” I rolled my eyes and glanced at Maple.
“The mistakes we make when young and being too careful to not upset royal protocols.”
I felt better when both Fraser and Maple snickered.
I faced Vex and Hanna. “You both went way too far with all of this. He was completely in the wrong, and I gave you chance after chance to handle it—handle him. Instead, you doubled down and doubled down again.” I looked at Hanna specifically. “Going to the judge? Are you mad?”
“Are you? You had him handled and—”
“Don’t speak on things you don’t know, Sister,” Onyx bit out. “Someone from the family told me because they’re tired of what you’re all doing and you ruining the Conley name. There are others of us who are Conleys and good. Others who want to not keep wearing this shame.
“I went to find the judge and warn him that I knew. But I found him in an illegal gambling den getting a beating because he owed a lot of money to the wrong people. So all I did was call the police. That’s it. I did my civic duty, and you—seriously, you’re all disgusting.”
Both my dragons actually swooned that he took the blame for it. Me too, but… All three of us were on the same page.
“To be fair, I was right behind you, but you got the tip first,” Fraser said. “And I like you better now.”
They shared a look and snorted at the gag.
I looked back at Kole. “You should have apologized—begged for my forgiveness like any sane person and not kept on this path. Not bragging that you trained me and so many lies that everyone now laughs at you and I cannot let this go.” I looked at his parents.
“You should have done what you promised and anything useful to control this situation.
“No, you constantly lie out your asses.” I looked specifically at Vex.
“You were never sorry. You never cared what he did or for me. You are honestly the worst of the three to me.” I nodded when they all seemed shocked.
“Over and over again acting like the loving—you lied to all of us.” I gestured between Kole, Hanna, and me.
“And you threatened to kill your own family.
“There’s no forgiving you, and beyond this being personal, I no longer have any faith in you being in charge of Applerest.” I kept nodding when he went pale.
“I warned you that this was bigger than my dating Kole. You went up there and tried to play off what Sunborough’s Alpha did and it was to con my citizens, Vex.
“So fuck you and you’re out. Maybe not today, but hear me that you’re out.
None of your kids will be Alpha after this and your fucking son threatened to kill mine or rape them and you pushed for no jail time and then your mate worked with the judge to even make that go away.
That’s fucking war against my family and my position.