23
Sagan
And to prove me right, the next morning after breakfast, Princess Makeda from Virryr arrived and that was expected… Who she brought with her wasn’t.
I raised an eyebrow at Prince Olwen who was a friend but also second in line to the throne of Danyl. I mentally cursed when I saw several Alphas off to the side. They had invited themselves to discuss their new housing in the capital, but really other things I wouldn’t probably like.
So that was shitty timing.
Olwen seemed to realize that but also looked decided and shocked everyone there when he greeted me formally… In his native language. “It is my honor to be welcomed in your home, to finally visit the great nation of Thovudin, and see you are well for myself, Queen Sagan De la Rosa.”
“You’re always welcome here, Prince Olwen of Danyl,” I replied back, ignoring when several mouths fell open. “But you’re up to something and you know I prefer a heads-up.” I glanced at Makeda. “I’m sorry you were delayed, but I’m a bit shocked at this pairing.”
We greeted each other formally and she leaned in and whispered.
“He was of help, as was your uncle. Father wasn’t going to let me go to become just an aide to another bitch queen.
Your uncle implied that I was a bit too young, but gorgeous, and with time, the age gap could be explained.
Or since Olwen was around, maybe an alliance could be formed there. ”
I gave Fraser a wink and he slightly nodded, his shoulders a bit tense as if not knowing if he overstepped, but also that there was clearly more to the story.
I bet. We didn’t have a good relationship with Virryr and with good reason. The king was a sexist piece of shit and fucking nuts. The only reason he had any power or sway was because his family lucked out.
Literally. Their lands sat on the biggest gold, gem, and oil deposits in the world. Of course one asshole had all of that.
And of course having all of that made him a complete asshole.
Olwen came closer and grabbed my arms and touched his cheek to mine, which was a normal greeting in Danyl between acquaintances no matter their rank. I held my hand out at my side and continued with it, but only had eyes for the guards at the door when I pulled away.
“Make it clear to Benson that learning foreign greetings will be required for all Queen’s Guards in a training soon,” I said firmly.
“It’s an embarrassing oversight you didn’t know something so basic when you handle the entrance of the ruler’s castle where guests are received.
” I focused back on Olwen. “I apologize and hope you don’t take insult. ”
“Never,” he said with a soft smile and let me go.
I studied him carefully. “Why are you here, Olwen? Everything hasn’t been settled with the law study exchange program. You came with Makeda as an excuse, so you’re up to something.”
He held out his hand to me with emotion dancing in his eyes, a determination I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen there before.
“Get up, princess. We are royals, and we never let them leave us broken or bleeding.
We break them. We bathe in their blood if necessary, and we do it with smiles because we were born into the families that shield our people.
“A broken shield protects no one, so if the beating you are taking is too much, you ally with another shield who can withstand it with you—hold the line and handle the fight with you. Get up and don’t ever let them insult us again.
Stop trying to handle it on your own and understand that some fights aren’t only for you to fight; you just need the right allies. ”
I ran my tongue over my teeth and smirked at him. “Now I have to explain that to several people and probably what happened next. Thanks, Olwen.”
He threw back his head and laughed, the booming noise echoing in the large area. He was beaming at me when he settled some. “You’ve already let it out that you’re kickass, Sagan. You saved Myriam. No one with a brain would think she’s the only one.”
“Probably not, but now people will want details,” I grumbled.
And they weren’t pretty.
Not even remotely.
I’d found Olwen beaten to shit, bleeding with several broken bones, and helped him without knowing the full story…
Which was that they were friends of his older brother who was going to be king.
It was basically a message from the future king to his younger brother to remember his place and stay in his lane.
And the future Queen of Thovudin got involved and sided with the one who wouldn’t be king.
Whoops?
Not really since my parents never found out, and I’d said something later to Olwen’s brother at an event that I wasn’t a fan of people who didn’t protect their own and his brother was his blood.
He should protect Olwen first, especially when Olwen always made it clear he supported his brother and didn’t want to be king.
His brother had taken it in stride even if I’d seen the anger in his eyes. I was going to be the ruler of a more powerful country, so what could he really do?
And those guys who had beaten up a prince weren’t stupid enough to hold a grudge against the Heir of Thovudin. At least not publicly.
Olwen was always fair and had made it a point to say something in front of his father that I had helped him against some bullies without knowing what was going on.
His brother had caught on that I had just helped another royal, not stepped into family business.
That was probably what made him let it go, but not me.
Which was also why I would never forgive Vex for how he treated Onyx. There was no forgiveness for people who betrayed their family.
Ever.
I wasn’t sure what we were going to say next, but Treena came walking towards us briskly like she wasn’t trying to hurry but was absolutely trying to hurry.
She gave Makeda a half hug before greeting Olwen with a quick one too. “Lovely to see you both, but let’s drop the formalities. There’s a situation.” She glanced at me. “Rigel’s gone.”
I raised an eyebrow and couldn’t hide how I was swallowing down how much I wanted to toast to one less idiot in my castle. Then I saw Toni standing off to the side looking like she might faint and I swallowed a groan. “How bad?”
“It’s a cable show, so it’s allowed just about anything, going live now, and they didn’t promote it so no one could try to stop it, Your Majesty,” she said quickly.
“So really fucking bad,” someone muttered from behind me.
Pretty much.
I glanced over at the Alphas. “I’m not sure why you’re here, but my schedule is going to become even more chaotic it seems. Let’s just watch this train wreck in the dining hall and at least see what the kitchen can handle.
” I didn’t give them time to respond, snorting when Olwen offered me his arm and accepting it.
And noting how Onyx was watching from close by, waiting for some sort of cue. I nodded that he could join us, Joris too, who had been weird with me. Mostly hesitant and there was a conversation needed there too. I knew that.
I knew that and I’d not been fair to him.
I knew that.
I just… There was only so much I could handle and not implode.
The intro had already played and I was focused on the host, something tickling my mind. I was getting more and more familiar with most of the media personalities in Thovudin by the day, but I felt like I should know Evan Blake’s name. It was just there, out of reach almost.
“Let’s get right into because everyone already knows you’re the Alpha of Selka’s son, Rigel, and until today, a prospective mating candidate of the queen,” Evan said, raising an eyebrow when Rigel snorted. “You weren’t?”
“Technically,” he drawled. “She was never going to consider me. She didn’t hide that she thought it was embarrassing that people thought I could be an option for her.”
“Well, that’s a lot to take in,” Evan admitted, tapping his pen. “But let’s back up and I want everyone to hear it clearly from you why you came on the show. You’re not being paid. This isn’t about money.”
“No, I want people to know the truth of what’s going on,” Rigel said firmly. “No scrubbed version or cleaned up anything later. People are valid to say they have a right to know about the queen’s mating, no matter what she says, because she’s not just any woman, she’s our ruler.
“I’m not saying people get to choose for her, but my parents said that a lot of people had opinions and influence who her father mated.
It’s childish of her to think the same wouldn’t apply to her.
So it’s not fair that she says she needs to be treated like any other woman and not be pressured but then wants the prime candidates a ruler would get. ”
“Does that even make sense?” Olwen asked under his breath.
“Don’t expect much intelligence,” Treena sighed. “Really not a sharp one.”
“Oh dear,” Makeda chuckled darkly.
“Right, but she didn’t choose any of you, so I would think that people are heavily influencing who she will possibly mate already,” Evan countered, but moved right on. “But you’re right that people do want to know the truth. Just to clarify, are you saying anything has been covered up?”
Rigel flinched. “The Lori thing really happened. Everyone was freaked out. I don’t know everything about Wilder or—we’re not friends.
Even if some of us were cordial before this stupid competition, we weren’t after walking into that castle, so I don’t know what was going on in his mind.
The temple thing was creepy. It freaked us all out, I know that. ”
“So you were worried about people turning things around on you and wanted the record straight.”
Rigel relaxed. “Yes. Yes, exactly. People need to know how ridiculous it all is. I’m not getting dragged through the mud.”
“So there was conflict. That’s why you’re exiting the competition?”
Rage filled Rigel’s eyes. “Yeah, conflict is one way to put it. Candidates being able to beat each other is another. Thorn Blount punching me and then Onyx Conley knocking me out a few days ago was the last straw.”