Sagan
I walked into the Alpha meeting the next morning like I owned the place because… Well, I did. It was my castle.
But more than that, I knew how awesome what I’d done was.
“Let me be crystal clear just in case one of you didn’t read what you signed,” I said firmly as I stared down each of the Alphas—or acting Alphas—in turn. It was only them and not their whole parties this time.
Not even the candidates.
Treena wasn’t there. Only the Alphas, Benson, Belinda, Fraser, Maple, Darren, and me.
That was it.
“This first part is a matter of national security, state secrets—whatever you want to categorize it, but it will cost you your head if you discuss it outside of this room,” I told them firmly.
“No one. Not your mate. Not your heir—this is just us. And I know you had discussions like this with Father because he told me I couldn’t even know things as were the agreements. ”
“He did and honored them, especially when one of us was in trouble,” Dray of all people said, backing me up.
He gave a half shrug when several people gave him shocked looks.
“I was wrong about her. I’m impressed. Since this goes no further, she’s more impressive than Rhys. Smarter too. I’m on board.”
“Sure you are, Dray,” someone muttered.
He ignored them and met my gaze. “I’m never going to be a loyal lackey or pet, but I’m on the team. I’ve seen—I heard a few of the deals and you are impressive, Your Majesty. You are the future I want for our nation, and I will figure out a way to deal with my sexist tendencies.”
“I hope so, Alpha, because you are an asset and I think you are what’s best for Jade Creek.
” I glanced around. “I don’t think the same about some of you for your areas, so don’t test me.
I know you still will, but I want to hear you all acknowledge it will cost you your life and you at least believe Fraser will take your head if you let this leak. ”
Maple snorted. “They won’t believe us weak females will.”
I gave her an amused look but left it alone, glad when the Alphas all acknowledged it in turn.
I looked at them again one by one. “You did this to yourselves. Pressuring Darren to get me in line that I’ll mate multiple prospects?” I ignored when Darren swore under his breath. “Too bad some of them are fucking idiots and run their mouths in my castle.”
I snorted when they couldn’t hide their shock that I swore but also were confused.
“Several have been overheard by us, staff, and even visitors like June with the media that they simply have to be one of the final five or six and will be the queen’s mate,” Fraser explained while chuffing.
“That it’s basically a waiting game to just let others fuck up and the ones who don’t after three years or whatever will be princes because Sagan has no other fucking choice. ”
I smirked out at the Alphas. “I always have a choice, and the prospective candidates you sent me aren’t even my best options. Not by a long shot.”
“Even I’m confused by that one,” Darren hedged.
I moved so I could see all the Alphas and those who supported me.
“King Galan of Cohen is visiting next month to discuss several things. The main one? A possible mating alliance and with him, Cohen becoming a vassal state of Thovudin.” I smirked again at the Alphas.
“Do you think any citizen of Thovudin would pick your candidate over that deal?”
They were silent in shock for a full minute before about half of them stood and demanded answers.
“Sit down!” I bellowed, putting the power of my dragons in my voice and hurting theirs to hear it. I felt bad for the others, but it had to be done.
And it worked. The Alphas immediately cowered and obediently sat.
“Do not ever try to pressure me or act like you are my masters again,” I warned them coldly.
“I took this deal in good faith to keep peace.
I am not your puppet. You are not biding time for my whims or whatever else you have gotten in your tiny brains because I conceded to this madness for the good of Thovudin.
“If you ever try this again or flex on me, I will make a better alliance and make a few of your family members my fucking sperm donors and humiliate you all. Do you understand me? That’s where we’re at and I will do it because I am the queen.
You might be the leader of your one area, but I am Thovudin! ”
The Alpha of Starhaven stood and cleared his throat. “I understand your upset, Your Majesty—and it’s valid, but King Galan is weak and—”
I snorted, not hiding that I was mocking him. “No, he’s not. Galan is amazing and I would mate him in a heartbeat.” I nodded… And flushed.
“He was the one you had a crush on?” Maple asked quietly.
I glanced at her. “I’ve had a few. I went to school with a lot of impressive people but yes, Galan was—he is a top-tier person and—he’s so smart.
” I looked back at Thorn’s uncle. “It’s how he’s held out as long as he has.
He’s not weak. His whole family was murdered.
He’s where I would be against the elders if I didn’t have Darren, Maple, and Fraser’s support.
“The whole royal family. He was cut off and—he’s not weak.
It’s a good deal, and honestly if I wasn’t in such a bad spot with my own grief and the traps set—all of your selfishness immediately hitting me, I would have thought of it sooner.
Cohen has vast wealth and resources. The ministers have dismantled the military to inhibit him until he caves.
“That gives me all of the cards with our strong military. Their technology is better than ours. We would get everything.” I shrugged.
“And Galan is better than…” I tapped my chin and tried to consider it.
“All of the candidates you offered.” I mentally winced and looked at Joris’s father.
“You know why I would rank Galan over Joris, and it’s not a fault, but… ”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” he accepted. “My son is a good man. Smart and—thank you.”
“He is. He is of the highest caliber, and his intelligence is—Onyx too, and he’s more assertive, but Galan is as impressive as Treena.
” I thought of that a moment. “Actually, he’s more like King Taryn and sees four moves ahead, and his only fault is he trusts people.
I don’t, so that would make us a good pair. ”
I smirked at Thorn’s uncle just for fun.
But then I got serious and let out a slow breath.
“Even some of your impressive candidates have offered me crap. Alliance matings where they live their own lives since I’ll be forced to have multiple mates and at least they aren’t idiots and would be loyal to the team.
” I glanced around and couldn’t hide my disgust. “I deserve better than that.
“It’s beyond gross none of you understand that and are still so fucking selfish.
Telling your brats or family that they just have to wait me out like…
I can’t even think of an analogy that’s not beyond gross.
” I let out another slow breath. “None of you would even consider accepting this, but you have no problem demanding it for me.”
The room was so quiet for several minutes that a fly farting could have been heard.
“Galan’s not the only option you have on the table, is he?” Zev’s father asked, one of the most sexist who treated me like I was nothing but a baby maker.
I smirked at him. “You’re finally catching on.
Took you long enough to realize you’re probably always going to be a few steps behind.
” I held up my finger to him. “Five. I have five other options in just the few days since I’ve learned of what you’ve been beating Darren up with.
Want to push more and see what else I can come up with from my connections? ”
No. It was all over their faces.
Just to twist the knife in their backs the rest of the way, I smiled brightly at them.
“I could stop interjecting to the media and let them keep talking about your family like they are stud horses—even agree that they would make great baby daddies to complement whatever royal mate I would have. Wouldn’t that be fun? Send the nation into a tizzy and just—”
“You’ve made your point, Your Majesty,” the Alpha of Selka bit out.
“I keep thinking I have, but then you all don’t listen or retain it,” I said with a dark chuckle.
“And you of all people shouldn’t be pissy when it’s your son, Rigel, who said right in front of June and her news crew that he just had to ride out my moods and flings with the others to be one of the seven remaining and he’d be prince and in charge. ”
“Fucking moron,” Fraser grumbled, and I felt better when several of the Alphas obviously felt the same, giving Rigel’s dad a pitying look.
“Now that I’ve made my point, let’s talk about some of the deals that still fall under national security. I will also give you fools one last chance to show you’re on the team and stop this bullshit. No more trying to freeze me out or flex on me.”
“You know they will,” Darren muttered, sounding defeated. “Why even bother? Why fucking—there’s just no point, Sagan.”
I thought about that a moment and then walked over to him and kissed his hair. “I have faith. Maybe not in all of them, but that I can make Thovudin thrive. If a different family has to take over being Alpha—it’s happened before. Don’t give up on me, Darren. I won’t let them win.”
He grabbed my hand and blinked up at me with tears in his eyes. “I won’t ever give up on you. I cannot lose you, okay? That day you wouldn’t…”
Get out of bed. It crushed him. I knew that.
Also, that something else was going on with him. He was struggling with something he wasn’t talking to me about.
Then I felt small. The attack. He’d lost his sister—twice really, learning she wasn’t who he thought—and I’d been attacked.
“You have no idea how powerful I am,” I promised him. “And I’m getting stronger every day working with Belinda and the ancients. I’m not going to leave you.”
He let out a shaky breath. “Okay, then let’s hear these deals.”