Chapter 2
Sagan
Unfortunately, fools don’t always listen to the warnings they are given. It wasn’t even dinner the next day when I was “invited” to a meeting in the ballroom… Which was a nice way to say I was summoned.
In my own castle.
Where I was now the leader of the nation.
Cute.
“I’ll be there when I can,” I told the aide, clearly dismissing him.
“I’m to escort you there, Princess, and we need to go now.” He was at least smart enough to squirm under my withering stare.
“I don’t need to do anything, and I’m on an important call,” I told him, waving my cell that wasn’t actually connected to anyone.
“I put it on hold assuming it was important. The message was received, so scurry back to your master and hide before you upset me and spend time in the dungeon with the other aide who didn’t realize his place. ”
“Yes, Your Highness,” he bit out before leaving.
I had no pity for him. He worked for a snake, and his eyes had danced with amusement as he announced I was being summoned.
Sorry, invited to a meeting in my own house.
Which meant I had moments to handle more than I should need to and quickly texted the one person here that I trusted.
Me: I’m assuming you’re not involved with this meeting with the elders?
Benson: What meeting? What now? I was informed there was a problem with the incoming flight.
I swallowed loudly. The flight that was bringing in my parents’ remains.
Me: Let me guess? It’s all fine?
Benson: These old codgers hid well behind their masks. I cannot believe they’re doing this much so fast.
I snorted, never shocked when people tried for power. I saw it constantly and from all corners.
Me: I need you to move faster. Get as many Alphas on the phone as you can and connect them directly to the security in the ballroom. I want them to see as much as possible live. Record it as well and we can get the rest to who we can.
Benson: I will get to security and follow your orders, but you will get to them faster than I can.
Me: Good point. I’ll get it started, but I doubt I have long since I was summoned and the aide was supposed to escort me.
Benson: Probably so you couldn’t do exactly something like you’re about to.
Well, at least the elders weren’t doubting me. I wasn’t sure if I was annoyed they were smart enough to realize they shouldn’t or just pissed overall.
Both? I could be both, right?
I decided to call the Alpha I knew best… Since I was dating his son. The moment I told him that I was pretty sure the elders were staging a coup in my ballroom, he asked what I needed and who he could call.
Everyone was my answer. I told him the plan and asked if he would get with everyone he could while I quickly sent off texts. He got someone to handle the tech on the other line with Benson and then confirmed a few Alphas were already getting on the video call.
Once we had at least three that were seeing the live feed in the ballroom, I headed out.
“Oh, they’re not happy you’re making them wait when they’re so important,” Alpha Vex Conley informed me with a dark chuckle.
“This is going to be too much fun,” I purred. Then I lowered my voice. “Thank you for taking my call and helping with this.”
“Always, Sagan,” he said fondly. “Keep moving and we’ll be there soon to give our proper condolences.”
Fair enough.
I walked out of my suite focused on my phone as if I already had too much to handle and wasn’t worried in the slightest about any of what was going on.
It was only half acting. Unless they were stupid enough to try and summon me to the ballroom to actually attempt to assassinate me…
Well, I’d just have to rebuild my ballroom and castle later.
Honestly, that was what would happen.
My detail was with me until we reached the ballroom and then there seemed to be some confusion as to who would guard me going forward. I met the gazes of the new guards who clearly weren’t on my side. “Big mistake. One you will regret if you make another.”
And with that, I walked into the ballroom. A throat cleared and I held up my finger before sending another message.
“Are you finally able to focus now, Your Highness?” one of the elders drawled.
I raised an eyebrow at him. “You summon me—I’m sorry, invite me to a meeting in my own house while I’m rather busy handling my own parents’ funerals and wishes, and you are pouting I was busy?
You cannot possibly be that petty that I didn’t run right here like a trained dog at your beck and call instead of being the next ruler of dragons and our great nation? ”
At least he was smart enough to understand I’d won that point.
And big time.
He cleared his throat. “Join us.”
I moved in a bit but didn’t sit and was careful not to block the camera I knew Benson would probably focus on most given the setup.
“There is still much for me to handle that I already booked myself with. This wasn’t on my agenda.
Speak quickly with… Whatever this is.” I gestured around to the gathered group.
Who I was pretty sure was all the elders.
No, Hardin and several others were missing. That couldn’t have been a coincidence and actually worried me more than if they were all there.
“Be civil and sit, Princess,” the elder pushed, gesturing to the chair that was left out for me. The clear “hot seat” as they all sat around me at tables.
“Elder, get on with it and don’t gaslight me that I’m the rude one here when taking over my ballroom,” I countered. I wiggled my phone at him. “I expect it to ring in seconds with the next details I need to confirm or—”
“You need to be mated,” he bit out, obviously done with my “disrespect.”
Well, I didn’t see this coming. Not by a long shot.
I slowly blinked at him. “Yes, I understand that one day I will take a mate. I know my duties and how things work. We’re a bit busy at the moment with a tragedy and funeral happening soon to even consider something to celebrate like the queen mating.”
Rage filled his eyes and he seemed to have trouble speaking, his dragon riding him hard.
“Yes, well, it will have to be a muted ceremony and obviously after a respectful time following the funeral,” Elder Cardoso took over, his beady little eyes full of too much when I met his gaze. “But it will happen before the coronation. Also, the consummation ceremonies.”
That got a reaction from me and it was hard not to cough. “Not only was that practice outlawed, you misspoke that there would be multiple.”
“The practice wasn’t outlawed, but the tradition stopped given—it matters not, and we feel they will be needed since your parents won’t be here to handle the alliances,” he countered. “And yes, multiple. You will be mating the sons of four different Alphas who—”
“You have lost your minds,” I chuckled darkly, rubbing the side of my face. “No, no, I will not. And you cannot think there is a single reason I would ever consider such—”
“It’s the only way we would feel comfortable confirming you as queen,” he interrupted, not even hiding his smirk of perceived victory.
I let out a slow breath and told myself to keep control before glancing at all of them in turn. “So your idea for the world’s worst coup is to mate me to four Alpha families that you’ve picked and undoubtedly will gain—no.” I met Cardoso’s gaze. “No. Not a chance.”
Rage filled his eyes. “Listen here, because there—”
“Seize Elder Cardoso and put him in the dungeon with his aide until I decide he’d regained his sanity,” I ordered the guards, ignoring the gasps of the people in the ballroom.
There were several outraged comments and people jumping to their feet, but I had a different reaction, slowly blinking before turning and looking at the guards.
“I warned you not to make another mistake. I’m completely within my rights to order what I did.”
“I’m sorry, but I miss how, Your Highness,” one guard said, looking actually confused.
“How did you address me?” I pointed to the elder.
“Did he?” I nodded when the guard flinched.
“At any point in time did he show me the required respect an elder has to of a member of the royal family before he then tried ‘listen here’ as if I’m his dog?
So yes, I’m well within my rights, and do as you’re ordered before you join him. ”
At least that worked, and when the other elders saw what was happening, none stood up to defend Cardoso or argue for him.
They were chickens, not dragons.
Elder Larsen cleared his throat and glanced around. “Clearly, Cardoso lost his head and cannot keep his wits about him with the grief we’re all experiencing.”
“And yet the one dealing with it most is the only one handling herself rationally,” I practically purred.
“Giving orders that are against protocol, speaking on behalf of a member of a royal family.” I held up my hand when he opened his mouth.
“Interrupting me when none of you would have dared to do so to my parents or even aunts or uncles.
“It’s lunacy and it will stop.” I glanced between them. “All of this will stop.” But I realized it wouldn’t. I realized why Hardin wasn’t there and why Larsen had taken over.
Because he was Hardin’s lackey. Disgusting, but extra revolting given he was an elder and supposed to have his own mind.
“The people have crossed lines, but that doesn’t change the situation we find ourselves in and that you need to mate to become queen, Your Highness,” Larsen said firmly.
Well, as firmly as the pissant managed which wasn’t much.
“I won’t, and you cannot make me,” I told him, intentionally pushing his buttons.
Anger and a bit of fear filled his eyes, probably knowing he would get in trouble with his master for not carrying out the mission. “Then you cannot become queen as you need us to make that happen.”