Chapter 4
Sagan
I was never so happy to see my best friend, Princess Treena, as I was the next morning. I hadn’t realized how much I’d been holding it all together with sheer stubbornness until tears shone in her eyes. I knew I would break with her later and let her comfort me—be the help I really needed.
But first we had to be princesses.
“Princess Sagan, you honor my family and me with such an invitation to visit,” she said as she slightly curtseyed to me.
I was always in awe of how fluid and regal Treena acted. Every movement was graceful and not simply because she was a wolf. She was about half a foot shorter than me but stunning.
She was the elegant beauty who walked into a room and conversations stopped. People always on about her long raven hair that went down to her butt, her large, hooded watermelon pink eyes that were of her royal bloodline.
Even her flawless skin. Hers was just as pale as mine, but I was always turning red or flushed—especially as a fire dragon—and it was the one thing I struggled to control. The sun seemed to even work against me at times, but she was always like perfect marble.
And she always, always knew what to say. We did have that in common and it was honestly what made us bond so fast in school. Our training was always of help to each other and in the waters we had to swim in.
“I regret the reason and my first time traveling to your wondrous country, but the honor is felt the same.”
I dipped my head to her in response. I wasn’t just the heir anymore while she was, but now I was the leader even before I was crowned queen.
“The honor is ours, especially given the tragedy that has befallen our nation. Now is the time we need our friends most and you showing you are one will not be forgotten.”
I ignored a few grumbles from elders and other reactions. They could suck it, Hardin and others demanding to be in attendance to receive a “contentious” guest from a rival nation.
I glanced at her party and had to use all my years of training to hide what I was feeling to not react to something too important before meeting her gaze again.
“You and your party must be hungry after the flight. We have lunch ready in the family dining room and we can talk a bit before you’re shown to your rooms.”
Elder Hardin cleared his throat. “I wasn’t made aware of this, Your Highness.”
I didn’t even glance at him. “Why would you be?” I almost snorted when outrage poured off of him. “Did my father clear his lunches with allies with you?” I kept my tone one that made it clear he was being silly.
But also, he should stop and not embarrass us.
“No, of course not, but these are not allies of our government and you certainly shouldn’t be meeting with them alone, especially given the state you’re in,” he pushed.
That got a reaction out of me. I slowly looked at him with his death in my eyes. “I am not the one out of sorts if you thought it appropriate to say that in front of guests.”
“It’s also disturbing that you keep trying to paint yourself in some sort of caring uncle role when my niece has family,” Uncle Darren said firmly.
“Princess Sagan was born for this role and has always been flawless. You trying to undermine her in her own court when receiving guests you say aren’t friends is ridiculous. ”
“And won’t be forgotten,” I added quietly so Hardin would still hear me.
“They are friends, Hardin,” Darren continued, gesturing between Treena and me. “I’m having lunch with my niece and her friend when she needs support.”
“Good to know, but I would ask you address me with the respect of an elder going forward.”
“I will when you act it and not as someone trying to treat our queen like someone who answers to you,” Darren threw right back. “Also, I’ve been appointed as the princess’s advisor. Her only one, so I don’t actually have to.”
Hardin’s eyes filled with rage as he glanced between us now. “Your Highness, I must object. He has no experience in politics nor—”
I snorted, shocking everyone there. “He has one of the most successful businesses in the nation. You cannot be so ignorant to everything outside of court games and diplomacy to think that there’s no politics in business?
” It was hard not to smirk when I clearly won the point.
“Plus, I’m lucky such an accomplished businessman would advise me. There’s no reason to object.”
“Except to keep allies from you,” Treena muttered as she took in the dynamic. She shouldn’t have said it as a visiting princess, but… I agreed and appreciated the backup. She smirked at me. “They’ll object to me as well, yes?”
She was really pushing it.
“They don’t know you will be my second advisor.
” I hurried on when the tension in the grand entrance of the castle shot up.
“But they also don’t know that my father approved it after meeting you and discussing it with your father.
So as I’ve said repeatedly, I will follow through with as many of the wishes of my parents as I can. ”
I saw the twinkle of mirth in her eyes. That was why she’d said it like that. She wanted it out in public fast that my father had wanted this to happen before snakes slithered with different stories.
It was smart and exactly why I needed her there. I was too buried to see all the pitfalls right then.
I decided to be bold like her, slapping on my fakest smile as I faced Hardin.
“You’re clearly a bit too overwhelmed and emotional to carry out your duties.
It’s understandable, but you’re dismissed for the rest of the day.
Tomorrow is the funeral and we all need to be at our best and show a united front to the world. ”
He actually chuffed at me but tried to curb it when people reacted.
“Clearly, I’m making the right call and you’re out of sorts, Elder,” I added, letting him see in my eyes that I was mocking him. “A few days after the funeral as well. I’d say a few weeks, but we both know you won’t obey me and excuse yourself from the meeting with the Alphas.”
“Something else not to forget,” Treena purred. She simply stared him down as if daring him to speak to her out of line or start a problem.
“I appreciate your care and loyalty to those you rely on in this difficult time, Your Highness,” he said to me.
I blinked at him. “I have never relied on you, Elder. On the contrary, you’ve made this all more difficult on me. So please, get yourself sorted so you might be of use to me and the crown.” I turned away and led Treena towards where we were going.
While ignoring when Hardin chuffed at me again.
“So he’s the first we’re getting rid of?” Treena asked me under her breath when we were in the family residence wing and alone with our party.
“There’s a list it seems, and I’ve already managed to get a bunch of them under review, but I’m fairly sure that was Hardin’s plan.”
“How so?” Uncle Darren hedged, tension coming off of him in waves.
“Let’s get to the dining room,” I muttered, knowing there was something else to handle first. I waited until our small party was in the dining room that was sealed up with magic and more before turning and deeply bowing to one of Treena’s party.
Which shocked the shit out of Uncle Darren, Benson, and my other guards.
However, King Taryn—Treena’s father—was amused, letting out a slight chuckle. “You are as impressive as my daughter has told me, Princess. I understand the pride your father had whenever he spoke of you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, and you honor me by coming to my home,” I replied as I lifted my head.
“I’m not even going to ask how, but your senses and always noting so much—it would make me jealous if I didn’t love you,” Treena muttered. “And don’t be mad at me.”
“Not at all,” I promised as I kept King Taryn’s gaze while others now greeted him as they should.
“You love her and this isn’t easy. It wasn’t going to be easy, but now with my parents gone, you’re terrified to continue with the plan.
I understand and share your concerns. I will forever be grateful you still allowed this. ”
Benson cleared his throat. “Your Majesty, Princess Sagan doesn’t speak just pretty words. There have been adjustments to the original plan and she made it clear that we’re open to more.”
“Oh?” King Taryn hedged as he accepted the folder from Benson of what I’d worked up. He couldn’t hide his surprise but then met my gaze, hesitation in his eyes. “You will ruffle more than a few feathers with this.”
The smile I gave him was genuine even if it wasn’t much. It was all I could muster, but I hoped he knew it was a real one. “I love her too. I need her. I need… I wasn’t ready for an immediate coup and threats to only allow me to be queen if I mated four men they picked for me like I’m a mare.”
“Yes, and I doubt it’s the last way you will be pushed and tested. I experienced a lot of the same when I took over and my father simply retired when I was ready. People—you have battles in front of you.”
“What did you allow, Sagan?” Treena asked, glancing between us.
“Your private guards, not just a detail on you always, but reserves to be integrated with our security,” I told her.
“Five will work under Benson at all times with our other details plus your detail of however many you both feel keeps you safe. Also, your own staff.” I met her shocked gaze.
“I will keep you safe, Treena. You’re more than my best friend. ”
“Well done,” Darren praised. He reached over to shake the king’s hand, surprising everyone. “You’re not here officially. You’re here as a loving father and as an uncle who only cares about his niece in all of this, I hope we can be allies and keep communication open.”