Chapter 8
Sagan
I made it clear over and over again with each Alpha that there would be a cost for having the meeting they wanted days after my parents’ funeral. If they wanted this huge allowance against customs and protocols that could come back on me, then there were things I expected in return.
They all immediately agreed, assuming I would use it to smack the elders in place.
Yes, but that wasn’t all.
Fools.
Saturday morning, the main players of the royal family were on the same page—for once—and with a determination maybe never seen before. No matter our differences or even grabs for power, we all agreed on something very, very important.
We were not livestock to be traded for breeding and the elders had gone way too fucking far this time.
If they would do it to me, they would try it on any of us like nothing.
Even my cousins were clear that this was handled decisively and they were all in so they weren’t sold off to some noble in another country for a bullshit treaty.
I promised them that would never happen as long as I was queen. If they lent me their support now, I would take the hit and give the Alphas what they wanted, but I wanted the elders cut off at the knees.
So we were ready to throw down big time.
And there were enough of us that when we put our focus on one task to save our asses, we could actually get a lot done. The ballroom was set up for a massive conference while making it clear who was in charge and the hosts.
It had taken a bit to arrange since we had round party tables that were polite and inviting—always enchanting with whatever decorations for the appropriate celebration. This was a time for rectangular tables.
One per Alpha and whoever he allowed at his “seat” with him. So seventeen facing the several we had as the royal family. Mine was front and center with Uncle Darren on my right, Uncle Fraser and Aunt Maple on my left showing solidarity.
And to the horror of the elders, they were banished to tables off to either side of the center where the Alphas were clearly the focus… And with squads of guards all around them.
Nameplates were at the tables, one seat per elder, and the Alphas were warned they could bring three guests. That was it.
And it wasn’t open for debate.
It certainly wasn’t the time to test me given what they’d demanded of me.
Luckily, they heeded the advice.
“Before we get started, I want to make it clear that I’m disappointed in every leader in this room,” Uncle Darren said as he stood, and I had to do my best to school my reaction.
Because that was far from the opening we’d discussed.
“All of you were selfish,” he chastised.
“It’s not even a week. Not even a week since—” His voice cracked and he looked away from them.
He chuffed a few times and then focused back on them.
“You lost your king and queen, but she lost her parents.
Shame on you. Shame on all of you for being selfish and pushing your agenda for your convenience after what the elders pulled.
“We are better than this. You should be better than this as leaders of Thovudin.
Be better from this moment forward or so help me, everyone who sits up here with Sagan—we will scorch the ground around her.
We are united in this because what happened from the moment my sister and her mate died is unacceptable. All of it.
“So accept your part in that, accept you were selfish, and don’t be again.
It was noted and won’t be forgotten but try to fix it.
You saw a slight in the elders’ coup attempt that your family wasn’t chosen instead of rallying to shut it all down completely.
I’m disgusted. Sagan is willing to handle it differently to move forward and for the sake of the nation.
“Personally, I wouldn’t. I would let you all fry and let everything burn—let the people find out and—do better, because if you don’t, I will have my way and protect my niece.
She will become your queen, but she is our family.
Never forget that again because she’s not unloved or unprotected just because her parents are gone. ”
“Hear, hear,” my family said loudly… Along with a few others like Treena.
Yeah, she was basically family after all.
“On that note, if any elder says anything against the explicit orders of Princess Sagan, they are to be removed and placed on leave for a month,” Uncle Darren announced…
Which was how the meeting was to start. He nodded to a few people who started passing out folders to each Alpha.
“Given all of them were involved in or had knowledge of—”
“The lamest coup attempt ever?” Aunt Maple drawled.
“Mating her off to pawns they would control and puppet her, I believe several said.” She glanced over at the elders.
“You didn’t even try to hide it. You’re all disgusting.
” She smirked when a few stood. “Please, tell me to be quiet. Prove my point that you will never respect Sagan or any woman of this family.”
She really knew how to push the right buttons, but they got themselves under control and sat back down.
“The proof is all there and we have more,” Darren continued. “The castle has excellent security and we control it. Everyone should remember that going forward. Always.”
Uncle Fraser went off-script as well and stood. “We fully support the changes Sagan will be making going forward—changes that revert back to—staying in the castle is a privilege, not a given. This is our family castle, her home, not a government building.”
“Yes, we couldn’t stay in the royal suites because they were occupied, and when we brought it up, we were called a variety of names including spoiled,” Aunt Maple practically purred.
“Funny since all of the elders have residences in Nerthus. It’s required that they have a residence in the capital since they come from all different territories. ”
“And why would we when this is our family home?” Fraser took back over.
“So yes, we support Sagan’s decision to revert back to certain traditions after the elders ridiculously abused the privilege our brother allowed them.
Planned to abuse her, joking they could with such easy access to her and it would be no problem to puppet her mates as well. ”
It was a fairly good mic-drop moment, especially given how many of the Alphas were already combing transcripts and more.
I opened my mouth to take over the meeting and thank my family for the support, but the Alpha of Jade Creek was faster.
“What we witnessed of the crimes they committed against Princess Sagan was beyond upsetting and I think we all agree that our eyes were opened. Clearly, there has been too much corruption festering under the surface during good times and fat cats need to be checked—took off their masks when they saw the chance.”
It was a relief that many agreed.
“However, it was also upsetting that they were so certain their choices would fall in line. It didn’t seem random or as innocent as—I’m not pointing fingers, but I’m—”
“It sounds like you are,” one of the Alphas who had a family member chosen by the elders snapped. “My son is just as young as Sagan. That’s the only reason they picked him.”
Bullshit. That could be what he said—maybe even believed—but his son was a dog who would do just about anything for power.
I watched as the Alphas argued about how far the elders took things but also that people named weren’t as innocent as they said.
I had warned those with me to stay quiet and let this play out.
I could hear a few of them chuffing at how I was being talked about like I wasn’t even there, but I kept calm, more than ready for this.
It went on and on, several making it clear that if the elders behaved like this, assumed I was too young and would be easily controlled, so would others. And that was dangerous.
Sure it was.
Oh, sure, that was their reasoning and not that they wanted their family member mated into the royal family. They weren’t selfish for the perks about it.
It went on a good twenty minutes before someone chuckled and then several Alphas went quiet. There were some shared looks and then a few more chuckles or snorts before one near the middle, the Alpha of Selka, stood and dipped his head to me.
“I apologize, Your Highness. Nothing about this is funny, but you are truly your father’s daughter. Some of us finally realized you were doing exactly what he did many times. Especially the first time he met with all of the ruling Alphas.”
“Oh? Do tell,” I inquired as I raised an eyebrow.
The Alpha of Duskridge snorted and stood. “He sat there and let some of us—or our fathers—argue and tire ourselves out so we could have an intelligent conversation instead of one full of pride or bluster.”
“Can there be any sort of intelligent conversation from what all was just said?” I purred as I tapped my finger on the table.
“Really? You think so?” I chuckled darkly as a few Alphas exchanged looks.
“Talking about me as if I’m a whore or broodmare?
You think anything intelligent can come from that? ”
The Alpha of Duskridge cleared his throat. “Yes, well, we went—”
“Yes, you all did, and clearly it wasn’t even remotely like the first conversation you or your fathers had with mine. And more importantly, you all just went off on your own when this meeting wasn’t even called about this topic,” I informed them, smirking when the tension shot up.
A different Alpha coughed and stood. “We all agreed that matters shouldn’t be left alone no matter the situation and—”
“Of course not, but my mating and your greed to have your bloodline be the next king wasn’t ever what I was talking about, Alpha,” I informed them, pulling the rug out from under all of them.
“I’m sorry you had your assumptions, but I didn’t say that, did I?
” It was hard not to snicker when several mouths fell open. “Sit.”