Chapter 20
Benson
Onyx had Sagan and I wanted to bash his face in. Hearing he’d gone to her room and then came out demanding why security wasn’t better to protect her left me with only one thought.
He slept with her. He’s had her.
And I hated him. I wanted to break him into a million pieces just like that fucking little shit Kole.
But Onyx Conley wasn’t some brat like his nephew. He was a driven Alpha dragon who would be overbearing and could be a serious problem for Sagan given how young and na?ve she was.
And she had enough fucking problems including his nephew.
“Why don’t you handle your nephew who won’t allow our princess to end their relationship, is embarrassing your family at every turn, and is refusing to leave the castle with threats to go to the media?” I threw right back.
“I will handle all of that, but it doesn’t change the fact the future queen should be in a better room,” he said firmly.
“And better guards posted at the residence wing since they had trouble keeping up with me.” He moved closer and jabbed his finger in my chest. “The elders weren’t the only ones who got lazy under Rhys.
You know it will be different protecting a woman ruler with more threats. ”
I smacked his hand away. “I know that. I know that, but I also know the elders bought a lot more of my people than I knew. We’re on a hiring freeze because of those issues and I don’t have the budget for training…” I swore under my breath realizing I shouldn’t have told him any of that.
“No, you shouldn’t have,” he grumbled in agreement, realizing where my head was before turning away. He chilled when he understood that I wasn’t being as neglectful as he’d thought, but I still shouldn’t have let him see the cracks in our protection or any of it.
Yeah, we needed a complete overhaul of the royal family’s protection.
And like yesterday. Great.
I wasn’t surprised when Darren came at me next and I could tell him what I’d found. He was horrified and said the priority over everything else was figuring this out even if we locked down the castle and kicked everyone out.
“No, Benson, you keep Sagan alive. Nothing else matters.” He shot me a disgusted look when I tried to argue with him how that would look.
“Maybe stop spending so much time trying to deny how you feel for her and actually act like you care about her. Or are you so fucked up that letting people think you’re detached from your feelings is most important? ”
I swallowed loudly, hating how easily he’d busted me. I gave a swift nod but was still at a loss on how to handle all of this.
You only got your job because it was Father’s and he died protecting Princess Maple. You’re completely incompetent.
The next morning, I felt even smaller when I witnessed exactly what Sagan had told me… Namely, Elira dropped her mask when there wasn’t an audience.
“I heard the high priest is planning to go on the record and say everything in your interview was lies,” she mocked as I hurried to catch up with Sagan.
Elira couldn’t see me, so I not only stopped but decided to record from where I was ducked off to the side. This was a blind spot in the security cameras… And I had a feeling that was intentional.
“That he plans to have weekly meetings with all your prospects to make sure their relationship with the gods is on the right path and you’re not leading them astray like a whore since your parents aren’t here anymore to keep you in line,” Elira continued when Sagan didn’t rise to the bait.
I was dying to know her reaction but couldn’t see since her back was to me.
“Oh, and did you learn this from his bed? Is that why he’s so obsessed with you?”
Elira giggled. “People like me, Sagan. Don’t be jealous.”
Sagan gave an elegant snort. “I could never be when they like your act, but I notice you don’t deny it.” She held up a hand to Elira. “It’s fine, I already busted him and he said there was nothing wrong with having a relationship with my adopted sister since you didn’t actually have royal blood.”
“He told you?” Elira hissed. “He actually blabbed? Seriously, can no one be trusted?”
Sagan shook her head. “Oh, the hypocrisy of that statement coming from you is unreal. Whatever, it’s not going to happen, Elira.
Leave with grace or you will leave in disgrace.
Don’t force my hand and ruin the goodwill you still have here with some.
” She didn’t flinch when Elira chuffed and stepped closer, towering over Sagan.
“I’m not going anywhere, and you will make me at least an aide, Sagan. People are beyond pissed that you gave my position to a tiger from a mafia family.”
“Take a step back and stay civil or I will make you,” Sagan warned, her voice cold.
It worked and Elira caved, knowing if it got physical with Sagan, it would still cause trouble for her.
“The position was never yours. It’s not one you had with Mother and I took.
You—this is done, Elira. And I would trust Myriam.
“I would trust her and her integrity to have complete access to the vaults. I don’t trust you to handle anything not under Raquel’s watchful eyes.
You’re a liar and a snake.” She stepped into Elira and made the bigger dragon back up.
“And you of all people don’t get to judge the parents of others, savvy? You might have been an orphan but—”
“Shut your mouth,” Elira growled.
“Or what?” Sagan chuckled darkly. “You going to go sleep with someone else to get them on your side and against me? Bully for you. Please do.” She went to step around Elira but turned with a smirk on her face.
“You’re unraveling, Elira. More people are seeing what I have since I first met you.
Please, keep with the games. I’ll still win. I always do, even the long games.”
She walked off laughing and I swallowed loudly at the ugly, twisted face of rage that Elira made as she watched Sagan go. Her gaze was full of murder and everything evil.
She let out a wordless shout and then stomped towards me. I barely had enough time to duck into an alcove, and honestly I was completely exposed except Elira was too distracted with her own upset.
I was shaken to my core and realized I owed Sagan an apology like I couldn’t ever give her.
No, but you can finally start helping her the way she needs.
I had been trying to catch up with Sagan before the meeting we were attending, but instead I went to Raquel and showed her the video. I felt better when her face went pale and she was as upset as I was.
“We are such fools,” she whispered. “I believed her.” She shook herself. “I saw…”
“I started to see the cracks too,” I admitted. “I thought it was stress and grief and how many changes were being thrown at her now that Sagan was home. I thought they just—” I swallowed loudly.
“You thought Sagan really pushed Elira as a child.” Raquel didn’t make me say it but nodded, letting out a heavy sigh.
“I did too, but I forgave her. Her parents sent her away and were so cold to her but then took in these strange children always to help them have better lives. It was—I would have acted out as well. One small push can go wrong, and I thought that was all it was.”
“Me too. We were wrong.”
“Sleeping with the high priest to turn him against Sagan is unforgivable,” Raquel whispered. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “It just happened. Do better to start.”
She nodded. “Yes, and start freezing out Elira. Clearly, we’re part of the problem having helped that snake.”
Clearly, we were.
We went to the meeting and the hair on the back of my neck stood up when Sagan was focused on the castle’s budgets and several matters of money. Darren and Myriam were locked in on the conversation as well and Treena looked annoyed that she wasn’t included.
Could the royal family really be having financial trouble?
Raquel clearly knew something as well because she shot me a look and then immediately jumped in. “Thank you for letting me know you wanted to discuss this before the meeting so I had time to prepare.”
Sagan’s eyes flashed hurt before she schooled it. “Of course. I would never put someone on the spot or try to undermine you, Raquel. I trust you to manage everything and know you can handle the changes.”
“Yes, of course, but everyone likes to be prepared, so now I have some options, and you can let me know what steps you’d like me to take next, Your Highness,” Raquel hurried to explain.
But the damage was done. Sagan’s shoulders were stiff as if she was sitting in front of an adversary instead of someone who should be on her team.
And we were all supposed to be on her fucking team.
Raquel was focusing on cutting costs mostly through the menu. No more lavish, rich ingredients, every meal to spoil pompous elders. The castle could have normal meals and cut corners by buying bulk ingredients just like any other large household.
“It’s how our compound is run,” Myriam agreed. “We have huge freezers like garages in the basement and buy like six cows or whatever at a time. It’s honestly an amazing dance and the planning is ridiculous.”
“Yes, that is the change we would convert to unless for state functions where we have the outside catering help,” Raquel agreed.
“Good, we also want to discuss adjusting staffing roles,” Myriam told her. Glancing at Sagan but then seeming resigned to handling it after what happened earlier. “This isn’t a slight, but it’s well known even in other nations that the butlers of the royal family are the elite and—”
“The female castle staff are just maids, yes, I’m well aware,” Raquel said, her tone bitter.
“Sagan was clear she wants to change that image, and now that there won’t be a need for fifty female staff to jump constantly for the elders, we want…” She cleared her throat and made it clear Sagan should take over.