Then we told them how I’d made a deal with Treena’s father. I’d also made another one with the royal family where the plane went down and they lied to a few of the elders that the wreckage was cleaned up. Some of it wasn’t going to be that useful, but they salvaged what they could.
“I will handle that,” Fraser said firmly, shaking his head when Darren argued. “Everyonewill be tracking you now that you’re her advisor and they’re pissed she has another ally. Let us help.”
“Why so you can try to be regent?” Darren pushed, crossing his arms over his chest when Maple snorted.
Fraser opened his mouth but then closed it and looked at me. “I’m sorry. Truly, Sagan.”
He let out a shaky breath and then turned away, but not before we saw him wiping his eyes. He moved deeper into the tomb and he stopped by his parents who I had never met.
Fraser reached out and touched the etched name of his father.
“He didn’t mean it,” Maple defended as he went over there. “You don’t understand how—Father was complicated. I know you haven’t had—your relationship with your parents wasn’t close, but ours was sometimes brutal. I was a prize to be traded and mated off. Fraser was the backup plan. It was—it wasn’t healthy.”
“No, but I’m not a kid anymore and they’ve been dead for…” He turned to me. “I’m sorry. I’m on your side even if I’ll say stupid shit and still fall back into that—my brother was never supposed to die. I listened to stupid and fell into—I felt—I’m sorry, Sagan. Whatever you want to do to look into your parents’ death, I’m with you and will handle it.”
That was the general consensus and really helped me in that moment. I didn’t know if I completely trusted what UncleFraser said about his comments or if he just felt guilty after the funeral, but I wanted to hope he was being honest with me.
I simply had too much else going on for me to be able to tell right then.
That brief moment of feeling like things weren’t so bad was overshadowed by what came next. Too many were using the grand feast to give me fake condolences but mostly to get at me first. The looks I gave several Alpha Mates or Alpha family members should have made wiser people freeze in their tracks.
But these people didn’t know me well enough to realize I wasn’t prey.
That will change. Fast.
However, the stress of it was too much for me—for anyone. Elder families trying even more, like making it clear that Ineededto let go the elders I had locked up. One had the audacity to try and grab me when I finally turned from the conversation.
I moved faster than he or anyone else was ready for, blocking his wrist and pinning him against the wall. “You ever think to lay a hand on me, anyone in my castle, or service ever again, and it will be your last moments.Clearly, you have inherited your father’s sexism where you think women are beneath you, but I amheirof this nation.
“You ride your father’s coattails like you’ve accomplished anything and I actually have. So demand one more thing from me,instruct meon my dutyone more time, and I will make sure that not even a barista will take your order. As for your father, he will pay the price for what he did just as the others have. The fact you did this at the funeral feast—have you no shame?”
I let him go and stepped back. He tried to move as well and play off that nothing happened, which annoyed me, and I shoved him into the wall again, making it clear he better stay there… Or he might go out the window next to it.
“Ban him from the castle and any court events for the next month,” I told Benson when I felt him next to me. “The whole family if there is not a formal apology by morning for this ghastly and uncouth behavior. I seriously wonder what the elder has been teaching his family if they think they are above the royal family.”
“Nothing useful it seems,” Aunt Maple purred. “I will handle it, my darling niece.”
That shocked me, but I didn’t show it. “Of course.” I met her gaze and let everyone watching see the moment. “I trust you will always protect our family and the memory of my father.”
She dipped her head to me and I turned away, needing a moment before I took things too far.
Farther than I already had which was a bit much.However, all of it had been too much already. People were not acting rationally and… I needed a moment.
Heat started to creep up my sides and I was instantly annoyed. We were better than letting stress affect us like this. We weren’t anyone normal and could let ourselves be swept away by the needs and whims of our dragons.
Fine, dragons were creatures of instinct and stress was meant to be let out. If we didn’t… Our dragons would force our hand so to speak. Sometimes it just randomly happened or dragons could find each other attractive in a way their people didn’t.
And they took matters into their own hands.
No, I didn’t expect others to understand it. They couldn’t when they didn’t share their bodies. They didn’t transform into massive fucking beasts.
So yeah, there were some things we could never explain to others—other shifters even. We were all different.
But since I hadn’t let out my stress earlier, the decision was being made for me and I was going into heat. Fine, just… Fine.
I internally smirked and decided to go find Kole. We were so annoyed with him that one look at the idiot and the heat would absolutely cool off.
Except I couldn’t find him. He wasn’t at the feast.
