Her eyes flashed shock. “Something happened.” She waited until I nodded. “With Kole. I saw him missing.”
“It’s going to be a mess,” I chuckled darkly. “And I think I’m more annoyed I have to deal with it than…”
She grabbed my hands when I was hesitant. “I know you are worried and should have every reason not to trust any of this. I know these are the worst moments of your life, but Ibeg youto have this faith in me. I promise you that my family and I will not abuse it. We are all in on your reign and being the best allies. All in.”
I searched her eyes and swore under my breath. “Bodach has more problems than we knew—than Father knew, and you need this alliance way more than you or your father let on.”
A man to my left cleared his throat and dipped his head to me. “I am not only an elite guard, Your Highness, I am the right hand of your Benson. I am Davian, and the moment you ascended to role of queen, you were to be informed. None of this was meant to be hidden.”
“Yes, we need you,” Treena admitted. “Things have taken a turn and we—our family is in trouble.” She sniffled and blinked back tears. “I’m sorry to take advantage of your tragedy, but Father used the excuse to get me out of range just in case.”
Cold fear shot through me and I turned to Davian to see the truth in his eyes. I swore a bit more than I should have but then scrubbed the back of my neck and squared off with him. “If they have ahintof a coup, you tell your king to get here.” I nodded when they all froze. “Or I will send them the location—Darren can tell them where to go.”
“You will take too much of a hit—” he started to argue.
“I don’tcare,” I chuffed. “An alliance isn’t shit if not kept and he took a risk to help me now. I won’t—you’re—this is personal.” I pointed to Treena. “Ilove her. Yes, flee here and we will protect the royal family. Mine will.”
He dropped to one knee and lowered his head to me, the others following after him. “Thank you, Your Highness. You have no idea what this means to our people. The royal family is—there is no better family to rule. King Taryn isn’t a perfect man, but he is one who acknowledges that and works to fix his faults.”
“Exactly what my father said and why he wanted peace with him,” I muttered and then sighed. “Okay, so let’s deal with my mess and crazy coming up—make it through that and then we can try—yeah, piles of everything.”
“Yes, just those few things, and whatever you’re so upset about has to be a doozy,” Treena worried.
We quickly changed to work out and then I told her about what happened… Only to realize I’d lost her and was running with two of her guards only.
In wolf form.
Fuck.
“Sorry,” I grumbled.
Oh, andthenI got a lecture from Benson on why I didn’t have my own guards.
“Forgive me, but our princess didn’t need to order us to shadow her and adjust to what she needed,” Davian interjected. “And I’ve never chastised my princess or any member of theroyal family as you are. Especially not in front of others. You do understand your role, yes?” He glanced at me then. “This is the best you have to keep you safe, Your Highness?”
“He’s completely right,” I said firmly before Benson or any of the other guards could get upset. I met Benson’s gaze and wasn’t even angry, not hiding my disappointment. “You’re acting like the elders. I get I’m not who you wanted to take over, but…” I shook my head and turned back to my run.
“Pull your head out of your ass. They were your king and queen, but they were her fucking parents,” Treena snapped at him before hurrying after me.
“Where did I lose you?” I asked. “I need to do some sprints if you’re not going to shift.”
“I have a feeling you’re going to need me to be able to talk,” she muttered, not hiding her worry.
She wasn’t wrong.
I nodded and sprinted off, shocking the dragon guards who were now with me. I flipped around when I got too far away and came back to Treena.
“Radio everyone we have a shifted dragon guard on the princess’s detail while she trains to—” one of them said.
“No,” I snarled as Treena and Davian echoed me. I continued while the guard blinked at me. “Why don’t you just announce I’m way more powerful and better trained than anyone knows? While they’re all so busy underestimating me and—this was kept a secret for areason. Please stop making decisions for me. Especially when they’re the wrong ones.”
He opened his mouth but then closed it before bowing deeply. “I apologize, Your Highness. We did do this for your father. We couldn’t keep up with him either when he was upset.”
I flinched and felt small. “I apologize. I didn’t know that.” I cleared my throat. “Sorry.”
“No, of course. I… We’ll figure out our new normal,” he said gently. “All of us.” He mimicked a fish again but then sighed. “We never wanted them to die, but none of us are upset you are who leads us next, Princess. Please, I know things are—none of us withbrainsare upset.”
Yes, well, too many didn’t have brains.
