“Oh no, we’re not hiding behind that formality. You called apress conferenceandlied about me. You could have saved face a hundred ways, but you did it in a way that made me look bad. Intentionally. We’re fighting this out because you idiots only see a woman and not a leader. Well, I tried being nice. Now you’ll see that you should fear me like Father.”
“So be it,” he practically spat and stomped towards me.
I easily dodged his first shot and took out his legs. I punched his face in a way that would make him practically taste his nose and was meant to hurt as he got back up. I kept dodging him and taking my time smacking him around while making it clear I wasn’t even winded.
In the end, he was bleeding and done.
“Never forget this moment,” I warned him as I grabbed his hair. “I’m not a woman you can mess with, Alpha. I’m Queen Sagan De la Rosa, daughter of Rhys and descendant of the first king of Thovudin. Respect that and obey me in the future or I willbreak youwith a smile.”
I kneed him in the face and he was out before his body even slumped over.
“I think your point is made from what I’m scenting,” Treena gloated, snickering when all of her guards nodded.
I glanced at her. “Who else was on the list? Who else told the media lies to cover their own asses instead of handling the situation with grace?”
“Aren’t you supposed to fight him in all three forms?” Treena checked as she pulled something up on her phone.
I glanced from her to the unconscious Alpha. “Think he’ll cry if a tiny dragon woman breaks him that bad?”
“Would be fun to see,” she answered easily before listing the two other names.
And yes, I beat them too. Much to the shock of everyone there besides Uncle Darren and Benson.
I was looking around at everyone and saw Kole through the windows of another room. I snorted at the stupid gobsmacked look on his face.
“Things we willnotsay in the future no matter what discourse is happening or disagreements we have as leaders,” I said loudly to the Alphas.
“Wait, let me record this to send to the unconscious ones later,” Myriam muttered.
“Do they need medical treatment, Your Majesty?” one of Treena’s guards worried.
“It’s not allowed,” another of the Alphas said firmly. “They were allowed to tap out at any time and beg forgiveness. Their pride led to this.”
I did a double take. “I didn’t actually know that. I just wanted to make it hurt so I only had to give this lesson once.”
The Alpha met my gaze and couldn’t hide how impressed he was. “Oh, I’d said we all learned something very important, Your Majesty.”
“I’m very glad. I’m just sorry it had to come to violence instead of being more evolved dragons.” I left it at that and glanced around once Myriam showed me she was recording. “We are not beingsexistin our statements. I’m not emotional or blowing things out of proportion. Myhormonesdon’t impede me. Ever.”
I stared down every Alpha in turn, making it clear I was challenging them… Or daring them to challenge me really.
“Anything you wouldn’t say abouteach otheris off the table for me,” I continued as I moved closer to them. “You would never call another Alpha sensitive oroverwhelmed. That would be seen as a direct challenge.” I pointed to the unconscious dragons. “It is here now too. Am I clear this time? Did I make it through your thick skulls?”
They nodded while several shared looks as if trying to see how others felt or maybe they wondered if this was a fever dream? Who knew the minds of idiots—men?
“Good, because if I have to make this point again, I will cripple your dragon when we fight in that form,” I warned them, my voice cold.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, and I don’t want to break your understandable rule about comparing you to your father but…” the Alpha of Goldenbarrow hedged.
I raised an eyebrow. “He wouldn’t have taken it this far?” I waited until most nodded. “He didn’t have to.Believe me, hewould have if any of you had pulled this with him.” I smirked when they didn’t seem like they would accept that. “Who do you think taught me this?” I snorted and walked back inside ignoring their shock.
“How are you not sweating buckets wearing that jacket in this August heat?” Treena asked me. She did a double take at whatever she sensed from me. “This is ridiculous. Take it off. You’re—so help me—we’re redoing your wardrobe too.”
I tried to get her to leave it be, but I knew she was at her limit.
She squared off with me when we reached our seats. She gestured towards the tables and where the Alphas were sitting. “They will sexualize you and demean you no matter what you wear, Sagan. Stop letting them win. Not on this. You are—I’m jealous how much more prepared you are than I am. How much better you are than me.”
“What?” I gasped, not even able to wrap my mind around what she was saying.
