The high priest immediately kicked up a fuss that I was too much trouble and had a lot to say about what I’d done. That shocked a lot because if anyone should be for justice it was thetemple. I had only one response.
“Think their heads would explode if I replaced him the same day?”
“Let’s wait until tomorrow, Your Majesty,” Lydia mumbled. She was sticking extra close to me since Benson was overseeing things at the main police station.
I frowned when Treena was pacing and clearly waiting for me. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing officially,” she said with a sigh. “Father just warned Davian and me that things got—to be on alert. There’s a new credible threat.”
I had my phone out before she even finished.
“You did well,” Uncle Fraser praised. “Bold and commanding. I saw Rhys and—I’m sorry you’re going through this, but you did well.”
“Thank you, truly, but I’m calling for your help,” I told him, waving off Treena.
“What do you need?”
“I can’t tell you much, but it’s time to make clear our personal relationship with the royal family of Bodach is strong,” I said quietly as I hurried to a place with less ears. “I want to make it public they helped us find out what really happened. Is there—I hate to ask this, but is there like a pair of cufflinks you gave Father or something smaller like that you could gift him personally?”
He was quiet several moments but then chuffed. “They’re under threat and hiding it? Did he send Treena there so she’s safe?”
“I don’t know all the details yet because I’m drowning, but they did warn me before I became queen,” I told him. “Darren was here and the king snuck in and personally came when she did.”
“Good father,” he praised. “I’ll handle it. Give me to Treena and—” He cleared his throat and then his voice cracked when he talked again. “And then I need Raquel. She’ll know exactly where to find it. It’s a pin—I don’t think Rhys even liked it. He only wore it once to be polite, but it still gives the intended meaning you want.”
“Thank you, Fraser. Really.”
“Always, Sagan. She’s your sister even if you’re not blood,” he said gently but then cleared his throat. “Thanks for trusting me with this.”
I wasn’t going to say “always” back, but… He’d been pulling through with his promises. I was trying to move past his stupid when my parents had died. I really was, but nothing was easy.
I handed my phone to Treena and accepted her hug before she hurried to handle what was going on in her crazy world before moving on to what was next in my day. She brought it back to me later and was smug instead of relieved.
I flushed when I saw why and there were text messages from Onyx saying he’d never been so turned on before as he had beenwatching me at the press conference. That I was gorgeous and commanding, the queen our nation needed, and he was ready to serve me.
However I needed.
Yes, even I heard the sexual undertone there.
Raquel handled everything and even sent one of the staff to fly out to meet up with Fraser to get him the pin. Good, even better. It would take time to arrange everything, but at least he wasn’t stuck going back and forth on planes.
Right before dinner one of the guards came towards me smiling with a large arrangement of flowers. “They’ve been cleared, Your Majesty.”
“Lovely,” I said, not sure what it had to do with me.
“He seriously never bothered to even send you flowers?” Treena practically snarled, catching on to something I didn’t.
Then it hit me. The flowers were forme. I flinched and cleared my throat. “I’m not sure—I don’t know the royal protocol on that.”
“You send your lover flowers no matter their rank,” she grumbled as she snatched the card from it and handed it over. “Going forward, make sure only Lydia or Raquel checks any messages for the queen. That’s how it’s done for the women in our castle. We designate the ones who check.”
He dipped his head to Treena. “Lydia did handle it and I was to ask the queen, but thank you for always checking she is treated well, Your Highness. Many of us working for the queen are glad you’re here to advise and protect her.”
“I know,” Treena said easily, giving me a wink.
Because I hadn’t, but it was nice to hear. It really was.
I thanked them both and opened the card.
