“Would he be laughing if he knew what you’re probably referring to?” Treena asked, shooting me an amused look.
I gave her one back. “I didn’t actually think ofoneinstance. How many timesa daydo you see men step over the line or act stupid? They want the otherfourteenhere now and that’s a lot of testosterone. One will try to steamroll Velle and—remind her breaking my castle isn’t allowed.”
Treena rubbed her temples. “Where are we on hiring you healers? I need the tonics we have at our castle.”
“Think your father would send some via courier until we have someone trusted?” I threw right back.
We both snorted. I wanted some too, but after it was confirmed I’d been drugged at my parent’s funeral feast… Yeah, I was hesitant.
Funny, right?
While none argued, they were all confident thattheirfamily member would be just fine. They would know how to behave.
“We need like an orientation rundown put together first because—we just do,” I told them. “And they’ll have to accept guest rooms and construction for now. No fits. If you want this then—everyone grow up.”
“That’s a bit…” one of the Alphas hedged.
I sighed. “I’m not even picking on Onyx, but even he snuck into our libraries that are off limits. Others broke protocol when I went to fly. Men misbehave, Alpha.”
“But are also curious about their future home,” Darren said easily to smooth over my short comments. “Thorn was poking around and it was rooms he could but—curiosity. There aren’t maps for the castle intentionally, but a rough one drawn up of what is off limits is smart. Going over that people need to run everything through her aide, Velle, no matter their rank.”
“I cannot have seventeen men demand my time without order while running a nation,” I spelled out.
Before the chaos started, Ayao caught me at breakfast and asked to get involved in the updates to the planes, runways—all of it. And by be “involved,” he made it clear he should be in charge of it like Onyx was handling his project and Joris his with replacing the high priest. And apparently, pushing to review other head priests at temples.
“I’m sorry, but I looked over your resume and you have absolutely no experience to be involved,” I said bluntly, still annoyed with him. I ignored when his uncle and a few others choked or coughed to cover up their reactions. “We can discuss another project that—”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but that’s rather dismissive of you,” he cut in, trying to curb his reaction and doing a bad job of it.
“His education and job experience would make him a good project manager,” Darren muttered as he looked over something else. “He said it like a twit and wanted the authority to make decisions like an engineer would, which only you should approve. However, if he’s good, he’ll coordinate with all the moving parts and keep them on task.”
I glanced over at him. “Makes sense, but if he’s not? Wouldn’t that delay my safety and our needed ability to fly in and out of the castle compound?”
The look Darren gave me said it all.
“I am good, Your Majesty,” Ayao said as he tried to hand me something. “This is a timeline from a different repaving project that should keep them in line and—the tigers helping are annoyed that the dragons are annoyed. They want their own people brought in and not ‘outsourcing’ jobs dragons could have.”
Darren wiped his mouth and came over to us, checking with me first and taking the folder. He flipped through it and nodded. “This is good and he’s right. Michele said the same and I was going to bring it up.” He focused on Ayao. “How would you start with the situation?”
“Start asking for other bids and timelines and let them know I am,” he answered immediately.
Darren chuckled and handed me the folder. “Cunning. My advice would be to give him a week and see what he can pull off. A week won’t delay you too badly since he won’t have authority to fire anyone, but it could gain you time if he’s good.”
I flipped through what Ayao prepared and was impressed as well. I met his gaze and nodded. “I didn’t mean to be dismissive. I would have thought an engineer would have been requiredfor this sort of thing even managing the pieces. Joris is heavily involved in the temples. It’s Onyx’s field. You’renotin aviation.”
The tension in his shoulders eased. “Fair. Thank you for explaining. Yes, I would prefer a different area, but as you said, it’s pressing for you and I do have a few ins at engineering firms. I can help. I know I can.”
I handed back the folder. “A week then. Thank you.”
Honestly, I hoped he pulled it off just so Darren and the others helping me could stop flying in and out of Nerthus’s airport instead of the extra secure and amazing landing strip I should have. Otherwise, I wanted Ayao to… Lots of things and most of them petty.
Could anyone really blame me?
19
Sagan
I know most people enjoyed being right—and I did most times too… But sometimes I wanted to be wrong just so my life was easier.
