Amusement danced in her eyes as she tried to curb a smirk. “Many years ago. My first where a sexist administration tried to embarrass a young princess who didn’t attend their university. I was too nervous to remember it was Onyx Conley, but I did remember him and how kind he was to me that day.”
I blinked at her a moment, shocked she was revealing that much. “So there’s a chance at a connection there?”
She snorted. “I’m giving everyone the consideration they deserve. I’m also not going to hide—I’m annoyed how many are saying it’s a pity I couldn’t look past Kole’smistakeand now their candidate is Onyx Conley. Kole didn’tfallonto the woman threatening me and sleeping with the former high priest to manipulate him into hurting me.
“Or thedozensof others coming forward who thought we had an ‘understanding.’ It’s ridiculous that Onyx isonlythe Alpha’s brother and a lesser candidate.” She snorted. “He’s an accomplished scholar who made his own way independent of the Conley name while Kole struggled through school, but I thought him charming once.
“Know that I know the truth now and I just didn’t care enough to get to know Kole and see all the piles of red flags.Like him running his mouth that I’ll regret how I treated him if I getstuckwith Onyx. The man who gives me gorgeous flowers? Supports me and doesn’t emotionally abuse me? Asks what I need and how he can help me every time I look at my phone?”
I could have been pushed over by a feather when I realized she had feelings for Onyx and all of this stemmed from her defendinghiminstead of herself. I thought she was finally standing up for herself.
No. She was standing up forhim.
Wow.
And damn, she was loyal.
“He’s a giant inseveralfields and handling a major issue with a country we’re rebuilding a relationship with that the former elders intentionally destroyed. While Kole planned on leaking secrets to the press to manipulate me that I wasn’t safe in my own castle. Threw fits—there’s no comparison between them and Kole does not come out on top.
“Ever.” She let out a slow breath and adjusted how she sat. “Honestly, I regret letting the relationship go on as long as I did. It was easy and I thought shielded me from certain rumors—constantly being hounded by people who wanted to be prince. I thought it a good match. I wish my father had told me sooner that he knew of Kole’s cheating and had tried to break it off with—”
“I’m sorry for interrupting, Your Majesty, but did you say that King Rhys knew of Kole’s infidelity?”
The briefest flash of victory was in her eyes before it was gone. She’d wanted that to “slip” out. She was throwing down and ending this.
Sagan De la Rosa wasn’t someone to be messed with. That was for damn sure.
Or the people she cared about. She was furious about Kole Conley being recorded and his rant. Good, it had been disgustingand honestly, Alpha Vex needed to handle him or Applerest was screwed.
“Apparently,” she sighed. “I didn’t know. I found the proof and files—the communication with Alpha Vex that he wanted the relationship to end and to discuss it. Obviously, thekinghad more important issues, but—people need to stop speaking on things they don’t know, especially with such certainty.
“My father never supported the relationship. He wanted it ended. It wasn’t a setup of our parents or a match. It was basically a joke with my friend that I never accepted anyone and I promised I would the next person who asked. He did. Heseemednice and from an ally family, so that seemed safe for my first relationship.
“And instead of people being kind about it—it’s all disgusting. I’m judged no matter what I do. I was judged for not dating and being a dorky prude. I accept someone and it’s my fault he cheats because I’m not pretty enough for him. I just…” She let out a slow breath. “I’m very disappointed with the people of Thovudin. I thought we were better than this.”
“I wish we were too,” I muttered, shocked at what else she’d just admitted publicly. Kole Conley was going to explode. This was going to get messy and… Actually, I didn’t know how it could get any messier, but evidently the queen was done being quiet about it.
“But yes, given I work well with Onyx and Joris, people were upset they are getting an unfair advantage,” she said, bringing us back around. “So while I’m barely sleeping to handle massive corruption and keeping the nation going during this huge transition while the world is watching, I’m now having every meal be an introduction to candidates I didn’t have input on.”
Princess Treena coughed like she was trying not to groan or just maybe signal for Sagan to chill out already. I wasn’t sure but… Wow.
Yeah, this was juicy all right.
“Hopefully, once they’re all out of the way, the candidates can start being as useful as Onyx and Joris,” I said, not sure what else to say. It wasn’t like this was my type of news either. I was—I wasn’t a gossip or an entertainment reporter for fuck’s sake.
“That is the hope so I can figure out which one of them—if any—is the right mate for me,” she said, sounding more tired than dismissive.
But I immediately locked in on what she said that would raise eyebrows. “One? I thought the expectation was several?”
She raised her eyebrow at me, which was amusing given my earlier thought. “People can expect the sky to turn green during rain, but that doesn’t mean it will happen.Ihave never said I will mate multiple men. The elders tried to force me to and control me. Others now assume that will be the outcome. You know what they say when people assume things.”
I snickered and heard it echoed, so someone else had as well. “Fair, but it’s not unheard of. I think people are hoping—”
“It’s not unheard of, but Thovudin is too sexist for me to consider it,” she said flatly, that eyebrow still up when I opened my mouth. “Be honest. It’s always men who are—Alphas who have multiple mates are praised for continuing the bloodline and realizing how important the stability of their area is.
“How gross is it that they’re like stud horses only around to procreate because of their stronger genes is a conversation for another day. But that’s what’s said as if we don’t mate for love. What is said when it’s awoman?” She snorted when I flinched. “Yes, she’s greedy to take so many men. She’s a whore and too lustful and—unsavory things, right?”
“From what I’ve heard, but I would think—”
