Page 28 of Queens Will Play

I motioned to one of my guards and he silently walked over and gagged him. I stared at the two counsels who both looked like they’d rather be anywhere but standing here in front of me.

“All right. Since we have a guilty plea, I’m going to make this simple,” I said. “I will not tolerate violence against the innocent in my court. And this will be the precedent for all future cases. No more plea deals for violent crimes, at least not ones where the accused walks free without any real punishment. And your father can bitch all he wants to me. I’m the queen and I rule this court,” I said, looking at Raphien.

“Your Majesty,” Althia said, hesitantly, but she stopped when I gave her a warning look.

“Raphien, I sentence you to ten years in the dungeons. You’ll be put on work detail with maximum supervision. You’ll also pay the girl in question twenty-five thousand dollars blood money, given you sexually assaulted her. Althia, make a note that once she heals up, she now belongs to my personal staff. Raphien, if you or your family seek revenge on her, you will find yourself spending your life behind bars, and if your family is found to be involved, I’m stripping you all of your titles.”

I sat back. “And gentlemen, tell your fellow counsels that they’re under orders, as well. Any future plea deals for violent crimes are to be run past me first. That’s it, I have spoken. Take him away.” As I sat back, my guards grabbed hold of Raphien and dragged him out of the court. If looks could kill, I’d be dead a dozen times over.

After taking care of that, I dismissed court and asked Anthia to meet me in my private office. She followed me, along with my bodyguards.

Once we were both seated, I turned on her. “What the hell is going on? We let rapists wander around free while the victim is shunted to the side? How long has this been going on?”

She cringed. “I thought you would approve—Queen Morgaine always did. If they’re nobility, we look the other way to keep the peace.”

I stared at her, unable to speak. I had no clue that the court had descended to this level. Morgaine had always been a little shady but this? I had no idea this sort of crap was going on.

“That era’s over,” I said. “You understand me? I want to speak to ever counselor we have. Set up a meeting for 9:00 AM next Wednesday, and attendance is required. Tell them to be there, or be out of a job.”

As she jotted down notes, I continued. “Do you really agree with this policy? I need to know, now.” Althia was good at her job, but she wasn’t irreplaceable. And I wasn’t about to have someone with such questionable ethics on my staff.

She cleared her throat and put down her pen. “Your Majesty, I’m pragmatic⁠—”

“Not if you agree with that mindset. It might keep the peace, but that excuse can be used for a multitude of atrocities. Back in Otherworld, we had a queen who lived her life in hedonistic pursuits. She was one of the most despicable leaders there ever was, but even she wouldn’t put up with this⁠—”

“Are you sure?” Althia asked.

I tilted my head. “You’re questioning my authority?”

She quickly shook her head. “No, but…the nobility don’t take things lightly here, Your Majesty. You’ve only held the throne a couple of years—are you sure you want to make lasting enemies? Some grudges run deep here, as deep and as old as the ocean.”

As she spoke, I realized that Althia was trying to help me, but this was one issue I wasn’t about to budge on. I thought for a moment. “My father-in-law—Smoky’s father—kidnapped me and tortured me to take revenge on his son. The dragons in the Dragon Reaches allowed me to set his punishment, even though I’m not a dragon. I was less than nothing to them, really, but they took the crime seriously. I won’t stand for anything less in my own court. That’s my final word.”

“Very well, Your Majesty. I’ll arrange the meeting.” She let out a long breath. “Is there anything else you need?”

“Yes, actually,” I said. “I want you to bring me the personnel files on each of the counselors—everything, including any notes that Morgaine may have made about them. Have everything readied for me by Tuesday.”

She worried her lip, but noted down my orders. “Yes, Your Majesty,” she said.

I could tell by the look she gave me that she was curious about what I was doing, but I wasn’t ready to tell her. After her response this morning, I wasn’t sure how much I could trust her. She had seemed fully devoted to me, but her hedging comments about the nobility and her surprise at my response to Raphien surprised me, leaving me wondering how loyal she truly was.

“That’s all for now. I’m expecting a visitor in about half an hour—bring him to my chambers when he arrives.” I stood, motioning for her to go. After Althia left, I motioned to my bodyguards. “Okay, boys, let’s hoof it.”

As they scrambled to keep up with me, I turned around so abruptly that they almost fell over each other trying to stop so they wouldn’t run into me.

“I have a question for both of you, and I want your honest opinions. I’ll know if you’re lying.” That in itself was a half-lie. I was really good at reading people, but I had, at times, failed miserably to pick up on motives and secrets I should have sensed.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Trevor said.

“Are you with me? About changing the way things are around here? If you aren’t, I’d rather you leave now. I’ll give you a good reference, but I cannot have someone guarding me who isn’t willing to abide by my rules.” I turned to Jaylen and Trevor, waiting. They were full-blooded Fae, but they’d never acted like they had anything other than massive respect for me.

“Your Majesty,” Jaylen said. “My duty is to protect you at all costs. If I didn’t respect you, I wouldn’t be able to do my job. And I will lay down my life to protect you.”

Trevor was more succinct. “You have my oath, Your Majesty. The day I can’t fulfill it, I will leave your service. It’s not our job to question your decisions.”

That wasn’t quite the answer I was looking for, but it was good enough. It didn’t tell me what they thought about my decisions, but it did ease my mind. I nodded, then headed for my chambers.

I didn’t see any of my husbands around when I entered our quarters. I hurried to my room and traded my crown for the tiara, slipped off my cloak and adjusted my corset. Vine helped me, but I noticed she seemed quieter than usual.