Page 23 of Dewpoint
“Not your business, mate,” he seethed, focused on the other dragon. “And the fact you just announced that in front—”
“Oh yeah, you’re the last person who should judge anyone’s behavior,” Thorn drawled before spinning on his heel and storming off.
What was that? I hadn’t even really talked to him since he’d left my room in a huff.
I turned and saw Joris taking it all in from the doorway. He was frowning and gave me a sad smile when he realized I saw him.
Yeah, I’d pity me too. Things were apparently going to be ugly from the very beginning. And it wouldn’t getbetterwhen more men were added.
Maybe the elders just wanted the prospects to drive me mad and then they could take over when I was crazy?
Honestly… Wasn’t the worst idea of how to take down a ruler.
6
Sagan
“The new queen is revealing more of herself to her subjects,” the late-night host mocked in his monologue. “This time it’s not an inappropriate outfit, but her dragon and playing with her guards.” He rolled his eyes when someone booed in the crowd. “You cannot tell me that shirt with herassetsspilling out of it was appropriate.”
I was less than thrilled that someone had snapped a picture of me during the Alpha meeting and leaked it. Treena wanted to find out who and handle it, but I thought it would be flipped around as petty of me.
Instead of petty of whoever took a picture of me in my castle wearing a tank top and made a big deal out of it. But it had been all over gossip this and that, and several of the late-night shows had something to say about it.
“She’s showing off like a peacock because of this contest to be her mate,” the comedian continued. “The one she says she didn’t want to be a part of but now is wearing revealing shirts in front of the Alpha families and showing off her flying. From what I heard, it was more like showing she doesn’t know any of the rules of Thovudin or thinks they don’t apply to her.”
I adjusted my neck. “I didn’t break one fucking rule. I might have been a bit rude making noise and flying that low but…”
“Classless tool,” Treena grumbled from over my shoulder, both of us watching what Myriam was showing us the day after I finally went flying.
“It was probably just an excuse for her to get naked and try and lure these prospects in,” he continued. “She seems the type not to understand normal things, and if she showed off with a revealing shirt and it didn’t work, getting fully naked next won’t do much. I guess if she’s not bright, the only thing she can offer is her body.”
That seemed to be over the line for the crowd since more booed and lots of gasps could be heard.
“Okay, okay, I kid. I just think I agree with the elders that she needs actual oversight and someone to manage this nonsense. Clearly, she won’t be able to focus luring them in. She is supposed to be handling the government and the only thing she’s done so far is kick out the knowledgeable voices of reason and bring in her little friends from other countries.”
“Grown women who are highly educated but whatever, loser,” Treena bit out.
“And now they’re talking about replacing some of the Queen’s Guard. What will the requirements be? Headshots and experience with handling women? Her mother was full of grace and a role model to women everywhere. How did she end up having a daughter like this? Maybe someone should check into that.”
I ended the video and handed it back. “They’re not even jokes like the others. This is just trash-talking me. Petty asshole.”
“You want to release a statement or anything?” Myriam wondered. “You’re hiring a media person, right? One of the ones June recommended?”
I sighed and nodded. “She starts next week. She wanted to be professional and give enough time for her current company to replace her and train them.”
“Commendable, but if it’s a done deal, there can’t be any harm in asking her opinion,” Myriam muttered, already typing on her phone.
Fair enough.
It put me in less than a favorable mood though, and when I saw Onyx later and he seemed like he was trying to have a chance to talk to me, I went the other direction. I wasn’t sure he deserved that, but things were still not great and I didn’t know what to do about him.
And right then wasn’t the time.
While the Alphas controlled each of their areas like governors of states as other nations did, they still reported to me and we worked together. However, Nerthus was completely under the control of the royal family—always had been. It was the balance for letting the Alphas have so much control. The idea in ancient times was that way there was less of a chance of invasion or coup.
No one else controlled the capital and it couldn’t be infiltrated to overthrow the royal family.
Except that the elders had infiltrated too much and my parents had lost control from what I was finding. And that wasgreatfor me. I completely loved that.
