Page 39 of Dewpoint
A vacation and just time to unwind wasn’t my worst idea ever and I never had to worry about money. The only thing my parents had done right to protect me was their finances. Unclenor anyone else had been able to touch it. It had been protected by another Alpha, and I’d always been annoyed that if they had known to do that then why not the rest?
I’d found out a few years ago that it had been at the request of the other Alpha.He’dbeen afraid of what would happen to his children if he’d died and made the deal with my parents. So he’d loved his children enough and my parents were still idiots.
Awesome.
The guy also sent me the link to the underground fightingappand how to bet and what to do to get in. Wow, I was out of the loop and kind of excited to check it out. He even showed me the stats on this Mystic Frost and admitted he’d lost a lot betting against her, but now some people were betting on her too, so it was too late to win much back.
Interesting.
Oh, and his shop?
Organic honey. His family was from Selka and they had just opened a honey shop in the capital trying to branch out. He pegged me as an out-of-towner who might be in the market for buying presents to bring home.
I actually had another idea too. “You do discounts for bulk?”
Turned out he did, and I actually followed him to the shop to check it out. I didn’t know anything about honey, but it was delicious. I bought several different options and said I’d be in touch. It was worth giving it to Raquel to see if it was good enough quality for the castle.
Sagan would win points if people heard she was supporting small businesses trying to branch out in the capital instead of the bullshit press she kept getting. It was something her mother was adored for, and since they kept comparing her to the former queen instead of thekinglike they should have… Might be nice to hear at least she did something kind.
“Yeah, no, we shouldn’t be her mate and we can’t support her. Idiot. You’re stupid. We’ll never find another mate and you loved—”
I sang in my head which annoyed my dragon so he shut up. It was the most basic way to drown out when our dragons were unsettled and distracting, but mine was normally better. We just weren’t going to agree on this.
And just because I wanted to help Sagan when she was a good person and suffering something I’dbeen throughdidn’t mean we should be mates. We could be friends and allies.
Maybe it was smarter to start there instead of being stupid?
I was glad when my dragon actually agreed with me and settled some, glad that I was committed to fixing my relationship with her at least. Whatever. I knew he still wanted more but… Whatever.
I found the first lingerie shop and ducked in.
“They’re not real,” a woman muttered. “She’s visibly wearing padding or—how uncouth.”
“Yeah, but I kinda feel bad for her. Like it’s clear her parents didn’t love her and now she’s expected to mate immediately. I’d stuff my bra too,” another woman said.
“Or she could prove she doesn’t need a mate and change things for the women of Thovudin instead of letting everyone see she’s a shallowditzwho just wants a man to rule her,” the first threw right back. “Things won’t get better for us under her. Her mother was a frail, weak woman and great, now we’ll have a breeder queen until the next king.”
My chuffing told them that I was there, both of them flinching and standing up straight as I locked in on the picture they had both been looking at. I was too all over the place and lost my mind, not just my composure.
“As someone who wasatthe meeting that picture was taken at, she didn’t stuff her fucking bra,” I seethed. “That picture wastaken in retaliation because she kicked the asses of three Alphas who deserved it, but she’s tooclassyto disclose that.” I snorted when it was clear neither of them believed me. “Or why bother?
“Apparently, the women in this country won’t even support her. You’re both so busyjudging herthat—you’re part of the problem. Queen Amelia wasn’tweak. She supported the king as any partner should. She was kind, gracious, and amazing. You have no idea how wonderful she was and she just died. Have some fucking—”
“What do you even know?” the first drawled. “At the meeting? Yeah, right. I don’t even believe that or—”
I had my ID out in a flash and held it up for her. “Blount.As in the Alpha family of Starhaven. I’m the Alpha Heir of Starhaven. I was there. She was a commandingqueenin that meeting and smacked three huge, older Alphas into line with ease and someone took a picture because she wore a normal tank top in the August heat.
“Why aren’t you upsetfor her?Someone took a picture of her in herhousewithout her knowledge. What would you do if that was done to you? Your other female friends? Hell, I barely know her and I’m furious, but she brushes it off not wanting to be petty or take focus off the mourning period of her parents since they justdied.”
At least they both flinched at that.
At least they had that much decency.
“You don’t even know her,” I grumbled as I tucked my ID back away. I eyed them over like the trash they were. “She’s your queen and a woman who lost everything and needs support. You’re the problem with the culture against women. Not her.”
I stormed out of there and then called the number on the window to talk to the manager. I told her exactly what had happened and how I felt about two employees working therejudging and tearing into a woman. If there was a place that any woman should feel safe and supported, it was a lingerie shop.
Luckily, she agreed with me.
