Page 84 of Retrograde

“How I couldlearna lot from him and he would help me become my mother. It was so ridiculous there were a few times I had to swallow down bile and it was honestly a good test of how to control my dragon and I used it as that. But I walked out of there and said…” I nodded at Myriam.

She snorted. “He barely passed on a basic bachelor’s degree in the easiest program at the easiest college in his area that his father probably had to bribe to get him into and talked to me like I was the village idiot while having no idea he’s the dullest knife in the drawer. He’s never even been out of Thovudin and he was lecturing me on global politics and how mine were wrong.

“While clearly having no ideawhatmy politics were and also getting most of the countries wrong—locations and what species lived there. Oh, and on which continents, so we need to make sure he’s never interviewed about like—anything. Make sure heis not interviewed alone or without his hand held or it will be beyond mortifying for Nevelyn, not just all the candidates.

“And please add to the list of royal training they’re supposed to go through that they get some sort ofgeographytutoring. The fact he didn’t know that the mermaids and sirens share a continent—moron. Oh yeah, he should absolutely be in charge and I’m embarrassing. I have two dozen degrees—bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorates and he’s going to educate me?

“More like lower my IQ if I have to spend more time with him. Please look deeper into him. There’s got to be something shady in his past, right? Like… It’s embarrassing people will think he’s actually a viable candidate to become my mate. It got so bad I almost asked him if he could spell Thovudin as he was lecturing me how to run the country he’s so clueless about.”

I could have been pushed over with a feather. “Wow, youreallyare amazing. That’s almost verbatim.” I winced, realizing I just admitted how harsh I’d been.

“Fucking stuck-up bitch,” Wilder seethed, chuffing as he stared at me like he was ready to pound me. “You do need someone to control you and take over who—”

Chaos erupted and I let myself be dragged off out of the way and guarded. I sighed and grumbled about people paying for the damage if they hurt my castle.

Finally, I let out the power of my dragons to basically smack people and stun them so they took a moment. It sucked I had to do it to everyone, and I winced when I saw how it hurt the wolves more than I had realized it would. I shared a look with Davian and gestured for him to get Treena and the others out.

People didn’t need to know I could hurt wolves like that. It wasn’t my intention. He nodded and they were gone in a flash.

When everyone shook off what I did, I was focused on the Alpha of Nevelyn who had blood all over his face. “Talk to Lydia. She was on the door for our introduction. Hear from my guardexactly how bad it was. Fine, I was petty, but I was talking to my friends and—I wasn’t unfair.”

He swallowed loudly and nodded.

“He’s out,” Darren declared, shaking his head when people started objecting. “No! No more! He doesn’t even respect her! I won’t have—he’s fucking out. He just said he would take her over and—I know it wasn’t a coup threat, but she’s queen ruler! Enough of this insanity!”

“Agreed,” several people said firmly, and I couldn’t hide my shock when it was a few of the other Alphas.

Dray chuffed when a few challenged him. “She’s queen ruler. Stop with the fucking bullshit. Yes, I’m sexist. Yes, she’s too fucking young, but she’s stillqueen fucking ruler. It’s not a hard concept and we all look likemoronsthe more—he’s out. She will not become Amelia. I’m not saying the male candidates will either but—fucking mess.”

I snorted. I couldn’t agree more.

I let out a slow breath and focused on Wilder’s uncle. “I’ll never mate him. Not after he just did this.” I snorted. “I never was going to after the introduction. Others were bad, but maybe they were nervous or can get it together.” I gestured to Wilder. “He talked to me like a child and—you just heard him. It’s never going to happen.”

He swallowed loudly and couldn’t hide his disappointment as he looked at his nephew. “No, and I understand that. I… We should have done this better and I’m sorry, Your Majesty.” He let out a slow breath before meeting my gaze again. “We’ve done this to ourselves with our greed. I beg you give me the chance to handle this without embarrassing Nevelyn.”

“Why? Why should she be so understanding when none of you are withher?” Darren demanded. “Why does she keep having to give concessions and none of you do? You just push and push. People will judge her for this. You know they will!”

“No, I swear it,” he argued. “I will—there is a way to handle—please, give me the chance.”

“Maybe,” I said after a moment, giving a half shrug when people seemed surprised. “I need to know the plan first. If your idea is to say he wasn’t attracted to me—kiss my…”

“Build off what Ayao said,” Dray suggested as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Wilder felt the same and blame the temples. We sign the thing, but Wilder is withdrawing because of the pressure and realized he’s not built for the constant spotlight no matter how wonderful the queen is. Push back on this—use it.”

“It’s a smart play if actually done as promised and not another fake recorded rant later,” Maple grumbled.

“Agree to it or I will let the queen go on the record and humiliate you—rightfully humiliate you and ruin your chances with any other woman,” the Alpha threatened him. “You have a chance to grow from this and—”

“I can’t believe you’re picking her side and—” he started to argue.

My mouth almost fell open when the Alpha decked his nephew. I realized it wasn’t others who had gone after him… It had been his uncle.

“This is about the future of ourcountry. I believed you when you told me you understood that and fine, you talk out of your ass sometimes, but—you think you’re going to educate her? I’veseenher give guest lectures and she’s an actual fucking genius, you tool!”

“Everyone needs to start holding each other accountable,” Thorn said firmly. “I’ve heard people suggest using that drug on themselves to influence the queen with their pheromones.”

I wasn’t the only one who looked at his uncle when he started chuffing… And we all looked at him accusingly.

He clearly realized it and tried to play it off. “I’mdisgustedpeople would even think that.”