Page 70 of Undertow
16
Sagan
“Forgive me, Your Highness, but this all seems a bit… Petty,” one of the Alphas said after I’d given my intro on what I wanted.
I’d expected nothing less. I sat back and smirked. “Petty, huh?” It was hard to not laugh when Darren snorted. “Maybe? But what wouldyoudo if the situation was reversed, Alpha? They did it intentionally. They knew they were bleeding my family dry. Not doing their jobs and living lavishly on our family’s accounts.
“Not only that, but being demanding and ungrateful. And afterall of that, they immediately threw a coup and tried to force me to mate four men of their choice when my parents died. You think I’m beingpetty?I think they’re lucky I don’t take it all and theirheadsat this point.” I was glad when a few snorted. “But there’s more.”
I nodded to Myriam who played the first video through the call so they had to watch.
“That’s the way one elder left his suite after moving out. Six did this in a coordinated effort yesterday before security alerted me. After I had already scheduled this meeting. That’spettybecause I would bet anything that they didn’t think I would actually bring this up and hide it. I’m not sure why, but they did.”
“Because they’re sexist old fools who are used to Amelia doing everything she could so that there was never a scene, whisper, or any gossip,” Darren interjected. “They see you in that role and whichever male that comes in as ruler. Except you’re Rhys in this instance and he wouldn’t have let this slide either.”
“I want to ask if this is real, but I cannot think of why you would make this happen,” someone whispered.
“Talk to my witnesses if you like, Alpha,” I offered. “Alpha Vex’s brother and son are here. Come interview my guards. Comesee it yourself. You want the security footage of me being alerted and having to discover this horror done to my castle?”
“No, I believe you, Your Highness. I just can’t believe they would do this,” he said firmly. “I cannot believe…”
“We were so blind to their true nature,” someone else mumbled. “Or that they have all gone insane? What is happening?”
“Onyx told me,” Alpha Vex chuffed. “He sent me video of his own and admitted he overheard you saying that you were thinking of seizing assets as back room and board. You’re not takingenough, Sagan.”
I couldn’t hide my reaction and a few others gasped. I was asking two million for the past twenty years since that seemed a nice even, round number.
I hurried to respond. “I’m also demanding changes.”
“Clearly, there needs to be, but let’s handle this first, and I’m sorry for dropping the title, but I’m speaking to you as someone I value,” he said firmly. “Five million, ten for those in the coup, and they pay for all damages, repairs, and upkeep on the rooms. Thiscannotbe allowed or it will follow you the entire time you are queen.”
“He’s right,” someone else muttered, a few agreeing.
“I think seven across the board. I don’t like a monetary fine for a coup attempt like bad behavior can be bought off,” someone countered. “That can also send a bad message. We punish that like normal and… How much?” It took me a moment to realize he was asking someone off camera. “That’s not even a thousand dollars a day to stay at the castle. That’s a bargain.”
“Yes, with inflation and running numbers—maybe it doesn’t cost that here, but they get better than any hotel ever could,” Darren agreed, sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest. “Plus, this is meant to hurt. I agree. Sagan wanted to keep it lower to not seem like it was about the money, but that it was how her parents were disrespected.
“I agree with you though. It’s extra staff, utilities—the meals here are legendary. Everything top quality and they lavished in that for decades while doing nothing other than spreading poison and inhibiting the De la Rosa family. A strong message needs to be sent that it won’t be allowed going forward or she will appear weak.”
Relief filled me when they all agreed, even that the money be seized instead of a bill due that we all knew wouldn’t be paid.
“Thank you, truly,” I said as the tightness in my chest eased. I let out an awkward chuckle. “Wow, I didn’t even have to threaten that I couldn’t have your family move in and courting start with the damage and renovations needed to…”
I ran my tongue over my teeth when it was clear that several knew that would be an obstacle and probably agreed just because of that. I was watching a huge screen of all of them and I could see at least seven who shifted in their seats, looking away from the camera—something that gave them away.
“I see,” I muttered, focusing on my own notes as I gathered myself. “Well, I still have that threat then, so hopefully the rest of this goes well.” I felt valid when Treena snorted off-screen. I glanced over at her. “You want to take this next part?”
“Oh, gladly, my friend,” she purred. “I’m furious for your family and what you have endured. This is complete madness and—your poor parents. Others will blame them, but your country flourishes because of them. Even with your recession years ago, that wasn’t their fault. They broke themselves doing everything they could to help their people while this was done to them.”
“I’m very confused, Your Highness,” one of the Alphas muttered.
“Then let me enlighten you all,” Treena said when the others agreed.
She loaded her presentation on how other monarchies handled funding the royal family. Allies and adversaries of Thovudin, but people she could get information from still since we knew them. She went over salaries the working royal family members made, how the guards were funded—all of it.
“Even the democracies fund their housing and security for their leaders,” she bit out in the end. “You all get write-offs for your securities and more. Yet you set up the system tobleed drythe royal family like leeches, and that is not only abusive but beyond stupid. If Sagan hadn’t made this a priority before it has gotten too bad, it could have crippledeverything.”
“‘Gotten too bad?’” someone caught. “What does she mean, Your Highness?”
