Page 67 of Dewpoint
“Thank you, I wasn’t aware.”
“You deserve it for thinking I—tell me what happened,” I bitched. I blinked at the wall when he did. “Fuck.”
“Maybe not, because both Sagan and Joris came out ahead. He did well for her. We took a hit—obviously Elira and by extension Kole did, but it was a good move for Joris and it helped Sagan.”
“Good.”
He snorted. “You don’t sound like you feel that way at all and are pissed you have real competition.”
I growled but couldn’t deny it. But then… “No, I don’t want competition, but even if it turned out well, all of this always has a cost to her, Vex. None of it is ever easy or without problems.”
“Fair.” He cleared his throat. “So what are you doing in Protesia now?” He sighed when I chuffed. “Fine, I’m an asshole but catch me up while I got you.”
“I can’t tell you much since it’s actually professional and a favor, royal family to royal family,” I admitted but then told him what I could. “I don’t know how much they’re going to release or if it will just be what I report to Sagan.”
“But you’re able to help? Found whatever is going on?”
“Yeah, and—honestly just a perfect storm of everything going wrong that could and no one unqualified or fucking off. Sometimes shit just can’t be figured out by the people at the table.” I nodded when he snorted even if he couldn’t see it. We both knew that well.
“Glad you can help them. Sorry I accused you without thinking things through. Be safe.”
I didn’t even get to say goodbye before he hung up. Always a prideful Alpha.Dickhead.
No matter what I still loved my brother even if he didn’t love me how he should—how I deserved.
Still, I was glad the call had ended because I wanted to talk to Sagan and see how she was doing. I had the excuse now that we had the answer of what was going on. Deep,deepunder the mountain there was a tribe of undines that had lived there for centuries that probably few even knew about.
The king actually had known—which impressed and shocked me—but never considered it. Why would harmless and nonviolent beings most thought of as water nymphs hurt others?
They hadn’t. They’d simply expanded their home that was underwater but deep under the mountain on that coast.Andthat carved-out section being there so long, with factors at the top of the mountain in the surrounding areas, was the perfect storm for the problems they’d been having.
“Sagan isn’t available,” a female answered, I assumed Myriam from the brisk tone. “Give me the update.”
“Sorry, but who is this? My queen said to—”
“It’s Myriam and she’s not available, Onyx,” she said flatly. “I have her phone, okay?”
A thrill of worry raced through me. “What’s wrong? What happened now? Vex just chewed me out about the video—did Joris hurt her or—”
“I’ve got things here and her. Do you have good news or not?”
But her tone told me that she didn’t even believe what she was saying. She didn’t have the situation in hand… Whatever it was.
I didn’t respond right away. “How bad?” I chuffed when she didn’t answer. “How bad, Myriam?”
“She could use good news,” she admitted with a sigh. “Maple said she’ll help, and—Sagan could use some good fucking news, okay?”
“I have it. Tell her I figured it out and the king is thrilled. I’ll have to come—I got this.”
“Got what?” she pushed.
“He doesn’t want anyone but Sagan to have the details. I promised. It doesn’t really matter, but I also promised to come back a few times and help more. He’sverygrateful, and the people he promised should be landing soon? Your help is coming. He is taking this seriously too.”
“He always does, but we’re just too—tigers aren’t perfect.”
I snorted. No one was, but the King of Protesia’s “problem” was honestly caring too much. He was furious when he couldn’t get the help he needed for his people. As an Alpha and born leader, it was admirable.
As a dragon, when he’d been demanding with Thovudin, it was frustrating, so I was glad Sagan had handled him well and this was working out.
