Page 75 of Dewpoint
I wanted whoever was involved to be an adult and confess publicly and that what I was wearing was understandable given the circumstances. I didn’t care how they handled it as a group as towhyI was kicking Alpha asses, but enough with this. They handled it and ran it past Michele or I would.
And they wouldnotlike the mess I made. It also came with a warning not to test me this time.
I wasstunnedthat they handled it, hearing from Joris that the Alphas put pressure on each other because he was shining too brightly and they weren’t letting this fuck up everything. The press conference was held in Bravinthe, and I was less than thrilled to find out it was my mating candidate from there, Issa Favr, who took the picture.
However, he didn’t release it. It was one of his “friends” who knew they could make money from a picture of me like that.
Exceptthat was illegal. That it was taken inside a private residence without permission and there were strict rules about that… Especially for the fucking queen.
“I can’t even imagine how much they paid for the first picture of you after the coronation and it was so juicy like that,” Treena bitched.
Two million apparently. They probably made that and more back, but they were going to lose it from the lawsuit I’d file because no, I wasn’t going to let this go. I was glad when the Alpha of Bravinthe said he wouldn’t either and it wasn’tpetty, but the law, and the women of our nation weren’t objects to be ogled.
He—and his son, from their own accounts—were going to be donating to my new education fund for females to prove they felt that way. Issa’s apology was heartfelt even if I didn’t know him well enough to tell if it was bullshit or not.
It played well. He took ahitthough because he even showed the text messages to prove it wasn’t him. He looked like a pig saying that he changed his mind about maybe mating me now that he saw I was “fucking delicious,” along with some other things.
Buthe also gushed about how I’d also been awesome at the meeting and now knew Kole was really a tool and felt bad I couldn’t seem to get rid of him. And for Applerest if I did.
“Bonus points there,” Maple muttered, toasting me with her wine when that part was read off.
I couldn’t agree more. It was all… Fabulous.
Did it suck that I had to throw down for people to do the right thing?
Yeah, of course. They should have handled this already the moment it happened and done the right thing. But at least he also admitted that there was no way I’d stuffed my bra when I’d been fighting Alphas.
The way he’d said it wasbeyondhysterical. He was a man who liked the taste of his foot.
Both feet even.
Good.
So I kept my end, getting on a call with all the Alphas to discuss how to handle the situation with the “contest.” I listened to their calm and orderly concerns and suggestions.
“Let me sum this up because that was a lot,” I said, not just for myself, but I’d seen several zone out.
More than once.
“I’m not a mare to be won and we all now understand I will be queen ruler, not queen regent for any male child I have,” I said firmly, chuffing when a few went to open their mouths. “I am not kidding I won’t have a child until a lot of this gets better. There is a long line of queen ruler De la Rosas. Stop being stupid and get on board. Now.”
“I agree and was genuinely going to ask if you wanted us to go on the record as to that to help, Your Majesty,” one of the Alphas said firmly. “It’sdangerousand you were right that some of the elders planned on possibly you having an accident after you had a child. This has to be nipped in the bud.”
The others said the same, but a few were full of shit. I could tell and knew they didn’t want to go so far as to publicly say that.
What? The fucking truth?
Too bad.
“And while you’rethrilledthe help Joris and Onyx have both been, when your family member is committing to possibly years to do this right, it’s difficult someone has such an advantage already,” I said carefully.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Ironpeak’s Alpha replied firmly. “More than that, they’re all useful or find out they’re uselessfast. I’m focused on how much help you keep needing. My nephew is just as well educated as Joris and—he is an asset. None of us thought to send duds to you and waste your time.”
Nor miss a chance to mate into the royal family. That was the unspoken part, but I still appreciated the view.
“I hear you, but for the record, I think this will backfire,” I warned them. I snorted when they all seemed confused. “You’re all nearpanickedthat someone has gotten the upper hand or into myheartalready. You don’t think that will transfer over to your younger and less disciplined family members? The ones who… Someone will be out before they’re all moved in.”
Darren of all people burst out laughing. I gave a half shrug when he looked at me and laughed all over again.
