Page 7 of Retrograde

Sunborough’s Alpha looked like he was going to faint or just explode—maybe both. It was like he’d never seen that personbefore or he just learned dragons weren’t real. Nothing about this was funny and I just felt bad for him that he was so clueless about his son.

“He doesn’t even feel bad,” she bit out. “You want me to show leniency? Are you out of your mind? When I have sixteen more here that youforcedon me? After I was drugged? You’re all…”

She launched the remote across the ballroom, getting impressive distance from where I heard the noise of it landing.

Darren answered a few questions before Sagan took back over and it was clear she meant business.

“Fine, but then I’m canceling the contest,” she said firmly. “I am not risking mylifebecause of your selfish, power-hungry, entitled, sexist, corrupt family members when you won’t even keep your word andpunish themaccording to ourlaws. It should be adeath sentencesince I’m queen, but I wasn’t even going to push that!”

“You should. I would,” Maple seethed. “I’m angry that you aren’t and think it risks all of us.”

“I know that,” Sagan bit out. “But what do I do after? What happensafterI’m the one all of Thovudin blames for the death of an Alpha’sson?It won’t be deserved or fair. It will be my fault and then what?” She scoffed when Maple argued. “I can’t even break up with a habitual cheater and not get blamed, Maple!”

“Others won’t see it as a real coup attempt or rape potion like it is,” Fraser muttered. “They’ll make—we know how they forgive the Alphas and their sons everything. It’s gross.”

Sagan nodded and focused back on the call. “You want to work something out quietly and not make this what itshould be?Fine, I want out of this contest if you monsters won’t protect me. Get the majority to back you and that the contest is over and it was amistaketo do this to me—publicly and loudly—or your son gets what heshould.”

She turned and walked out.

“Not what he should because he should fucking die,” Fraser seethed when she was gone. “And what is wrong with all of you that youhavechildren who think about women like this? I’m not even focused on this psycho. I’ve watched some of the other introduction meals. Talking all over theirqueenand mansplaining to her how ruling a nation works. It was disgusting.”

Wow, so at least I wasn’t the absolute worst introduction meal she’d had.

Wait, no, of course that was Lori’s… But I wasn’t second worst even then.

Sagan knew how to get what she wanted though because no one was willing to go in with the Alpha of Sunborough.

“It’s not even about this stupid fucking competition anymore, and fuck what were we thinking with this stupid,” Vex muttered, sounding just as tired and frustrated. “But he’s not even sorry or—”

“Oh, like your son is and keeps making it all worse?” someone else said and set off a bomb in the situation basically.

Wow, I needed popcorn for this shit.

Vex tried to defend Kole that cheating wasn’t drugging, but someone said emotionally abusing the queen was still fucking bad and they wouldn’t put it past Kole to have drugged her. I actually agreed with that. Kole was trash and had no limits.

Darren completely lost it and threw a table into a few others, making candidates jump to get out of the way. “You’re all fucking trash!None of you or your fucking families deserve her.” He stormed out of there and the silence was thick enough to choke everyone.

“I agree,” Onyx of all people said and looked disgusted. “What the fuck, Vex?”

“What? What did I do now and you’re calling me out—”

“You didn’t even ask if she was okay,” Onyx snapped. “None of you did! You, Vex? You—I thought you really cared about her, but after all I’ve been—you cared your precious son might stand next to the next ruler.” He shook his head. “I’m coming home and we’re having a family meeting. Kole as well because—he might not survive it if he doesn’t fix this latest mess.”

He walked out next and several of the candidates stared after him in shock, but it was clear his feelings were genuine.

That wasbeyondcomplicated since Kole was his nephew and… Wow.

Seriously, where was the popcorn?

I actually pulled out my phone and recorded a bit for Sagan. Several Alphas immediately andgenuinelyasked if she was okay. They were worried and didn’t even think about it because Darren and her family let her be at the meeting. Of course she was upset and had been through another traumatic event, but they hadn’t worried about her health if she was there.

Logical, and everyone was in shock, so understandable. It sucked but… Understandable.

Even I was shocked and I thought Lori was a fucking twat. I’d never have thought he’d have the balls for this.

Not ever.

I kept recording audio because half the Alphas were pushing for even harsher punishments than normal after finding out the sexism was so bad in Thovudin. They were worried abouttheirfemale family members. Someone had the balls to do this to the queen of all people and they were worried about their daughters and family.