Page 81 of Retrograde

“You all act like whoever I mate will take over or it will be some accomplishment for your area and that’s half the problem,” I said firmly. “They’re applying to be onthis team.” I gestured to myself and then Maple and Fraser. “I’m not applying to be in your Alpha family or boost your anything. The moment my mother married into the royal family she was part of the royal family and that wasit.”

I felt bad when Darren snorted. Yeah, that was beyond complicated and gross even, but from what I understood, it hadn’t been the doing of the De la Rosas and… Family was complicated.

“So it’s time for people to start using their brains and understanding how things really are, not these false scenarios you have all concocted in your tiny minds,” Treena added. “Giving speeches in Sagan’s home that the last six or seven of you will be her mates as the Alphas dictate and it’s done.”

“Seriously, most of these fools just make me want to apologize for my sex,” Onyx muttered. “I’m still annoyed you got to punch the one, Thorn.”

“He should get tossed for punching me,” Rigel snapped.

“You punched one of the candidates?” Thorn’s uncle bit out.

“Shut it,” I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “Seriously, I’m about to discipline you like the child you’re acting today. He’s a grown man and someone spoke—he’s not even your child as you treat him like a child and it annoys me.” I glanced at Rigel. “You’re lucky he punched you because my dragon wants to bite your wing off.”

“That’s a bit much for some locker room talk, Your Majesty,” he seethed.

I burned him. I used Iris’s power and burned him right there, taking him to his knees as he screamed in pain. I stormed over to him and roughly grabbed his chin to look at me.

“This isn’t yourlocker room, it’s my castle, and you are a sexistdogwho has no situational awareness, and it’s embarrassing that I have to even fake it to the world that I think you’reremotelyworthy of me. You’re mediocre atbest. Your grades were crap. You’ve done nothing in your life besides be an Alpha’s son.

“You talk about me like you’re better than me and it shows a level of delusion that is ridiculous. Your introduction was the most pathetic, and I say that even over the one whodrugged mebecause at least he had a plan of some sort. You’re toolazyfor that and don’t have enough talent to even manage getting anything done.

“You’re helping Cosmo with the elder houses and all you do iswhine. You’re his admin basically because that’s all you can be trusted with, and honestly I don’t know we should trust you with that and you constantlywhine. Onyx is saving an ancient tribe ofundines most thought legend. Joris is cutting corruption out of the temples.

“And you’rewhiningabout helping with a basic renovation and update project that you aren’t even qualified to handle yourself. Are you seriously so stupid you don’t understand you should be embarrassed? Mortified you’re so mediocre? Yet you’re making comments in front of others and those who work for me about catching me naked to see what you’re competing for?

“That you just have to outlast my whorish lust and flings so you can be prince and be in charge of things? No one with a brain would put you in charge ofparkingin Nerthus, much less ruling Thovudin. Your father sent you because he couldn’t not, not because you were the best option even in your own family. It would have been embarrassing for him to send your cousin over you.”

I shoved him away and took several steps back so I could try and calm down.

“Anyone makes a comment about switching family members and I will end them,” Fraser warned, his voice deadly. “We all know—we all know what happened.”

The Alpha of Selka was selfish and wanted his son to be prince even if he was a shit candidate. Others skipped their own children and picked nephews that were impressive—possibly worthy of being the queen’s mate.

But the Alpha didn’t want to be embarrassed to admit his single son wasn’t as impressive as his nephew. So he sent me Rigel, who was a fucking loser and now a pain in my ass.

I looked at the Alpha who was beyond pissed. “We all know it. Don’t even act like I’m spilling secrets here. Even themediahas been reporting it. You made this mess and I’m not taking responsibility for any of it. He’s embarrassing both of us in myhome. So you’ve got a week to get him in line and teach him how to behave or I’m cutting him.”

“He should have been cut the moment he was stupid enough to run his mouth in front of a news crewafterI punched him for sexualizing you in the foyer around half the castle’s staff and most of the other candidates,” Thorn bit out.

I kept the Alpha’s gaze. “I agree. This isn’t a game nor something that’s supposed to be salacious for TV. It’s supposed to be what’s best for the future of our nation. Lie through your teeth and tell me you think that behavior is.”

He couldn’t, and he realized no one was on his side even.

Mostly because the other Alphas hoped to lower the number of possible candidates so theirs would have a better chance. Disgusting, but that would always work in my favor.

So the candidates all sat together and with my people, not by the Alphas.

Right before we were going to start, Ayao stood up and cleared his throat. “In the interest of being a team player and um, self-preservation maybe…” He glanced over at Rigel, who was still holding his burnt arm, before focusing on me. “I fucked up. Maybe big. I tried to tell you, but you’ve been—you’re always busy.”

I sighed and sat back. “How bad?”

“I actually like him better,” Treena chuckled, smirking when I looked over at her. “It came out in the media while you were in the first part of this meeting. He needs to work on his refinement on how he talks to the media, but—I like him better.”

He sighed and scrubbed the back of his neck. “They’re really fucking annoying and like—I knew this would be horrible from the queen’s side, but honestly I didn’t see—I didn’t sign up to be like a reality star here. It’s gross.”

“It is, so that’s why we need to get on the same page,” I said honestly, gesturing between them. “It’s not a competition. It’sfiguring out who is the right match, and while you and I don’t see things exactly the same, Iagreewith you on the reality of things. I respect your honesty—I took a shot at you that you’re like Dray, but it was also a compliment.”

I waved people off when they wanted to say more, instead asking someone to play the clip from the media of whatever Ayao did wrong. It couldn’t be that bad if it amused Treena.