Page 49 of Retrograde

“He really didn’t need to tell the world he threatened me with nudes I knew he didn’t have,” I mumbled.

“He’s got Kole in custody,” Maple told me, nodding when I shot her a look that I didn’t believe it. “You were right to send Fraser. And that’s why Vex has lost weight. He knows he’s beat.”

“Revenge porn is illegal,” Vex continued. “Even if it was going to be faked. Threatening the queen’s life is illegal. Threatening violence and to violate a woman is illegal. Everything my son sent was so many levels of illegal that—no more blinders. He faked that recording and knew what he said, all the slander and lies.

“He tried to strike the queen when she ended the relationship, but her head of security stopped him. He’s broken laws, not just ‘boys will be boys’ bad behavior that I should never have thought to excuse or ignore. Maybe cheating when they were so far apart and young was… It wasn’t okay. I was too dismissive.

“But then cheating in her home with witnesses and telling her she couldn’t break up with him or there would be war—that’s another threat. And the queen tried to handle this all peacefully and quietly. She didn’t press charges for the assault. She didn’t—she’s a better person than I am, and I can never apologize enough for not doing what I should have from the start.

“You deserved better from me, Your Majesty. You were right when you said that all of this mess wasn’t of your making and any woman is allowed to leave a relationship she doesn’t want to be in anymore—justified to the world or not. And you were more than justified to anyone sane. I’m sorry I wasn’t the man I should have been and helped you.”

I was numb or I wasn’t sure, but then I realized I was sitting on Onyx’s lap and he was hugging me to him. I blinked around and saw the worry in Treena and Myriam’s eyes.

Huh?

“Since I am part of this problem, I need to take some time to get my head straight, plus Kole will be going through the legal system. As the Alpha of Sunborough did, I too am temporarily stepping down from being Alpha and letting my eldest, non-family Beta be in charge.

“I am also going to put my request in that this be made law. No one should be Alpha while their immediate family is facing possible criminal convictions. Never should it be allowed when we are more than Alphas, but parents who love our children and family. We cannot be objective, nor should we need to be as we are only people.”

“Well done, Fraser,” Maple praised.

It took me a moment, but then I flinched. He’d made Vex get on board with this as a way to protect me. Now any candidate who tried for me or to hurt me—their parent would be in deep shit too. Or uncle, but that wouldn’t be law, just the threat.

Still… A damn good threat.

“Remind me never to piss off the prince,” Dray mumbled, obviously understanding what had happened as well.

“You would never threaten to hire men to rape a woman, Alpha,” Maple murmured. “We all know that is a particular hot button for my brother.”

“I didn’t,” I muttered and glanced at her.

“You weren’t born, but—you picked the right person to end this,” she praised. “Since apparently Onyx couldn’t and his promises aren’t worth much.”

“She loves you, and watching you go through this has been killing all of us, Sagan,” Darren defended as Maple stormed off. He ignored Onyx and kissed my hair. “Hopefully, now it can be over besides maybe some barking from him in prison.”

I gasped as Kole was already restrained and handed over to the local police. We didn’t even haul Lori away publicly, so I was shocked Vex was willing to do that.

“Since my other children are underage, in case of my death, I’ve named my brother Onyx as my heir,” Vex continued.

“Fucker didn’t even check with me,” Onyx seethed as he stood with me. He sat me down and knelt in front of me. “I need a minute before I explode because I know this is my punishment for—I need a minute.” He kissed both of my hands before storming off.

“I can’t process enough right now to figure out what just happened,” I admitted, my voice sounding hollow to my own ears.

“Most would go home to help out when Vex stepped aside and let a Beta take over,” Dray explained. “He’s trying to summon Onyx home. Or that’s what Onyx thinks.”

“You don’t think so?” Darren checked.

Dray didn’t answer right away. “Onyx obviously knows his brother better, but even if my son was guilty—I would need space from my brother for outing this or whatever Onyx did. Vexis smart. He knows with Onyx named his heir no one will take him out as he steps aside.”

I nodded I heard them, but I trusted Onyx’s opinion as well.

“Well, this wasn’t the introduction I wanted for you to have, but I heard enough to know I should be worried,” Belinda said as she squatted down next to me. “Child, I need you to trust me now and let this lovely woman help you out, okay? You’ve been pushing too hard and I’m worried.”

A healer. Belinda brought in a healer.

I gave her a worried look about what a healer might find. It was Belinda who had warned me that a healer—especially a medicinal dragon like the ancient with her was—could bust my having two dragons fastest.

She nodded it was fine. “Darren, join us so you feel comfortable with who will be treating your niece from now on.”