Page 93 of Retrograde

“How many drinks have you had, old man?” I threw right back, snorting when rage filled his eyes. “Lackey? I have a position akin to the Alphas and a government title they have to use and you call yoursonwho saved your ass a lackey. Just when I didn’t think you could be any more pathetic or small.”

“Darren!” Mother gasped, but I ignored her, focused completely on Father.

“How dare you!” he blasted as he stood. “Listen here, boy, you will—”

“No,youlisten here,” I demanded, my voice cold and deadly. “I’m taking over and our family is reversing our position on being related to the royal family—on a lot.”

Father snorted. “You can’t take over. You’re delusional.”

I smiled evilly at him. “You sure about that? Are youabsolutelysure about that, old man? You sure you have everything in order while you’ve been drinking and whoring—bragging how much you accomplished while anyone with a brain knows it’s me?” I snorted when he turned red so fast steam about came out of his ears.

“I know—”

“I know you’re a prideful fool, and I’m done letting you hold the rest of us to your bullshit.” I moved forward and slammed my fist on the table. “Yourgranddaughterwas attacked yesterday by a fucking elder family. Their whole fucking family came after her because she doesn’t have enough people backing her and you are the reason for that.

“Youliethat—I’m done with it. I’m calling a family meeting and we’re hashing this out. As the eldest son, I can. I’m challenging you for the position of head of the family.” I glanced all around at the people there, mostly at our elders. “There are truths you need to know and it’s time for the people here to see reason before we lose another family member.”

“She’s not a member of our family,” Father snapped.

“Are you so stupid you don’t know howbiologyworks?” I asked. “She’s Amelia’s daughter. Who wasyour daughter. That doesn’t change because of who she mated. You acknowledge other family after their surnames change. This is yourprideand I’m ending this. I should have years ago.” I pointed at him. “You have an obligation to call the meeting.Do it!”

He ground his jaw but then calmed down. “I understand you’re upset, Son, but you forget that if you do this and I keep my position then you’re out. You can never be head of the family. I’ll forgive this outburst and—”

“I don’t want your fucking forgiveness,” I snapped. “I have nothing to be forgiven for fromyou. And I know the risks. I just also know a lot more than you do and—call the meeting. I want it official.”

“Traitor,” he hissed.

“No, you are, and I’m done letting the rest of us have to deal with that.” I stared him down. “Within the week. That’s the rules of the family charter. Call it now. When?”

He smirked at me. “Fine, Friday night.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, because I don’t fly around enough. Having me fly back right after the Alpha meetings will be too much. You really are the pettiest, most pathetic man ever. It’s honestly mortifying to be your son.”

People gasped, but I ignored them and left, chuffing as he shouted threats after me that he would cut me off like he did Amelia and I would regret challenging him. No, I regretted not doing it sooner.

I regretted alot,but throwing down now to help Sagan wasn’t something to regret.

I handled what else I needed to at home and then flew right back to the castle, glad the runway was fixed there because that helped a lot. I had one of my managers working with Ayao onhow to purchase planes and going over all the information we still had from when my companies had just done all the legwork.

He really was a sharp one. Anger issues from family drama, but… I knew that well.

But he couldn’t give Sagan what she needed. He saw it all as a business deal of alliances and what the tradeoffs would be. Unfortunately, that was life, but I wanted more for her.

Shedeservedmore than that, especially after all she’d been through—all she wouldsufferas the leader of a fucked-up nation like Thovudin.

I handled work but also dodged phone calls from members of my family trying to get insight into the meeting and more. Dozens from my mother trying to talk me out of my decision before things “went too far.”

Things had long since gone too far, and a part of me hated her for how she allowed Father to behave all of these years. Allowing him to treat her that way and showing others in the family it was acceptable.

It wasn’t acceptable. He had at least five mistresses at any given time and wasted so much of our family’s money on them—covering them up and keeping his image as what the world thought was perfect. It was disgusting.

He was disgusting.

So are you for not having stood up to him sooner. For Mother and Amelia.

To say I wasn’t in the best of moods was an understatement, and honestly I was looking for a reason to just pound someone. I was that close to snapping and blowing my lid on lots.

A throat cleared next to me at lunch during the second day of the Alpha meetings. I ground my jaw when I saw it was the Alpha of Emberward—Berlinger’s father.