Page 18 of Microburst

“What can we do?” Darren asked when I came out of my bedroom that morning, the three of them looking wrecked. “Don’t even tell me nothing. Part of me wants to be mad you kept this debt from us. You shouldn’t have.” He raised his head and determination was in his eyes. “No more lies.”

I nodded. “No more lies.” I went on when he opened his mouth. “What happened with the Gurren family?”

He swallowed loudly and then let out a long breath. “I will tell you. I will tell you everything, but just not today, okay? You’ve had enough. Really just—tomorrow, let’s unpack that bomb.”

Fair enough. I let out a slow breath. “Myriam is drowning trying to unravel it all. The debts are—I think they’re officially all paid? Or no, the rest have like pending wire transfers, but the banks are still holding up the actual accounts being put into my control. And that was where some of the elder penalties were deposited. I’m being—”

“Controlled,” Fraser growled. “This is still about manipulation and control.”

“Isn’t it always?” I drawled.

“Okay, we will get with her and we will finish this,” Darren said as he gestured between the three of them. “So the fighting is done.”

“I think that unwise,” I told him firmly. I shook my head when he argued. “You think after learning this I should take that away from Eloise? The only time she’s ever been allowed to helpand her emotional outlet?” I gestured to my hair. “Always hiding her. No, I won’t do that.”

Belinda came in from off the balcony. “Besides, I took over the clubs and handled the situation, so it will be much safer and better. It will keep with your investigation into everything going on, and now I have people who can get you more information for when you make it all legal.” She chuckled at whatever she got off of me. “Yes, Eloise, I will get you challenging matches.”

“She also needs to fly,” I told Belinda. “We figure out how to make this work. I’m changing things to work for me, including my schedule—no more.”

“Yes, absolutely, Your Majesty,” she purred, sounding impressed.

More like it was long overdue.

I showered and got dressed for the day before walking into breakfast and ignoring all the looks. Clearly, people had learned something had happened. It was hard when people were living at the castle.

Except it shouldn’t be.

I changed course and went right for Raquel where she was by Benson. “There will be a meeting soon and I want a list of proposed consequences for gossiping and people not knowing the worddiscretion. I agree with Pearl that this might be their place of work, but it is myhome—the home of the ruler of Thovudin and not a high school.

“People need to learn how to handle that better because gossip isn’t harmless here and can damage national security.” I gestured to all of the people watching us. “None of them should know anything about something so small.” I met Benson’s gaze when he opened his mouth. “This hasalwaysbothered me. It’s not about last night.

“All I had to do was hide behind certain trees when I visited on break and I could get caught up on everything that happenedwhile I was gone. It’s ridiculous. The staff acts like just because someone has been allowed in here that they don’t have to watch their mouths. I’ve visited dozens of other royal castles and palaces and you want to know what I learned from their staff?”

“I would assume the answer is nothing from your upset, Your Majesty,” Raquel muttered.

“Nothing,” I confirmed. I looked at each of them in turn. “My parents might have been lax fools and let too much go, but I will not share their fate and ignore the glaring issues in front of me. Put a meeting on the books, and I expect a plan from each of you on how to correct it or the positions we’re hiring to replace people.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” they both agreed, not hiding their surprise.

“Well done,” Treena muttered as I moved over to the buffet. She leaned in more and lowered her voice to barely a breath. “Belinda let me remember that she used her power and something happened. I would assume Myriam too. Probably not Velle.”

I snickered. Yeah, Velle would be a bitch and throw a fit if she was left with the memory that her mind had been fucked with. “I’m sorry. Really, I am. I wish things were different and we could just be Sagan and Treena.”

“It would be nice.” She let out a shaky breath. “I will always love you as Sagan, never Queen of Thovudin. Just know that and I’m here for you.”

I swallowed loudly. “I know that. Be patient with me. I’ll need it.”

“Patience is my specialty.” She looked less than thrilled when her guards off to the side were trying to hide their amusement. One coughing to cover his laugh.

I wasn’t any better, so I couldn’t even try to judge her for being impatient.

Velle sat down with a huff after we did, not even with any food yet. “Wilder is packed up and gone, but his uncle is dragging his feet on the announcement. He wants another meeting and to discuss it more with the other Alphas or whatever.”

I ground my teeth. “He has twenty-four hours to get me something to approve and a real plan or I announce what really happened in my interview with June. I was kind and allowed him to handle the situation gracefully, but it will be donequicklybefore someone else leaks the full thing. It always gets leaked.”

“Fully agree,” she muttered. “You need some sort of rule book for these fools. All I’ve seen is like the royal protocol things your aunt gave me. That’s for members of the royal family. They’re saying they’re not royal family yet and—”

“Bunch of fucking babies,” I grumbled, ignoring when people froze at me swearing right in the dining hall. “Fine, then give the babies rules like it’s school. Make the pettiest guidebook of dos and don’ts to become a potential consort to the queen.”