Page 20 of Microburst

“As I just reminded everyone inside, mating the leader of Thovudin is serious. It’s not a game. It’s not acontest. My mother had immense influence over my father and that was why many objected to her. It’s why generations ago the royal family stopped allowing Alpha families to mate into ours.”

I gave them several moments with that.

“This isn’t a contest for acarwhere whoever holds their hand on it longest wins it. Putting in the bare minimum andholding outisn’t what any of us should want for the second most powerful position in Thovudin. Even if you hate me and think who I mate should really be in charge,pleasehave higher standards thanthat.”

I felt much,muchbetter when a few flinched.

I glanced between several of them again, the ones who talked the most trash about me. “I am not remotely as naïve as you all paint me. I’m not looking for a prince to sweep me off my feet and have fantasies about my perfect true love. I am looking for who fits best to be apartnerand help me handle all of this.”

I gestured behind me to the castle.

“I am looking for a leader who will benefit our amazing nation and someone worthy of standing on the world’s stage with me. Someone who isworthyof representing all ofyouand has your best interests at heart, because that is what we all need. It’s not who has the best smile or looks best in a suit. Yes, I notice that too and yes, there needs to be chemistry.

“But what I findmost attractiveis someone smart. Someone I can rely on and who can handle things, not who has the prettiest eyes. So enough. Just… Enough.” I took in a slow breath and let it out. “This idea with the temples will never happen. We all agree. The Alphas and candidatesall agreedat this last meeting.

“However, I understand people’s interest in what is going on given this person will become the second most powerful person in Thovudin. So I will discuss it with the candidates and figure out something. Maybe extending June’s weekly interview and she can speak with them on the projects they are working on for Thovudin.”

I had wanted to suggest that for a while and make it clear to many who was a dud, but the people around me thought it was too much. The Alphas had shot it down because they didn’t want to be embarrassed or apparently have their candidates do more than get into my bed really.

It made me happy when the media all seemed happy with the idea.

“But it needs to be morerespectfulgoing forward,” I said firmly. “They’re not stud horses. We’re all people, and mating is serious. This is our lives, not this season’s hottest drama with twenty episodes. Please start remembering that. That’s really not too much to ask. Thank you.”

“Why do you keep sayingoneof them when everyone is expecting you to take several of them, Your Majesty?” one of the reporters called out.

I met his gaze and raised an eyebrow. “I don’t care what people expect of me. I’m queen. It makes me the boss. And it was someone fromyournetwork who called me a ‘whore queen’ with all of her mates as the future of Thovudin. It will never happen if that’s how people behave. I don’t care if I fall in love with all of them or—bring on war with the Alphas then. I won’t do it.”

I ignored the rest of the questions and went back inside.

Fraser was so right. Fuck my parents and fuck everything.

6

Sagan

I ignored the range of looks as I arrived at the training grounds and focused on the one wolf I would always recognize in her shifted form. I raised an eyebrow at her. “This pushed you over the edge?”

Davian, the head of her security, cleared his throat. “The princess needed a better run and figured she could keep up with you this way. Also, she asked for a real conversation about aides.”

“They are here or getting tossed out,” I purred, gesturing to the mating candidates.

We had thought to bring in Treena’s actual aides from her country, Bodach, but people shut that down at every turn because of the optics. And we were being sent such talented people after all. The Alphas wanted to have their female family members help us too. So we wouldn’t need the wolves.

Except not one of the female family members panned out. They thought they were fun positions or whatever, and the two that actually wanted the job for real, Myriam couldn’t even get through a phone call with them before basically declaring she would quit if she had to deal with the idiots on a regular basis.

“I’m done protecting everyone else’s reputation when no one keeps their promises to help mine,” I said sweetly beforesmirking out at the candidates. “Step up or get left behind. I’m not being mated to a fucking dud because you think I’mstuckwith any of you.” I snorted. “I can take all your Alphas on. I tried to be nice for peace.

“But I won’t be forced into being mated to—I control the military. Your family controlsonearea.” I glanced at them in turn. “Atbest, any of you can gather three areas to your side for any real battle.” I snorted when several frowned. “You all piss each other off more than anyone else. That’s why none of you have ever been able to usurp the throne.

“So pull your heads out of your asses. I’m not trapped with any of you. I’m not being forced into anything. This was the path of least resistance and fine, I have to mate, so it was a viable option.” I gave them each another look. “But it also gave metimeto come up with a better plan whileyouall burned out. Most of your Alphas think this plan is stupid now.”

I chuckled as they started to realize I’d played them.

Had I?

No. I’d been trapped, but I’d had time to retreat and reassess so I could come up with a new strategy and reframe it all. Darren realized what I was doing first and winked at me.

I did a double take when I saw him, Fraser, and Maple there.