Page 44 of Microburst

That was fun for me. Fine, he was a big guy, even for dragons, but he could definitely train harder. He wasn’t as filled out as Thorn or others. It was more like he worked out so he didn’t look skinny being on the taller side of dragons.

And to look good. I bet it was about vanity not strength or for anything it should be.

My dragons chastised me for being judgy and just as bad to look down on anyone’s reasons that they went to the gym. They were right and I accepted their reprimands.

“Look, I think we can agree that I’m not like the other candidates and I’m not some dipshit,” he said once we were far enough away. “I’m not saying I’m perfect and don’t have my moments, but I’m useful.”

“Spit it out,” I chuckled when I realized he was going to circle around his point either because of the time or he didn’t know how to ask what he needed to.

“I want better access to you.” He growled when I snorted. “I don’t mean like that. Now you get why I didn’t know how to broach this. I don’t even have your direct number. I’m working on projects—look, I think Treena and Myriam are awesome and I’m grateful they’re at your side.”

It was hard not to laugh that he left out Velle. Even those of us who didn’t hate her anymore didn’t actually like her. It would be sad if she didn’t bring it on herself.

He waited until I glanced at him. “But they’re from other countries—Treena will be queen. I know she’s your best friend, butyouneed to choose what she knows sometimes. Not me. I need to be able to get toyouand you can tell her what I know.”

Because he knew something right then that he didn’t think the Heir of Bodach should. “Give me an example of what you’re talking about.”

He tried to hide a smile but failed, fully knowing what I was doing and I basically had to yell at my body to calm down… Because the smile was so disarming that any sane woman with a pulse would react. Ayao Hamdan wasfine.

Like with a capital “F” and could have been the top model in Thovudin if that was what he wanted. Sometimes I wondered why he didn’t go that route to break away from his family.

Then I remembered how he reacted to the media all in his face and that pretty much answered that.

“The Alphas took you not calling them on your deadline about Wilder as you conceding, caving and…” He nodded whenI chuffed. “They had a call about it and Dray threw down that you’re queen and you have other shit besides babysitting them.”

The hair on the back of my neck stood up at his tone. “And really?”

“He got a tip that Darren took over the Gurren family and it got messy. He doesn’t know specifics, but ‘messy’ was what he heard, and it was a juicy story. Someone’s planning to break it this morning even and try to corner Darren? He wasn’t really sure besides sure its angle is to hurt you.”

“And he’s doing what with that?” I hedged.

“He threw down with the other Alphas and got it done,” he said, and handed me an earbud. “I set it up that my phone will read the statement to you while we run. There is no chance I can read it while moving and not die.”

I snorted, feeling the same. I thanked him and put it in my ear, ignoring how intimate it kind of felt as he put the paired earbud in his own ear.

Then I was just distracted by what I was hearing. Like almost tripped over my own feet shocked. Dray had thrown down was an understatement.

First, it was from all of the Alphas, even the acting ones.

Second, it was for more than I had wanted and made it cleartheywere done with the temples overreaching and were pushing back.

Third, they even made it clear this was completely due to my bold leadership cutting out the corrupt elders and now they were taking the next steps.

I handed back the earbud and then took off for several sprints as I processed what I’d listened to. Then I swung by Benson who was with us and was surprised when he turned to jog sideways instead of making me face backwards.

I matched him. “Ayao gets full access to my floor going forward. Put him on the list.”

Anger I wasn’t ready for filled his eyes. I swallowed a sigh and went to return to Ayao but almost tripped again when I sawseveralother upset people.

Fuck.

I decided to handle it by talking to Treena, Myriam, and Velle. “He was right. This was something I needed to hear directly and only I should decide if it’s fine for citizens of other nations to know. My advisor or aides or not. He—he gets access to me going forward given the projects he’s handling and how tapped in he is.”

“Fine, but he owes us lunch or something for being so damn pushy,” Velle grumbled. “He’s polite but seriously pushy.”

Oh, that was hysterical coming from her, especially when most times she wasn’t even polite. I felt better when Treena and Myriam both gave her looks likeyou’re kidding, right?

I jogged back to Ayao and I saw how he was looking at the group. “Sorry, it’s Monday before coffee. I need like a month of sleep.”