Page 45 of Microburst

He snorted. “They were going to think it when they learned I had access no matter how you handled it now. I prefer you made it clear up front it’s because of work. I like living.”

I gave him the look he deserved, but he just gave a half shrug like he stood by what he’d said.

I let out a slow breath and decided to focus on the ticking bomb I was basically now holding that could either explode in my hands… Or the temple’s.

“So walk me through this as if you were on my team,” I hedged.

“I am.” He sighed when I snorted. “I don’t see this team as not being my team. The moment I see a conflict, I will tell you and make it clear my team is my team. I’m not kidding that I believe in not fucking people over.” There was something in his voice that wasn’t hurt but kind of was.

And I felt small when I realized he was upset because he hadn’t told his uncle what he’d figured out and I’d just snorted at him.

“The snort was unfair,” I admitted.

He let out a shaky breath. “Thanks. I also get that it’s hard to consider anyone could be on your team after all you’ve been through.”

“Yeah. Too many who should have been weren’t.” I cleared my throat, basically wanting to say he knew that feeling too, but it seemed cold to mention.

We shared a look and I knew we were on the same page about it at least.

“Dray reminded them of their promises and to not fuck with you again when right now wasn’t the time to risk hate against the Alpha families after the chaos of Lori and Kole,” he said quietly. “But also getting this done would make the news big and all over and no one would care about a head of the family change. At least right now.”

“And Dray wants what for his help in this?” I muttered.

He was quiet. “He said nothing and he meant it. Tried to brush it off as he was keeping his promise.”

“The reality?” I reached over and grabbed his wrist when he was quiet but dropped it as we kept running. “I’m not going to fuck him over if he doesn’t come for me. I promise, Ayao. I don’t have a grudge with him or Jade Creek. I really did pretty much wipe the slate clean when I took over and Dray has helped.”

“As long as he stays in his lane.”

“As long as he stays in his lane,” I confirmed.

He sighed and moved his hands onto his head… And I tried to ignore how fucking good his biceps and arms looked like that.

Seriously, I’d just had sex last night. Were my lusty hormones directly tied to my stress levels?

Actually, that sounded like it could be a thing, and I had a mental image of both of my dragons nodding. Great.

“We have problems with our temples in Jade Creek, and the worst temple head is the front-runner to become the new high priest. I think that’s why Dray jumped on adding your idea from our run with Joris. That’s my gut and knowing him.”

Fair enough, and I said as much and then he walked me through the rest.

Basically, Joris’s dad had told him enough with the temples and he was getting flak about it… And it wasn’t the first time. The Alpha admitted this on the call with the others. Joris pushed back and said it was worse than they knew, especially with the way they were pushing me and this idea of meetings, it was a line in the sand that couldn’t go unchecked.

Andhe was now working on another project with the temples for me, but other candidates would be involved as well, so that could take the heat off just him. So like chill out already and let him do what he needed to because he was sick of being told he was too passive and then shut down whenever he didn’t act like his father’s toy to push around.

Dray said the Alpha was fairly impressed and said if nothing else, this contest seemed good to push some of the “kids” out of the nest and see how they flew. A few agreed that the old practice of being aides to the king or queen was smart and something to discuss bringing back.

Awesomefor me or my kids, but that was a problem for future me.

Joris finally caved and said that it would be announced that a whole inspection of all the different temples’ food pantries needed to happen. Also, what was going on from what he knew. Ofcoursethe Alpha immediately told the others and it was fine this time, but seriously they were just proving my point of why I couldn’t trust any of them with information.

Really, they were.

Buttttttthey built this in with the press conference about Wilder leaving my mating contest. That the state of the temples was so bad that with food shortages here and help arriving, no on trusted they could be of use, so all of the Alphas were sending a Beta to help Joris and the candidates to inspect all the temples and get them back in working order.

And basically back in their lane. That was where the third part came in and it was all because of my bold leadership cutting out the corrupt elders and finding better ways to manage the problems of Thovudin that they were doing the same.

So they were going to take credit for my idea, but more importantly, theheatof it. And also make the point that Queen Rani’s generosity shouldn’t have to go through the schools when the temples shouldn’t be an issue and have food pantries. Extra points for that dig.