Page 53 of Microburst

“Luckily, we heal fast,”my dragon drawled in my mind.

14

Sagan

“Then I quit!” I heard Velle yell from outside the family dining room. “I don’t care my debt or—I quit then.”

I sighed and scrubbed my hands over my face. I’d stormed out of the dining hall and come in here saying to leave me alone when she and a few others came after me. They were arguing outside the room as I tried to wrap my mind around what had happened.

I went over to the door and threw it open, waving for them to all come in. “I just needed like five minutes to…”

“It’s been like fifteen and you kinda broke a really expensive plate which is a new level for you,” Myriam defended. “But, everybody, chill the fuck out.” She thanked the staff who brought in some food from the dining hall so we could eat—Myriam, Velle, Treena, Maple, and me.

I snorted and gestured for Lydia to sit. It was just us women and like… Just sit and eat. “It’s Saturday morning even.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” she chuckled and accepted.

“Okay, let’s back up and—”

“I can’t keep being hated,” Velle rasped and then let out an actual sob, covering her face.

“We’re all really fucking tired, Sagan,” Myriam sighed. “Like we need help. I know we’re getting more, but it just never ends.”

“I know. I’m exhausted too,” I sighed. “I’m not mad at you, Velle. I’m just mortified and confused. Can you please fill me in?”

She sniffled and tried to mop up her face, sounding whinier than I’d ever heard her which actually told me a lot about how tired she was. “He gave me the card and said he couldn’t catch you. That people were talking about you not decorating and he had you covered. I don’t know, I was in the middle of like fifteen things, so I said sure whatever and gave it to you.”

“And you didn’t think to tell her that?” Treena asked, glancing between us.

“I didn’t think he wouldn’t fuckingtell her,” Velle cried. “Why wouldn’the tell her?Like I’m fucking busy! I’m not a couples counselor. And like there’s levels ofstupid—he called and had a card issued in her name anddidn’t tell her?”

“Yeah, I’m actually with Velle on this one,” Myriam muttered. “Like what the fuck, Thorn?”

“I agree,” I said at the same time as Treena.

“Thank you,” Velle said before blowing her nose again. “I wasn’t starting trouble. Could everyone stop accusing me of that? Do you know how hard it is to constantly be hated where you live or—”

I burst out laughing and it wasn’t happy or sane sounding. It cut through some of her upset though because she sighed and seemed to catch on to what I was getting at.

She tried to get us back on topic. “Everyone was talk—”

“And that’s a real problem, Sagan,” Treena cut in. “Your castle is seriously ridiculous with the way that everyone talks. It’s actually likeworsenow that they like you. I think they’re trying to get the word out that you’re not like the rumors or that they like you so you stop thinking you’re not loved in your own home. I’m not sure, but it has to stop.”

I couldn’t agree more. I just didn’t know how without firing someone and that would make people hate me again. Plus… We were all tired for a fucking reason after all.

I let out a slow breath and met Velle’s gaze. “Look, I don’t hate you anymore. I think we’ve come a long way and I’m really glad Myriam was pushy and brought you on.However, we’re not friends. I don’t see you as one.” I gave a half shrug when all four women couldn’t hide their shock. “You did alotof damage, Velle.

“Some of the problems I face now stem from shit you started back in college. Rumors I wasn’t a good student, but it was all my name.” I continued when she flinched. “That I was buying off professors or my parents’ aides wrote my guest lectures.” I felt better when even Myriam shot her a look on that one. “I believe you when you say that you were wrong.”

“And I regret it.”

“I believe that too, and you have told me that,” I accepted. “It’s just not enough time yet. I never talked trash about you, so it’s easier for you to move past our dislike of each other. Yes, I fought back—you know what happened.” I let out a long breath and took a few bites. “I haven’t heard people here say they hate you, just you’re not their favorite.”

“I’ve heard it,” Myriam snitched. “Mostly the bitchy candidates because Velle is the gatekeeper, but a few of the guards and staff like they want her to hear it as if that makes them on your side now. I don’t really know. They don’t smell…”

“Committed to what they’re saying,” Treena offered, nodding when Myriam snapped like that was the right answer. “It’s complicated, but I would definitely think that ‘hate’ is too strong of a word for what they’re saying. The point is that they shouldn’t be sayinganythingthough. Not within these walls or where people could hear them.”

Which meant she was also worried about outside of the castle.