Page 61 of Microburst

He swallowed loudly but did it, the worry in his eyes thick.

Part of me wanted to ask if it was for her or me?

Then I snorted. Her. He could say he cared for me all he wanted, but he always worried about everyone else before me—valued them more… And everyone else knew it. He would too if he’d stop lying to himself.

“Good morning, Your Majesty,” Raquel greeted. “You wanted to see me?”

“I did, please sit,” I told her, thanking her since she came with the cart of my drinks. I picked what I wanted and was happy with some additions. “This is great.” I glanced at the bottles. “Where did you get this?”

“I told your uncle what I remembered you liked specifically when I visited you on campuses and he had them imported,” Benson answered, nodding to Fraser.

“For now,” Fraser said gently. “We’ll find you some Thovudin brands while you get acclimated.” He leaned in and kissed my hair. “I got you, poppet. I’m sorry I didn’t think of it sooner.”

“Thanks. Really.” It meant a lot to me that he got the premade protein shakes and coffee concentrate I loved.

Likeloved. They had three types of coffee creamer flavors I liked and… It was great. I thanked Raquel as well.

“I know I’ve been neglectful, but it wasn’t intentional, Your Majesty,” she promised.

“No, you are not the same as the head landscaper,” I agreed. “But someone suggested—this is all you’ve known, Raquel, and I think that’s a big flaw in what’s been going on. You are crucial here, but we aren’t working. That much is clear after so many speed bumps and—”

“Please don’t fire me, Your Majesty,” she rasped. “I beg you not to shame me that way. I will be better and—”

“I’m not firing you, though I should.” I ignored when she and Benson flinched. “This last time where you brushed me off that women gossip and… It was too much. Benson too. I’m so disgusted with you both and how you dismissed me like a child instead of—it makes me uncomfortable in my own home.”

“Don’t say that,” Benson whispered.

“Mostly because you’re both so egregiously wrong it’s beyond words,” I continued. I let out a slow breath and glanced between them before focusing back on Raquel. “So I’m going to talk to Treena’s father and you’re going to go train in his castle the way Davian is training Benson here. I want you to see what I haveexperiencedthat you dismissed so easily as impossible.”

Fraser started chuffing when Raquel opened her mouth, and it took all I had not to tell her to pack up and get out when I realized she was going to push back. She seriously had the audacity to challenge me when I was still giving her a chance.

She shot him a look and then swallowed loudly. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You need to learn somehumility, Raquel,” I informed her, my cold tone. “You interrupted and tried to overrule the ruler of Thovudin, not just the owner of this castle who is now in charge. I have always hated this system of certain families serving mine because it’s this cultish,shelteredmindset that leads to this. Other nations do it differently.”

“I wasn’t aware of that,” she admitted.

“And yet you’ve been very sure on so much that you correct me too often.” I thought that drove my point home pretty damn well. “I will talk with King Taryn and let you know when your trip will be.” I added more because I was pretty sure what she had been about to say earlier. “Or I’ll expect your resignation by the morning.”

She swallowed loudly. “I will handle what I should with filling in Yolanda and making sure things run smoothly in my absence.”

I had a feeling things would be better without her around, but I didn’t want to say that when I was trying to give her one last chance. At least on the surface.

“Well done,” Fraser muttered when she was gone. “I would never have thought of it.”

“Because it’s againsttradition,” I grumbled. “It’s so beaten into us—it wasn’t my idea, but it’s perfect. She’s so sure this is how things are—we know it’s not.” I shared a look with him and was glad when we were on the same page.

“Will I be having the same trip?” Benson asked quietly, a bit of sarcasm in his tone.

“I think you need a trip to the bottom of the ocean, you piece of shit,” Fraser bit out right as Belinda opened the door.

“The timing today,” I sighed as the shop owner and the woman with her clearly heard what Fraser said and looked terrified. “Please ignore that. It was personal and deserved.”

“I would advise against this, Your Majesty,” the tiger with them said firmly. “They’re both lying and now freaking out that they’re caught.”

“Yes, but they’re both relieved now that they’re near Sagan and they know I can still tell if they’re lying, so it’s fine,” Myriam said as she joined us with Maple, Velle, and Treena. “I have a feeling they were sneaky for the right reasons.”

“You are so very bright that it’s beyond impressive,” Belinda praised her. “And you’re correct, so we need to erase that this woman was ever here now that you know her real name and searched her.” She gave me a look that she wasn’t kidding.