Page 63 of Microburst

“You needed to grow up to be our leader especially after saying you could handle so much and throwing out the elders. It was an unhingedrant, Your Majesty. I’ve always hated him—most of us do, not just the women—but I’ve never heard him be so gleeful. It was creepy like he’s been waiting for this chance.”

“Monsters normally do,” Fraser complained and did a double take at whatever was on my face. Obviously, I knew he wasn’t remotely referring to me, but… That word would be sensitive to me for a while.

Probably forever given my own parents thought I was a monster.

“And he knew you wouldn’t leave his ruling alone since he was sure the next level of court wouldn’t go against him. That’s not how it normally works in these matters, so you would have to get involved as the queen, and he—he’s setting a trap that you’re not as honorable as you say.”

I snorted. “By being completely corrupt and…” I swallowed the rest of what I wanted to say. I smiled at her. “Thank you. I’ll figure out what to do and handle it.”

“The hearing to finalize the plea deal is tomorrow,” she worried. “How can you handle it by then?”

“I think it’s best you do not know that,” Fraser chuckled and I agreed.

I really did.

We thanked them and I warned the shop owner not to get involved again. She nodded along, but it was clear that she would if it could help me. Maybe Thovudin, but it was more about me.

What a sweet fool. She could get hurt.

“Right, and people aren’t always calling for your head?”Iris mocked in my head.

Fair enough.

“Up for some fun tonight?” I asked Fraser, not bothering to wait for the answer before glancing at Myriam… Which made Fraser burst out laughing.

Glad we could have some fun in this kind of crazy. I was actually impressed with us that we could.

“I’ll find where the judge will be,” Myriam told me looking tired.

“No need. I have someone tapped in with people now,” Belinda told us, smirking when it was clear that we would all want details about that.

I just knew better than to bother asking. Really, I did.

“Okay, well, I guess I’ll be the diversion and make up something where you should both be with me?” Maple… Offered. It seemed like an offer. She glanced between all of us. “Is that what I should be doing when you go to the fights too?”

“I was sneaking in and out just fine,” I said easily, ignoring the death look Benson gave me. “Even after someone said he was going to plug all the holes to catch me and make me confess—”

“Yeah, got it, I’m an asshole. I know. And one you want to fire too. I get it,” he snapped and stormed out of there before I could reply.

“He knows that’s another reason to get fired, right?” Myriam drawled, snorting when the rest of us did.

I went about my day and then Maple came through and had a whole thing arranged. We were going out to restaurant with a private dining room that had an easy way to slip out.

Horrible security issue, but awesome for what we needed and clearly one she’d used before.

“I’m making note of this place,” Myriam said, understanding it was why Maple knew of it. “Have fun.”

Yeah, sure, fun.

Benson was waiting with a different vehicle and my favorite guard, Lydia, who was clearly read in. She was all in and understood that this was off books and what was best for Thovudin. She cracked a few jokes about being the coolest getaway driver since she would drop us off and pick us back up.

Nothing would get us caught faster than walking to and from where weparkedor an SUV with the royal plates was spotted there.

Luckily, the judge wasn’t still at the courthouse because that would have been a nightmare to sneak into. Even with Belinda’s magic—the security was amazing there for a reason.

I actuallylaughedwhen I realized where we were, leaning against Belinda who evidently had been hiding this gem.

“What am I missing?” Fraser asked.