Page 69 of Microburst

18

Sagan

People were abuzz that I attended the hearing the next morning. It had been a big question all over the media whether I would or not. Part of me didn’t want to. I didn’t ever want to be in a room with Kole ever again.

But that was the reason I made myself go.

I was the Queen of Thovudin, and I would never forgive myself if I let people see me scared over one man. If nothing else, it could damage the reputation of the nation I was the shield for.

So I would never judge any woman for their decision if they didn’t go, but I wasn’t just a woman. I was a ruler and that had to come first.

Plus, I was a stubborn bitch and I wasn’t going to let that fucker win thinking I was scared of him.

I was a bit shocked at who made it clear they were coming to stand with me though. I assumed several of the normal people, and I probably shouldn’t have been surprised when Onyx was standing there ready. But Joris?Thorn?

Ayao?

Like… Really?

I didn’t even ask and off we went. I couldn’t even begin to deal with any of that and I couldn’t stop them.

Well, I could but… What was the point?

So yes, the whispers and murmurs were practically deafening as I approached the courthouse. Even worse when inside and we went through security. Within the courtroom itself people had to behave better, but I could practically feel the looks from Kole and his party.

Elira especially. She wanted my attention like always.

She really was something. And I didn’t mean that in a good way.

“I’m not connected to the internet,” I told the court officer as I pulled out my tablet. “My understanding is that it’s fine then.”

He blinked at me. “You can do whatever you want, Your Majesty.”

I smiled at him. “I would like to follow the rules, Officer. That is procedure, yes?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The man was so flustered he gave an awkward bow after saying that.

It was hard not to laugh, and a few of my party were doing their best to cover their reactions as well.

“I like the font,” Treena commented as she looked over my shoulder. “Gavriil did a good job.”

“He did,” I agreed, reviewing the auction website. It wasn’t live yet and I made sure it was all on my tablet just for this reason. I would want something to keep me busy—distracted while we waited like this. “I think it’s ready to launch. No more dragging this out.”

Treena snickered. “People would take months to put something like this together. Dragging it out. You’re too much.”

I gave a half shrug. I’d been called worse for sure. I wasn’t sure what I might have responded, but people started standing as the judge walked in. It took everything I had not to glance at Kole and his table to see their reaction when it wasn’t who they thought it would be.

“We win, bastard,”Eloise mocked in my mind, Iris smirking as well.

I kept my mask in place but mentally agreed with my dragons.

“As you can see, the judge that was handling this case won’t be anymore,” Judge Joanna said as she sat and gestured for everyone else to. “He filed for immediate retirement, and after reviewing this mess I was assigned, I would guess it’s not only the whispers he was found in an illegal gambling den that was the reason.”

Wowwwwww.Okay, she was really throwing down.

She did a double take when she saw me and stood. “I didn’t realize you were here, Your Majesty.”

“I apologize if that impedes things, Your Honor,” I hedged, not sure why she was playing things this way.