"This is the future queen, Lady Allissa. Once she is crowned, I expect you all to refer to her as her highness or her majesty. For today, Lady Allissa will be just fine." Winifred patted my hand with a smile.


    "We should have a toast to our future queen," Cleo said,


    motioning one of the servers over. The server handed us each a drink as Cleo raised hers in the air. "To our queen. May she lead our pack with wisdom and grace."


    I wasn''t buying this act at all, and I knew something else was up her sleeves. Thedies all lifted their sses up, and I joined them. Toasting to myself. To my surprise, the drink was sparkling, with a hint of alcohol. It had a unique aged grape voring. "That is our kingdom''s finest wine. Of course you know all about our ancient vineyards as our future queen, right?"


    And there it was. She wanted to use this moment to insult my intelligence and show how ipetent I was.


    "I have seen the vineyards from the balcony. I want to take a stroll through them once the king permits it. He barely lets me out of his sight, let alone outside of the castle." I smiled politely at her fake smile that didn''t reach her eyes.


    Her poisonous lips curled up as she batted hershes. "Oh, not good at all. The king needs to trust you outside of the castle. I


    had prepared to be the future queen and I made sure to go out in themunity. A queen who isn''t trusted to leave the castle


    99


    "First, let me start by saying it isn''t that he doesn''t trust Issy." Lyle stepped next to me, ring at Cleo. "She is so precious to him that he knows he can''t let anything happen to her. Sure it was fine for you toe and go as you pleased, because if something happened to you, he wouldn''t lose any sleep over it." A few of the younger women giggled, making Cleo''s eye twitch. "But if something happens to Issy, then he will rain terror down on the kingdom. Keeping her safe and protected is best for everyone."


    Cleo raised her chin defiantly, her eyes shing with a mixture of anger and hurt. "I understand that with his mate here, things are different. But don''t pretend that there was nothing between me and Darren. And we both know that I was the one he was going to choose-"


    "Was, so let''s move on from this soap box," Lyle said coldly.


    "I have bled for this kingdom more times than I can count. The queen isn''t a doll to be kept on the shelf, shielded from the world. And if that is the case, then perhaps he should keep his mate, but also take a queen."


    Oh fuck no! This bitch ... so that was what she was after now. She still wanted to be the queen, even if he had me as his mate.


    "Are you suggesting that my mate take you as his queen? Which would mean you expect to sleep with him? And have his


    children? Am I understanding this correctly?" I narrowed my eyes at this woman, ready to relieve her neck of the weight of her pathetic head.


    "I am not suggesting anything. Really. I know it is something the king can do. I''m just brainstorming, honest. What would be the best thing for this kingdom?"


    "I see ... well, unless the kingdom wants to keep arranging funerals for dead queens, I think it''s best that my mate doesn''t take anyone else. I''m afraid I am too temperamental for that. And if that is something the king insists on, then he can just have it, but without me. I don''t share what belongs to me."


    "What about your previous mate?" she said with a smirk.


    "Alright, Cleo, that is enough. She can''t help that herst mate cheated on her. And when we find him, he is dead. But you are walking a thin line of disrespect that I know Darren will not tolerate," Lyle growled. With the mention of Darren''s name, I saw fear sh in her eyes for just a brief moment.


    "Now now now. Let''s settle down. Cleo, I know this must be a shocking adjustment for you, but this is my son''s mate and his choice. I know this has been emotional for you, but please realize that—"


    "I''m sorry if that is how I aming across. I just want what''s best for the kingdom. You know that. I took the position as a Waiting Lady for the kingdom''s sake. I have sacrificed years of my life not dating like other young women. I even gave myself to the king. I have trained for years to be the next queen. YouR Chapter 32


    know, that gives me a great idea. I would love to help Lady Allissa with her training." Cleo batted hershes at Winifred. "Who better than me? Don''t you think, Winnie?" Using Winifred''s nickname was a way to show me how close they were. Winifred was also a Waiting Lady and I knew she sympathized with Cleo because of it.


    "Well, that won''t be my decision to make. That is, of course, up to Darren." Winifred gave her a polite smile.


    "Of course," Cleo said with a disappointed look.


    "Like hell that will happen." Lyleughed. "Darren isn''t going to pair up his precious mate with adder climber who is capable of doing anything that she deems necessary for the sake of the kingdom."


    "What are you suggesting?" Cleo raised her hand to her chest, acting appalled.


    "I said what I said. Mom, I think we both know that Darren would prefer that you handle Issy''s training." Lyle ced his hand on my shoulder, and I could feel the anger radiating off of him. He really did not like Cleo ... perhaps more than me. "Yes, I believe you are right. Like I already said, this is Darren''s choice."


    "Yes, I understand that. Lady Allissa, I would like to show you the Waiting diaries, that would be alright, right?" Cleo smiled innocently at Winifred, who nodded her head.


    "If Allissa wants to. That is up to her."


    "Well? What do you say?"


    "You want me to leave the party?" I asked, arching my brow up at her.


    "Of course not. It will only take a minute, and then we will pop back in. I''ll show you the room and then you can leave when you''re ready."


    "I''ming with her," Lyle growled.


    "Have it your way." The smile on Cleo''s face was strange, and her eyes looked excited. I wasn''t an idiot. I knew she was nning something, but I also didn''t want to give the wrong impression in front of all thesedies. I wasn''t afraid of Cleo and wouldn''t hide behind Darren for protection. Besides, I would have Lyle with me.


    "Fine, lead the way." I nced up at Lyle and could see he was ring at Cleo too. It looked like both of us were suspicious of her. We followed her to the side door through the crowd and then stepped into the quiet hallway.


    "Alright, Cleo, what do you really want?" Lyle growled, cutting to the chase.


    "Honestly, Lyle. What type of person do you think I am? I thought those diaries would be helpful, though you might not like everything you read in them, so keep that in mind. Remember, most of us wrote about our experiences with Chapter 32 Darren."


    So was this her angle? She wanted me to read the diaries and be so jealous


    I would leave?


    "I understand. It''s all in the past, though." I watched as she nodded her head, but still, her excited smile didn''t promise anything good.


    Issy-


    I know, Lyle, but I want to see what she''s up to. I''m not afraid of this bitch. Are


    you? I listened as he scoffed in my head. "Lead


    your neck is on the line." the way, Cleo, and remember


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