Page 2 of Coveted

Her heart fluttered at the thought. She had been on her best behavior, hadn’t received anything more than minor corrections, and her father had seemed happy with her of late. Maybe she could broach the idea of him choosing candidates, and then allowing her a chance to meet them and make her own choice. Bonding was for life, and she would be the one stuck with the alpha, after all.

A smile lifted her lips. She’d grown apathetic toward her life, but excitement buzzed beneath her skin for the first time in too long.

Her door opened and Tina strode in, faltering when Alana turned her smile on the other woman. Eyes narrowed in suspicion, Tina waved another maid forward with the silver and emerald heels chosen to go with Alana’s dress.

Allowing them to be strapped around her ankles, Alana stood once they were secure, gliding to where Tina stood and bowing her head, waiting for directions. It took everything she had to smooth her features and wait patiently instead of fidgeting, but she wouldn’t risk ruining her chances of convincing her father.

She would be perfect.

She would smile, follow the rules, submit, and do as she was instructed.

She would give her father no reason to deny her.

Chapter Two

Vax

“They won’t fucking listen. The only reason they’ve let me keep the position is because the miners threatened to rebel again if they replace me, and they need the crystals too bad to risk it.”

Vax turned his attention back to the two men taking up the chairs on the other side of his desk. He couldn’t stop his pacing, and their apparent calm irritated him further, pulling a low growl from his chest.

Leir’s eyes narrowed at him, but Varner ignored his display of temper. Vax had never met a beta so unaffected by alpha aggression, but it was one of the reasons he’d given the man the position of Chief of Staff.

“So what if they won’t listen?”

Vax rolled his eyes at Leir’s question. A year ago, Vax had been nothing more than a member of Leir’s crew, and while he’d taken over running Farcon 1 after the rebellion, Leir had returned to his ship with his mate. He didn’t understand why Vax needed the support of the other Chancellors.

“They’re pressuring us for more crystals. The threat of attack from the Legion has them wanting more warships, which theycan’t make without our crystals. The ones they get from Alaimah aren’t pure enough to channel the energy they need for ships that size.”

“That sounds like a good thing. Increasing demand means you can increase prices.”

Vax growled again as he turned and strode back the other direction. He could only take four steps before he was forced to retrace his path across the room.

“We’re already producing as much as we can. I promised the miners better hours and safety precautions. Am I supposed to become another Osmel?”

Leir’s lips twitched in a silent snarl, and even Varner’s unflappable façade cracked at the mention of the previous Chancellor. He’d been overthrown for a reason.

“So what aren’t they listening to? Is there anything that can be done?”

Leir leaned forward as he asked the questions. Vax knew Leir cared about the mining conditions as much as he did since Leir had grown up hopping between Camps with him. And Leir had paid more for the change than most.

“They aren’t listening to anything!”

Vax finally stopped his pacing, exhaustion hitting him all at once. Dropping into his chair, he ran a hand down his face and took a deep breath.

“They want new tunnels dug and the refinery run at all hours. They want me to bring in more miners. They want shipments of finished crystalsdoubled, and they want it allnow.”

Leir snorted and Varner’s head shook, both of them knowing how impossible the demands were.

“I tried to explain that I could do what they wanted, but it would take time. New tunnels mean we need more safety equipment. And it’s not like we can just plow through wherever we want, we need the possible sites surveyed first.

“New miners would have to be trained, and it’s not like we have anywhere to put them. All three Camps are already full. With the better conditions and wages, everyone who wanted out has already been replaced. I’d have to build a whole new Camp along with a new mine.”

“We have the plans ready for a new Camp,” Varner offered. They had already discussed expanding before Vax had gone to the meeting with the other Federation Chancellors.

“I know, but it still takestime. Time they’re refusing to give me. All they do is bitch about how Farcon 1 used to produce more, and then accuse me of withholding crystals just to inflate prices.”

Leir huffed, relaxing back into his seat again.

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