Frost & Bothered by Gayla Drummond

ahead.”
    “Thanks. Okay, Logan’s spent what? Eighteen years leading the clan and protecting Terra? Everything I’ve heard points to him doing a damn good job of it.” When I paused for air, most of the queens made quiet noises of agreement.
    “Unless I’ve missed something, Terra is officially Queen now. She’s eighteen, and came into her own over a month ago, whooping the holy hell out of that overgrown douchebag in the process. I think that means she’s pretty capable of taking care of herself. Especially here, at home, with everyone around.”
    That earned some more murmurs of agreement, and gave me the nerve to keep talking. “I don’t think you realize it, Danielle, but insisting Logan’s the only one who can keep Terra safe isn’t a good thing. It kind of undermines her, and the clan. I mean, if people start hearing our Queen can’t take care of herself, they’ll begin believing it. They hear that they’re not capable of protecting her, they’ll start doubting themselves.” I had to stop for air. “And if they start believing that they’re weak, that Terra’s weak, then others will begin to believe that too. Words have power, and the feelings words convey have power.”
    Moira nodded, a smile playing about her lips. “Our newest queen has raised valid points.”
    “That is not my intention.” Danielle’s glare was gone, her face slightly slack with surprise. “My intention was to assure that the Protector is reminded of his foremost duties.”
    “Sure it was.” I winced, not having meant to say that out loud. But there it was, dangling in the air. “You made it perfectly clear not twenty minutes ago that you don’t like me, and you don’t like the fact that Logan and I are friends.”
    “Until he is no longer our Queen’s Protector, he has no right to pursue any personal interests.”
    Alanna suddenly snorted. “If he hadn’t done that, the clan would be in bad shape. It’s his personal interest in vehicles that gave us our start after the Melding. His personal interest led to us finding a home, and to our financial stability.”
    “That’s important, but what’s more important is that I want my cousin to be happy.” Terra wasn’t smiling. “It’s not fair that he spends years and years taking care of everybody, and never has time for things that will make him happy. It’s not fair to make him wait to build a life for himself that isn’t centered solely on the clan.”
    “It is his duty,” Danielle insisted, and she may have said more, but the teenager cut her off.
    “Screw duty. He’s done it for years, and I know he’ll continue doing it, but he’s earned time off to do his own thing too.”
    “But...”
    “I have spoken,” Terra snapped, her lips drawing back to expose her teeth. “Does this council agree with my decision that the Protector can begin reaping the rewards of his years of selfless devotion to Queen and clan?”
    “Yes,” Alanna said, and others repeated her answer, including me. Danielle was the only hold-out, remaining silent.
    “Then this meeting is ended.”
    I felt like jumping up with my fists in the air, but refrained after checking Danielle’s thunderous expression. That would probably set her off, and this time, she might not check herself because of Terra.
    Instead, I stayed quiet and followed everyone out of the room, grateful that Alanna and Moira continued to flank me as we walked.
    While we’d had our meeting, the rest of the clan had assembled in the hallway or on the stairs. Logan was leaning against the wall next to the front door, but he pushed away to stand straight, his face impassive.
    Terra took the opportunity to do him a little dirty. “The queens’ council has made a decision on the claim of dereliction of duty leveled at the Protector. We have taken into account your many years of service, and the results of those years.” She paused. “Our decision is as follows: You will continue to fulfill your duties to Queen