"Big teeth?" The teacher repeated, looking at Ali in disapproval.

Sienna pretended to be mortified. "Ali, what kind of talk is that for a young lady?" She smacked Ali’s butt. Not too hard to make her daughter cry, but not too soft to give away her pretense of carrying out discipline.

Principal Adams stepped forward, standing next to the teacher. He put a large palm on the man’s shoulder. "Alright Wesley, she is just a little fox cub with too much spirit like her mother."

Sienna tugged on Ali’s ear. "Apologize."

The girl pouted, but under her mother’s glare, she muttered, "Sorry for wanting to smash your big teeth with a pan."

Laughter doubled. Sienna’s cheeks burned. She forced a smile, thinking: One day, someone is going to punch my lovely daughter. I wonder if it will be before or after she causes my death.

Before the moment could settle, Queen Serenya made her way to the front, her ivory dress and matching cloak whispering across the floor. She inclined her head gracefully. "Mr. Wesley, on behalf of our Ali, I would like to apologize for the misunderstanding. Children speak boldly, and sometimes their ignorance screams louder than etiquette. I suggest we drop the matter and move the tour along before someone starts recording."

Her words were honey, but her eyes were knives.

Principal Adams was glad to abandon the matter and continue the tour.

The queen did not let Wesley go. Instead, she made the man walk beside her and began her questions. "Tell me, what was Sienna’s father like? She doesn’t speak about him often, but I am sure she misses him. What were these ideas of freedom and justice that he had?"

Some of the people in their group grew colder.

Elias stiffened, his hand clenching into a fist. Lord Marius’s gaze sharpened, while grandpa Corven’’s knuckles whitened on his cane. Paris had been a rebel. The queen’s questions were not coming out of innocent curiosity.

Mr. Wesley, who was either oblivious or a great pretender responded calmly. "He was a very hard worker. I met him in a bar, many years ago. He was thinking of returning to school, but he didn’t like some of the material taught in schools. He thought it was outdated and we needed a new syllabus to embrace the new times." He laughed. "As a teacher myself, I did see some of his points and disagreed on others. I challenged him to enroll in school, get a degree in education and become a teacher or get a job in the council of education where change can be advocated for."

The queen’s smile widened, too sweet. "Ah. Did he take you up on the challenge?"

Sienna twisted her lips. "Can we not talk about my father?"

Ali jumped in immediately, nodding vigorously. "Mama says her papa was worse than a bastard."

Principal Adam stopped, making everyone stop as well. Sienna did not even look at her grandfather, but she could hear Lord Marius chuckling.

"Ali!" Sienna hissed.

The queen laughed lightly. "Badmouthing a dead man around your children Sienna? That is not so nice."

Sienna snorted. Death did not erase Paris Rocland’s sins.

"What else did she say?" The queen asked curiously.

Ali clapped her hands. "Mama said he was a no good scoundrel. And Grandma Miller was a fish on a chopping board for the bastard."

Everyone laughed again, with the exception of Mrs. Miller who huffed.

Sienna’s heart thudded. She was sure her daughter would give away all of her secrets by the time the tour ended. But the girl’s random comments where what they needed to dampen the enthusiasm of the queen on this issue.

"Papa said he was a blind falcon." Ali lowered her voice, whispering as if this was a secret.

Elias coughed loudly, drowning Ali’s next words. "Children exaggerate and say a lot of nonsense."

Lord Marius walked forward, his voice gravelly. "Your highness, forgive me, but the subject of the Sienna and Soren’s father is a sore spot."

Queen Serenya waved her hand. "I apologize for touching those spots. I was simply trying to find some answers for Sienna. She told me she knows nothing about the man and everything she had heard about him was negative. Mr. Wesley seemed to know the positive side of Paris Rocland. I figured Sienna should have some good memories to overshadow the bad ones."

Sienna smiled tightly. "And that is what makes you my best friend, you are always looking out for me." She walked to the queen’s side, leaning into her for a side hug.

Principal Adams raised his brows. So, Sienna Miller was the queen’s best friend! The queen of BeastNet scandals and the queen of beasts were best friends! How did that happen? Was the relationship the reason why Sienna got away with hitting so many people with her pan?

"And I am your best friend." Mija squeezed in on the hug, covering Sienna from one side. "Which means, we are all best friends and we should have a besties night out tonight. We should go to The Merry Fang. It is private, they always give me a discount and the dancers are a treat for the eyes."

Principal Adam stumbled, nearly falling. But his mind whirled. The queen went to night clubs!! Did the king condone this?

One of the queen’s attendants cleared her throat. Sienna and Mija righted their bodies.

"Ahead is the school star observatory." Principal Adams raised his voice. "This is ..."

"Mama, can we go to the eating place now?" Ali whined. "My stomach is crying. This bull beast man talks too much. Should I smash his teeth too?"

The principal pinched his lips shut. In the back of his mind, her canceled Alison Veythar from the list of desirable candidates for The Glory academy. The little girl had such a poisonous mouth!

Grandpa Corven’s slapped his cane against the floor, half in outrage and half in laughter. Elias pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering, "The dignity of our fox tribe is being thrown away by this foodie."

Eli just sighed. But the boy actually wanted to applaud his sister for her patience. They all knew she had come to visit the dining area and try the food. This was a trip to a giant restaurant in her mind. Everything else was a waste of her time.

Sienna whispered furiously to her daughter, "No smashing teacher’s teeth. I am withdrawing you pan privileges. If you threaten another pan on this trip, I will take away your eating privileges too."

In a very dramatic loud way, Ali gasped, rolled her head back and pretended to faint! Just like Lady Cadelaria!