14
I managed to keep my annoyance in check but yeah, they needed to explain that part. And why they put in all this work to clearly have this be a very temporary plan.
“We want people to start telling us more,” Josephine explained. “While the humans are telling you everything and padding their resumes, the vampires are refusing to tell you much so it can’t be used against them. Especially any gifts as that has been used against them in the past, but their older generations are making them keep tight-lipped.”
Kristof chuckle. “You think if they shovel shit enough, they’ll suddenly confess which are system analysts and have engineering experience finally so shoveling shit isn’t their whole future, and screw what their elders say.”
The princesses shared a look and nodded, Noel going on. “We think it’s a good plan.”
It was better than the no plan we had and constantly just handling the fires and issues. It was what we’d tried to do. We matched people from different covens and tried to get them grouped by their gifts, but it went nowhere. People clammed up and wanted to stay with their friends or family. They took orders but gave us nothing and were railing against the change.
So my first question was how to handle that?
Fast.
Noel clearly understood where my mind was and nodded, waving for us to follow to the next board. “This might seem a bit remedial or childish, but people are most concerned about their standing in the coven. This is all new to them and that’s scary. It makes people act out. And while we don’t want to give gold stars to the children, it’s—”
“Why would you give something as valuable to children and in stars?” I asked, glancing between them and the boards.
Josephine elbowed Noel when she snickered. “She thought you were making a joke. Please forgive her, Princess.”
“I did. I apologize. I wasn’t thinking of your circumstances,” Noel whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
I nodded but was glad when Jaxon explained it to me. “So you’re proposing a ranking system? Probation and about to be shown the door all the way to…”
“Sent to other covens to be reformed actually,” Josephine corrected, nodding when I couldn’t hide my shock. “Some are under the misconception they can pressure you to behave like other covens. That Safie or Bahati were just so crazy, but you’re too far on the other end of extreme and will come to their idea of normal.
“They have a misconception of other covens and the influence they could have. It was Joi of the Sisters of the Earth that said they needed a ‘reality check’ and the one others are getting has helped. Also, that Aether’s idea to split those last three covens has really helped. And very quickly made it clear who are the good people and the problems.”
“Mother has said the same,” Jaxon muttered. “And she’s fine with taking those problems in forever because they always can use people to shovel shite. You know what I’m saying. It’s a very smart threat when the vamps here think you won’t really do much when we need bodies and help.”
“Except too many haven’t been enough help and are more headaches. That is the phrasing and framing this all has to take,” Noel said firmly. “But yes, a ranking system and make it clear we will be watching and readjusting.”
We moved along and the next piece Josephine took over and was nervous. I let her settle and didn’t push, but I already glimpsed enough to guess what was going on.
“There are others like me who want a fresh start or want to leave the past behind them. You already met one son who wanted to break from his mother—his family might. Others want to break from their families and become their own. The family structure of vampires inside of the covens can be just as toxic as the covens themselves.
“I would like to introduce a test idea of how to facilitate that while not removing them from the coven as it used to be. You can do that when you’ll have multiple locations. Not to hide their crimes or who they were, but—everyone needs a real interview and sit-down. People need applications to become members of the coven like a country.”
“Agreed, but the process and how—we weren’t there,” I told them.
Noel and Josephine shared a glance before Noel cleared her throat. “You were, Princess, but you were busy keeping everyone alive. They took advantage of that.”
Fair enough.
There was more. There was a schedule of families intentionally being broken up for a week here and there. Even telling them it was required to stay in the coven because the level of toxic was beyond the scope.
Or fucking leave and good luck joining any of the decent covens because we would be handing this all over to them. So play our games to make sure you were worth giving our supplies to and were useful or take a long walk off a short pier.
And give us back everything you’ve taken. It was great, and with the other covens that were our allies having lists for us of people they would recommend to come here and join… It could work. It was a lot of work, but apparently I was staring at two organizational geniuses.
I listened to it all and couldn’t find a single flaw.
But I wasn’t as seasoned.
“I love all of this, but we need to take it to the next level,” I told them. “I will not let anyone disrespect or bully you. If they do, Kristof will eat them, I promise.”
“Gladly, because this is amazing and will—thank you, because this will help me immensely,” he admitted.
And I loved the princesses just for that. They could stay forever and be my aides just for helping the man I loved with all of this crazy. I gave them both a look that I wouldn’t forget this if we could make it work, and I was glad they seemed to understand where my head was even.
Good. They should be proud of this too.
After lunch, we had all our nobles, knights, and all the visiting nobles from our alliances gathered for them to present it again. They were timid, but they’d already presented it once, so that helped.
“I think the plan is solid and well thought out,” Jamelle said firmly, the first to speak. He dipped his head to each princess. “Truly, you both have quite a talent for organization and facilitating large daunting projects which is not something to look down on. It’s a gift that overwhelms even the most seasoned princess.
“And princesses who work well as a team and with other princesses are rare. Aether has blessed Her champion to lead you to this coven even if temporarily. I would even advise my princess you one day audit our coven this meticulously in this new, terrifying world so we could hope to be so efficient and healthy going forward.”
“Thank you. Everyone was helpful when we gathered the information and were working towards the same goal,” Josephine praised. “What is your concern?”
He nodded, obviously having been getting to that. “What is the plan if everyone originally from Bahati’s coven tells you to sod off? Some from Safie’s coven are members, but what about the rest? There has to be a plan for that.”
“There is,” she told him firmly, before looking to me.
Yeah, smart. I should be the one to answer that or divulge it… I just wasn’t sure if it was smart to. “We do have one.” I opened my mouth but then closed it. I did it a few more times before chuckling darkly.
“Yes, it is a tough situation,” Jamelle accepted. “You wonder if it will become a hostile situation if you start or announce the threat, but you don’t want to have people immediately call your bluff thinking you don’t have a threat.”
“My advice would be to mention who is involved should they not get in line with your vision and wishes,” Ceawlin said. “You didn’t ask, and I apologize for being so forward, but I helped Princess Noel for that part, and—I believe it’s the best balance. You have too much going on to risk this. Plus, you have a lot of good coven members who won’t walk.”
“You have a bit of bias,” Jamelle countered.
He blinked at him a moment and snorted. “Sorry, mate, I didn’t even mean the good ones from my former coven. I meant some from Safie’s. They adore Princess Inez. The ones who have already joined would give their lives a dozen times over for the vision of the world she wants and that’s a powerful statement. They just need better guidance and team leaders.”
“He wasn’t knocking any of us,” Jaxon quickly said. “He means on the ground when we’re not looking and can’t always manage. We know what he meant and we’re all tired.”
“Cheers,” Ceawlin agreed. “Yes, sorry. I wasn’t picking. Just adding my thoughts. On that, while I would never recommend taking anything to the levels Bahati did, she was effective in the way she publicly shamed people. No one likes everyone to know they’re a useless bastard.”
“We agree,” I told him, gesturing to myself and the princesses. “Thank you, and we can discuss ideas privately. We’re asking if you see flaws. What you might have seen or know specifically that you can inform us about now that you know where we’re at.”
He dipped his head to me, catching on that he was moving on to the next part too fast. Plus, yeah, everyone didn’t need to know that.
Plus , that we planned to do this with the shifters and humans.
Then they had all of the information they wanted to give us and help so we could help their covens more. Noel and Josphine were thrilled and started plotting times to speak with them so we could get this rolled out faster. I was glad, but then pain and an image formed in my brain.
Instantly, I put a barrier up over the castle and turned to Kristof. “Do not leave this room. None of you. I’m ordering it. My barrier will hurt any of you and I will never forgive you.”
I wasn’t sure if that was true, but I trusted Aether on this. I also didn’t wait for him to respond and moved Vitor by the door.
“Stop any of them from leaving. Don’t fail me.”
“Don’t make me regret doing as you asked,” he said under his breath.
Fair enough, but I reminded him of one thing. “I didn’t last time.”
He nodded, so I was glad I had that track record to use right then.
I was outside and to where Aether showed me in a flash. There wasn’t a single brain cell working as I pulled back my fist and punched Keres in the face. She went down, and I felt two vampires rushing towards me.
“I will end you,” I warned them, making sparks appear at my fingertips. “She came to my home to try something or flaunt whatever her power is. Don’t die for a flex or tantrum.”
Especially since I couldn’t kill her. That was part of Aether’s warning. It pissed me off, and I felt like I was in a bad horror movie where the answer was right in front of me but the warning was part of the pain in my head.
Keres had a deadman’s switch… So to speak. Something was going on.
It made me want to bash her face in again.
“You already killed one of mine!” she screeched as she pushed to her feet. “I will take one of yours for it.”
I took the barrier off the castle now that I knew it was her and two nobles only, but as I called it back, it hit her.
And hurt her.
“You are undead,” I chuckled darkly as I studied her. “I was right. I thought I was—interesting.” I shook off what else I might have said and realized her words. “I haven’t even touched—I don’t know who they are or—”
“One of your fucking pathetic bitches left land mines to—”
I backhanded her, smirking when blood flew from her mouth. Then I fisted her sweater and pulled her closer. “Don’t ever talk about my people that way. In my bed or not. I get we’re the puppets for the two big Gods, but you’re on the side of evil who wants death. I was chosen to champion the side who wants life and that’s who they side with.
“So go fuck yourself. And if you ever dare to come near my home again, I’ll ignore Aether’s warning and take us both out so my people are safe.” I nodded when fear flashed in her eyes. “Oh yeah, my Goddess loves me that much that I get warnings like that, bitch . And yes, I’m more than willing to die like that. Let’s go walk into the ocean together right now.
“Let’s end this and let the Gods fight wherever they are, huh? I think my people can finish the rest without me just fine. The world will move on, and they can make sure humanity survives with all I’ve already done. That’s a great legacy, and I can rest instead of all this crazy. Think you’ll be welcomed after failing? Should we go see?”
“Inez, you promised never to leave me,” Kristof said from behind me, his voice shaky. “Not until we’re old and die together. You swore it to me.”
I bared my teeth at Keres. “I promised never to give up and keep fighting for you. Dying to end the war and then save the world is different.” I shoved her away from me. “And this is why I ordered you to stay inside.” A thrill of fear went through me as her gaze darted behind me. “Don’t. I’ll kill both of them before you can even try for him.”
“You killed one of mine.”
“They are not trading cards you can just give and take like that,” I seethed, shoving her so she focused on me. “You have no high ground to stand on here. You fucking attacked my castle and tree. You tried to take us all out!” I lost my temper and sent my power at her two nobles.
“No!” she screamed and launched for me.
I decked her again but stopped my attack. Then I remembered the knife I had and whipped it out, slicing all along her arm. “Aether warned me not to kill you, not that I couldn’t make you bleed. Run back to Florida and count your days, bitch. Never be so stupid to come here again. The Americas are mine , and you will learn that if you haven’t already.”
“And more and more stand with Princess Inez ready to fight,” a woman said from behind me.
I tried to hide my shock when she moved next to me and I saw it was Princess Arpa, Princess Lawan’s younger sister. I’d forgotten she was coming from Thailand to stay with me for a while to be a deterrent since the princess from Matilda’s court had to go back to help out. We didn’t really know what to update Lawan on and I didn’t want to risk insulting her.
Clearly, it was a good move.
Josephine and Noel moved next to me on my left, Noel speaking up in a surprising move. “We stand with our sister who Aether chose wisely, whore of Erebus. You foolishly look at this as a fight between the two of you and you are about the same age, but you have dozens of us to fight next should she fall. And we will give our lives to make sure she doesn’t. You are no match.”
Keres curled her lip at me. “You will regret this.”
I snorted. “No, I’ll regret not killing you, but I have faith in Aether that you have something planned that would take me out too if I did.” I swallowed loudly. “And I might regret not killing them.” I looked past her. “But I didn’t know if you were trapped. If she trapped you because she took over that coven, run. I won’t chase you. Run to—”
Keres screamed and lunged for me, but a wound opened across her face and then she screeched.
“Aether help me, but do not test us, little girl,” Arpa bit out. “I will take your arms and legs next. Flee before I think that a good idea even with Aether’s warning.”
She did. She took one look at the four of us and gave some signal, turning to her noble and barely taking a step before he grabbed her. Then she was gone.
I let out a slow breath and then turned to Arpa. “You’re fucking badass, woman.”
She threw back her head and laughed. “I agree with you that if you take out Erebus, she’s but one young princess like you and me, Inez. And I’m seventy years older than both of you.” She bowed deeply to her. “I also wronged you once. I would not dishonor my family again when you needed our friendship, even if for posturing.”
“Shit, consider it more than forgiven.” I shocked her when I pulled her into a hug. “Welcome. Even if I’m not scared, I’m still fucking scared and…”
“I know,” she whispered. “I sensed it too. She is wrong. Very, very wrong.”
Yeah, that was the right word for Keres.
“She wasn’t healing,” Josephine whispered when I separated from Arpa. She nodded when I frowned. “She’s younger than us, but if you’re cut with a knife like you sliced her—she should have already started healing while we talked. She didn’t. I think you’re right and she’s not truly alive. She’s undead.”
“She’s not corrupted, but her blood is off and…”
“What?” Kristof asked as he stepped forward.
I gave him the look he deserved but then sighed. “None of you assholes listened to me, even the guests.”
“I was a bit worried Nora would skin us if we didn’t go out to help you with Erebus’s champion,” Jamelle worried. “No offense, but the love of my life is much scarier than you.”
“And dedicated to her punishments,” Sebastian added.
“And I love you, so I’m not fucking leaving you alone to fight just as you have rightly called us out on,” Jaxon said too loud. “I think I’m having a panic attack.”
“You are,” Sebastian and Jamelle said at the same time.
I nodded for Sebastian to handle his son. Well, at least I knew Jaxon truly loved me if nothing else?
I held up my hand when I felt everyone about to speak at once with all the questions I didn’t have answers to. “I need to know who the fuck put down land mines and what she’s talking about and then I might need to vomit. Aether warning me was bloody painful.”
“Tian,” several people said at the same time.
Of course it was Tian.
I sighed and met his gaze.
His lips twitched, and he didn’t make me ask the question. “I was curious as to how they were taking what was going on. I asked Eddie for help and put in some bugs. They were plotting some ideas, so I thought it best to keep them distracted. I went last night and put land mines around where they’re staying.”
I was going to say something, but I caught his quick frown before he went back to a blank expression. What was that about?
I wasn’t sure, and it was Tian, so… No one might ever be able to know with the mess that was his head. I nodded that I heard him and turned back to Arpa. “I’m really glad you’re here right now because we need someone so bold and who will call people on their shit.”
She shot a glance to Noel and Josephine, getting some signal from them before meeting my gaze. “What can I do to help?”
My lips twitched this time, hearing the rest of that. “And what does your coven get out of it?” I chuckled when she didn’t deny it and her eyes danced with mirth. “A lot. I’m generous. I need someone ready to throw down and not let them be treated like adopted young princesses or whatever bullshit as they help me put their idea into place.”
“Yes, that is always the way things go,” Joesphine grumbled and then snorted. “We should form our own alliance of young princesses.” The sarcasm in her tone was amusing.
Arpa cleared her throat. “The three of us are, but Inez was the first of a new noble bloodline. That’s actually quite different.”
That was fair of her to point out, but I didn’t really care. I shrugged. “I’ve met your mom and she’s a bitch. Their moms are too from what I’ve heard. We could have the Fucked-Up Moms Club?”
“It has potential, but maybe rewording so people don’t think we are the mothers who are fucked up?” Arpa suggested. “Toxic Mothers Club. That’s it.”
Fair. Fair enough.
But she was on board with the rest and ready to get to work.
I, on the other hand, had some men who were angry with me for what I’d done. Yeah, yeah, after I dealt with the migraine Aether had given me.