by Erin R Flynn
“I’ll come for the night,” Chris agreed.
Tyson looked so relieved it wasn’t even funny. Chris gave orders to help bring in everything while keeping people looking out for corrupted stragglers. We’d have to come back a few times with the chopper to pick up everyone the truck brought along with it. It would be for show, like we were hopping over to Laredo or whatever, but it would work.
“Let us be clear that we are willing to maybe deal with this man as he was vouched for by one of ours we know well,” Kristof said to the group. “If one of you is stupid and tries to pull a coup while he’s gone, we will not revisit the idea of giving you anything or aid.”
“We’re loyal to Chris; he’s a good leader,” someone promised.
Kristof shrugged. “There are always a few idiots who ruin everything in their grabs for power. I simply want it clear that it will also upset us.” He didn’t wait for a reply, getting on the chopper and making it clear he was in the first group with me.
The moment we landed, they didn’t even give Chris time to catch up, blurring us back to the castle. He didn’t have the greatest reaction to that, looking seconds from passing out.
“Okay, so humans handle it worse than baby vampires,” Moon worried. “Shit.”
“I’m good,” Chris groaned. “Not sure what that was, but I’ll live. Probably.”
“We move faster than humans,” Tyson explained as he squatted down next to Chris. “It’s just easier, especially with the amount of crazy going on.”
“Got it.” He let out a few slow breaths and nodded. “Okay, I’m good. It felt like a fighter jet without the ramp up time and punching it all the way.”
“You’re not far off. They go about that fast,” I drawled. “I say they worm hole around, but it’s faster than air displacement. You’re not the only one who feels ready to puke after if they don’t do it right, or even the first several times.”
“Some of us do it like that because you clutch on extra tightly and for a bit after,” Kristof said, shooting Vitor a less than friendly look.
“Time for bed,” I reminded him before there were any more problems.
“We should talk and get an idea of…” James trailed off when I gave him a look. “Right, Ty, have your reunion. We’ll see you in the morning to come up with a plan.”
“What can I tell him, My Princess?” Tyson asked me, Chris’s eyes flashing shock.
I leaned in and kissed his cheek. “That you missed him. We’ll talk in the morning. I think he needs a bit to catch up too.”
I left it at that which seemed to work for everyone. Nice.
Cerdic had the positions book in my hand the second I entered my room. I shook my head, at least glad they had all agreed that no one was to cheat and look at it. The ocean blue tab was his, and anyone would understand if they looked at his eyes. I opened to one of the pages and handed it to him.
He swallowed loudly as he looked it over. “The lotus flower?”
“Yes, my Zen master,” I murmured as I started taking off my gear. “Me facing you, sitting on your lap with my legs on your shoulders. Just us, all the touching and teasing you love as you move me however you want, as deeply as you want, and trusting you to do everything good to me.”
“Shit, yes,” he growled, tossing the book on the table of the sitting area as he yanked off his clothes. He was naked before me and came to help me, Kristof right there with him. Next thing I knew, I was on the bed, naked and spread out as they both moved between my legs. They ate me together, not caring how much they were touching or even sort of kissing, solely focused on me.
It was amazing. I came hard, my back arching as I begged them for more. No one could hear us in my tower, the castle having ultimate insulation and soundproofing. As long as the double-paned bulletproof glass windows were closed, we were high up enough and protected from even the oldest of ears.
We knew that as Vitor had tried. He could hear only some slight noises from the first floor of the tower, nothing if he left it. Good enough for us. No one else should be in my tower and we were free to be as we wanted then.
And right then I wanted more of my fiancés.
I gave them each a wrist and a heated look, moaning when they bit me. It ramped them up even more and it felt like they were touching me everywhere all at once. I got a few more orgasms, but then it was time for some solo fun.
“Stroke it for me?” I asked Kristof, shivering when he nodded and moved to the side. He leaned his arm on one bent knee and stroked his huge cock while watching me.
Cerdic moved me into place and lowered me on him. I whimpered in delight, cupping his face as he hugged me to him. He ran his hands over my body as he easily moved me.
I came fast, shocking both of us. It was so intimate, so sexy the way he moved me… And it hit a perfect spot inside of me. My fangs came out and I showed him, demanding more. He kept going, changing the pace each time until I was coming apart in a way I couldn’t even keep up with.
“Yeah, that’s so our position,” I panted when we were done.
“You do know me best,” he agreed.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to say but instead, I gasped as Kristof got impatient, rubbing his blood on my back. He pulled me off of Cerdic, but waited until I nodded, checking with me still, and maybe always. I hoped always. It would kill me if we started having misunderstandings again.
Always the exhibitionists, he flipped me over and turned so we were facing my guards who had stayed to watch, even if it was time to change shifts. Plus, they were supposed to be outside of the room. I flushed when I saw Vitor, Petre, Sisay, and Tian watching me with heated gazes.
And then Kristof thrust in me and I didn’t care.
Jaxon walked in and my fangs tingled in need. I begged for more and eyed my husband over like my next meal, and I didn’t mean his blood. All I had to do was lick my fangs and he was taking off his clothes to join us. Cerdic got the idea and rubbed his blood on my breasts, driving me insane.
Kristof yanked me to my knees and pounded into my body, his hand around my neck possessively as he stared them down. I didn’t mind; I was his and that meant he was mine. Jaxon joined us on the bed, and he and Cerdic both bled on a breast and I couldn’t hold out anymore. I screamed in pleasure as they kept the waves of my orgasm going.
Kristof had no desire to stop though. I cut my hands on my fangs and stroked Cerdic and Jaxon, both of them moaning deeply at the attention and fun, the feeling from my blood touching somewhere so sensitive.
“Come on your princess,” I ordered, shivering when they both orgasmed seconds before I finished again with Kristof inside of me.
He pressed his lips to my ear and nibbled on it. “May I ask you one question before I give you my oath forever, my love?” He waited until I nodded, moving his hand over my stomach. “Would you carry my babe one day? Would you ever allow my seed to give us a child?”
I turned to look at him, not hiding my shock at all. “I don’t know. I didn’t think you would ever want that.”
“I don’t know,” he admitted, rubbing my skin before cupping my breasts. “I had a dream of watching you nurse our babe at your bosom and I felt such happiness that I wonder now.”
“I’m not against it, one day, maybe. I’m not a no, but I’m so hunted and the idea of risking a baby—who could have the same crazy blood—I don’t know.”
“I’m fine with that answer,” he promised me when I started to get upset. “I think I needed to hear you wouldn’t deny me because of who I am or my house.”
“No, you idiot,” I sighed, smiling when he pinched my nipple hard. “I don’t know where I land on kids, but if I’ll marry you, then that’s not an off-the-table option--just not anytime soon.”
“We’ll just have to enjoy practicing how to make them,” he offered.
I burst out laughing. The joke wasn’t all that funny, but he tried so, so hard to say the right things sometimes and not upset me that he said the strangest things.
Fine, I loved four of them, but one was hard to love when I was so hurt.
6
We were up with the sun the next morning as there was tons to do, guests to see to, and a lot more decisions to make with the Chris/settlement situation. He was up with Tyson and several others, probably getting caught up.
And suddenly I was jealous. I had no idea why, but I was seriously jealous and seconds from dragging Tyson away from the man he loved.
What the fuck?
“If I might help,” Nora said from my right, giving me a knowing look. “As someone who has a spirit animal and a tight bond with the head of the clan in my coven, I know that look and the emotions I’m getting off of you.”
“Okay good, because they’re confusing the shit out of me,” I admitted.
“Tyson, darling, we need you for a moment,” Nora interjected loudly, interrupting the conversation.
“Of course,” he agreed, smiling at me. “Good morning, My Princess. What can I do?”
“Tell your princess that finding your lovely partner you thought gone won’t take her from your side,” she answered. “As your lion can become territorial, her spirit animal is all cats. While happy for you, that part of her that adores and trusts her knights is conflicted that you would leave the coven for him.”
Tyson gave me his normal calm and gentle smile. “I wouldn’t. I vowed to always be loyal to you and that will never change. I’m not leaving our coven and I will stand at your side, partner with me or not, My Princess. My brothers are here and we have way more than their settlement. I’d rather abduct Chris here where we could have a real future and screw that settlement.”
I blew out a slow breath. “Okay, good, cool.” I rubbed my neck, glancing from him to Chris. “Sorry, I have no idea what that was, but I was seconds from pulling a bitch move and we’re not romantic or like that. This is still new to me.”
“You’re not centuries or thousands of years old like the others?” Chris asked me.
“She just turned twenty-three,” Tyson said quietly. “And while I get this is all confusing, she has guests visiting and others who might challenge her authority, so please call her Princess Inez when we’re not hiding from humans. If you’re in the know, you have to act like it.”
“I hate it, but he’s right,” I sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“A coven kidnapped her for world domination, she killed the princess, and they became her coven, but they’re old and some aren’t getting on track with us like I’m sure a lot from your settlement wouldn’t be,” James summed up quickly.
Nora waved them off, clearly up to something. “Inez, I’d like you to meet Maddy, head of clan Dogo. Maddy, this is my daughter-in-law, Princess Inez of House Garner.”
I did a double take when I saw the tall, muscular black woman as I wasn’t sure I’d been near a woman so big so closely, but also because she was head of her clan when I’d only met men so far. “Really? Finally, a clan with a woman in charge, huh?”
Her lips twitched as she dipped her head to me. “Yes, as we’re a matriarchal society being—”
“Wait, don’t tell her,” Nora cut in, giving me a curious look. “I want to see what Sebastian told me of.”
I nodded, knowing what she meant. He’d asked me before to try and figure out a shifter’s animal. I used that power that had helped me find items for the quest before, and stared at Maddy. I wasn’t sure I wanted to answer at first.
“You won’t offend her,” Nora promised. “No harm intended. I’m simply curious. What is your instinct telling you?”
“That I do not want to fuck with her,” I confessed, amusing several people.
“Most feel that way about me, Princess,” Maddy chuckled.
“Must be nice,” I drawled. “No one takes me seriously at all.” I moved a bit closer, but not completely in her personal space. “But that really is what I feel. Like you don’t play nice with others and something else. You’re vital.” I snapped my fingers. “She feels like Adam Mendez. Not that she’s a crocodile but that vibe. They’re a keystone species, right?”
“Yes, and so am I,” Maddy confirmed, her expression impressed. “What else?”
It took me a few more moments. “Are you a vegetarian?”
“No, but my animal is so we tend to be veggie heavy. You are good.”
I bobbed my head and searched her eyes, seeing too much sadness. “You have trouble hiding, don’t you? Your animal is something hunted and prized, so even if you shift, you’re not safe.”
“Elephant. My clan is elephants and yes, we have had many troubles long before the apocalypse,” she whispered, that sadness turning slightly to hope. “It’s why Princess Nora suggested I make the trip to come speak with you, see what you’re building here.”
I nodded, giving Nora a curious look. “Right, because she might become part of my coven, but always friendly to you for giving her the introduction.”
She didn’t agree or disagree really. “Maddy has known Jaxon for a long while and her clan is friendly with our house and vice versa. As Jaxon is yours, there should never be a conflict or reason we can’t all be friends.”
I nodded, swallowing a sigh. “I’m sorry I didn’t know you were coming. We have a lot piled high and not enough time before more guests, so I hope you’re willing to be patient with us.”
She nodded, giving Nora a quick glance. “You’re right that she might be the champion of all shifters. I’ve only met someone once with an elephant spirit animal, and she doesn’t feel like that, but it echoes in a way. She feels like home, and I have no idea where that could be, but it’s with her and my clan should be too.”
“You’re not the only one who’s felt that,” James told her. “My younger brother and cousins told me that as well, and cats are her spirit animal, but that’s not a feeling we get either.”
I smirked at him. “So it’s not James’s ark, but mine?”
“Something like that,” he chuckled, shaking his head at me. “So we’ve been talking to Chris and—”
“Wait, today is packed,” I sighed, sitting down at the table. “We’re meeting up with Adam Mendez and Lorenzo Payne. I’ll now have ghosts we didn’t plan for. And I’m sure there’s lots I’m forgetting, but those two are first.” I grumbled as one of the kitchen staff brought me a tray for breakfast. “And that’s going to be stressful enough.”
Yeah, I didn’t really want to return to New Orleans given what had happened to me there last time. I shivered just thinking of it.
“So I’m the blue tabs, but how come there are more than four colors?” Cerdic asked as he walked into the dining hall.
I almost threw something at him when I saw what he was looking at. “What’s the rule with that book?”
He winced. “It doesn’t leave your room or you’ll beat us with it and never share any of it with us again.”
“Right.”
“Wait, love, I’m sorry, my head was consumed with last night.” He hid the book behind his back as if that would make it okay and leaned down to kiss my cheek. “Last night was everything, My Princess. I will behave better.” He was gone before I could blink, returning without the book as I fixed my coffee. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m still annoyed,” I grumbled, rubbing my head. “I’ve got enough stress, Cerdic.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I meant to just look, but then I was thinking of other things and saw the colored tabs. But some of the pages are written on.”
“You definitely don’t get to know my system now,” I declared, gesturing to all the curious ears. “Do you think right before I accept your oath is the time to pull shit that had me spin out so bad before?”
“Shite,” he breathed, reaching over and putting his hand on my thigh. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, love. I don’t like some of what’s going on and I was trying not to get upset and—please forgive me, My Princess.”
I almost did because I saw the glance he shot Olivia and Ceawlin who were sitting together chatting like close siblings… Leaving out the actual sibling they were supposed to be there for. Nice.
“You will be punished, and at length, when I think of something appropriate. I understand the stress, but I won’t just be so forgiving, especially when you do it publicly.”
“I understand,” he accepted. “Let’s see what we can’t handle with Chris while you eat before we head to New Orleans.” He swallowed loudly when I flinched. “I’m sorry, Inez. I forgot.”
“I wish I could,” I whispered, focusing on my food. What had happened there still haunted my nightmares, and given how it had happened to Darius too, and I couldn’t turn to him right then… I felt alone. Kristof had saved me from it though, but it was also hard to turn to him when Darius was jealous of him.
Life was so fucking complicated and adding men made it worse. I was starting to think women didn’t have multiple men to keep their sanity, not because society had frowned on it. It made sense since I was pretty sure mine would drive me insane one day.
My mood didn’t improve as Chris told us about the settlement. It was a good mix, but that meant there were bad parts and groups who weren’t the kind of people we wanted to help or be near.
Basically, once he got out the government people he was supposed to, they were stupid and got a lot of people killed or infected until they did it to themselves. The bombs were mostly done dropping by then as the power was also out everywhere and Corpus Christi was in decent shape. Lots had run from there, thinking more would hit Texas, but Chris was smart and dug in.
People grouped up with him, accepting it was his show, and worked together to survive. He had kept them all safe when so many others died, and with his system of keeping people arriving in quarantine—which was how the other fences had also started—they were over a million strong, surviving as best as they could.