by Erin R Flynn
“I love you, My Princess,” he breathed before giving me a sweet kiss.
“Are you sure? You never wanted to love a princess,” I muttered, hating I doubted him and worried still.
“I’d never met a princess like you. Yes, I’m very sure, Inez.” He gave me another kiss when I opened my mouth. “Time will show you that. I’m not upset. I put this doubt in you, and time will show you that I love you and need you more than you could ever understand.”
I nodded, glad he was willing to take the time and care to ease my fears.
We joined everyone and I raised an eyebrow at the funny cart plugged in outside and everyone sitting around eating. It smelled heavenly, but it was sort of hilarious to see even Nora and Matilda sitting on folding chairs in a parking lot on the side of a slaughterhouse, happily eating.
“All we need is a nice bottle of wine,” Matilda chuckled.
“There was a winery not far out of town, Princess,” one of the vampires informed her, dipping his head when she asked him to check it out. He took off and I was still wondering what was going on.
“Nick found an encrusting machine and made a shit ton of soup dumplings,” Jaxon explained as he unfolded a chair for me. “He’s testing out ideas for freezer options to deliver to the clans so they see it will be give-and-take, not just take-and-take.”
“I would never have thought crab and venison but the combination is delicious,” Nora praised. “He was a wise choice for your head chef. His resume is truly impressive.” She chuckled when I blinked at her. “You gave him the job because cooking made him happy and he likes feeding people, and you didn’t even know you had an extremely talented chef others would covet.”
“No, but I also don’t sit around idly very often,” I reminded her.
“Oh fuck me dead, this is good,” Jaxon moaned, his eyes about rolling up in his head.
“What was that one?” Sebastian asked as handed me a paper bowl full of dumplings.
“It’s bear meat and salmon. Who would have thought of that?” Jaxon muttered, shaking his head. He brought over a bamboo tray and offered us each one.
He was right. It was awesome. Something about the fatty meat of bear was delicious with the lean, flaky salmon. I wasn’t the only one who thought it amusing that bears ate salmon and now we were eating dumplings made with both.
“Who found cabbage for these?” Nora asked.
“I found a large field of it far south of here,” Sisay answered. “I was searching for more wild wheat as Moon had located some that made Princess Inez very happy. Instead I found wild mustard plants that have been seeding areas all around it, as there was cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower. Nick was thrilled as he didn’t like the lack of greens the princess had in her diet.”
“Thanks for helping like that,” I said, smiling at him.
“Not at all. I rather enjoy this community you are building, the people of it as well, as it’s full of hope and that was rare, even before so much went wrong,” he replied. “And I truly missed electricity.”
Matilda snorted. “At first you think it won’t be so bad as you once lived without it and well, you have to again. But after a bit, you remember how much everything used electricity and you—going back was horrible. Even the plumbing going out and having to remember how we once lived heating buckets of water made us all feel we were so spoiled and took it for granted.”
“I didn’t remember electricity,” I chuckled darkly. “It was just this progression of every day getting a bit better once I wasn’t doing it all on my own. I’d tried to partner up with people before, even if I hid what I could do, but they always tried to take over or just took what I had.” I cleared my throat and focused on my food. “Or tried to take me. So I gave up on that pretty fast. Trying again was the hardest part for me.”
“You weren’t the only one who felt that,” Darius whispered, bumping my leg with his. “Trying to figure out what to tell you and how to explain all of this to you was driving me mad. It was such a balancing act that I terrified I wouldn’t tell you the right thing and wouldn’t be enough to protect you.”
“Yeah, that was…” Jaxon shook his head. “I’m sorry I judged you so harshly when I found out you weren’t feeding her as she needed. She was so malnourished, and I completely thought you were keeping her that way. I was terrified you were abusing her.”
“I would never abuse a princess,” Darius snarled, his reaction way over what was called for. He cleared his throat and glanced at me, doing a double take when he saw I was staring and worried. “You’ve realized it’s a thing with me, right?” He sighed when I nodded. “A noble abused my sister. He didn’t full-out hurt her, as you’ve seen that’s not allowed, but now you also know there are ways around that.”
“Yeah, monsters find ways to skirt the rules or terrorize you for years,” I said with a dark chuckle. “Clarence and his goons did a lot of damage without ever laying a finger on me.”
“Why do I think there’s more to what you’ve told us?” Jaxon worried.
“Because you’re smart,” I grumbled, reaching over and taking Darius’s hand. “What happened?”
“She was young and he wasn’t. He knew Mother wanted the alliance and kept rubbing that in my sister’s face, saying Aether was fine with what he did if She never struck him dead. One of the coven witnessed something that made them worry and slipped my father a message before the noble killed them. It was enough to out him and my sister confessed she was scared to tell anyone and embarrass the family.”
“Knowing your mother, she scorched the ground around you sister to make it clear just how fierce the wrath of house Katz was,” Nora said gently, smiling when Darius nodded. “Your mother was a wonderful woman, truly a princess to aspire to becoming.” She glanced at me. “You remind me of her some. There were times she pushed back on expectations and laughed at what was considered proper.”
Darius smiled softly. “I see it too.” He gave a sad chuckle. “I remember once telling her when I was a boy that I would never look for another court as none could be better than our home. She laughed and told me children leave to find their own happiness and if I wouldn’t go, she’d kick my ass out and make me.” He raised our joined hands to his lips. “She was right, and the right princess was waiting for me.”
“I wish I could have met her. Your dad too. You loved them and your whole family so much. It’s nice to hear about them, instead of the rest that are horror stories, and I don’t mean just the covens and courts, but life in general.”
I cleared my throat, feeling awkward because I had no idea if the family I was born to were horrible or wonderful. I really didn’t even know if they were vampires, as no one had heard of a house Garner.
“This is chicken, elk, mushroom, and chive?” Nora asked, glancing at a card Sebastian handed her. “Delicious. Simply delicious. Well done, lad.”
It broke the tension which I appreciated. The leopards and shifters who joined us from the other team did as well. Watching James’s face as he found out I was in the lead was priceless. He grumbled about needing to up his game when we started up again and pouted as we ate our weight in dumplings.
Really fucking good dumplings.
And Matilda was right that the wine made it better. I only had a sip, since I was getting back to hunting, but it paired really well.
13
We had just finished cleaning up and giving lots of notes someone was taking back to Nick when I felt something wrong. I turned and grabbed my rifle, flicking off the safety and aiming in one movement. Tian gave me a shocked look, since it was in his direction.
But I wasn’t focused on him.
I started firing, glad when he moved further out of the way, but not stopping until the mag of sixty was empty.
“What was that?” Kristof asked, the silencer saving all our ears.
“I don’t know,” I admitted, swallowing loudly. “It felt like malice touched me.”
“That’s
where the energy beads from those restaurants are your power converted,” he replied. “I didn’t feel anything.” He moved his hand on the rifle so I lowered it even if it was empty. “I’ll go check it out.”
“Not alone,” I whispered, something still worrying me. I gasped, feeling almost an echo of when someone touched me with blood. “There’s blood on the beads.”
“You are astounding,” Moon whispered, giving me a shocked look.
Tian sighed like he kept doing. He didn’t seem to like me. Maybe he just agreed I needed to be protected, but I wasn’t worthy of being Aether’s champion? I wasn’t really sure.
I wasn’t really sure I cared either. I had enough on my plate.
Moon went with Kristof, and seconds later they brought back two bleeding vampires that were very clearly dying.
“You killed our princess,” one choked out.
“The fuck I did,” I whispered. “I’ve only met a handful and I’ve not killed any.”
“Erebus’s champion must die,” he hissed before going limp, the life leaving his eyes.
“I didn’t kill any princesses!” I shouted, glancing at Nora and Matilda. “I didn’t, I swear it.”
“No, but one probably died for trying to assassinate you,” Matilda said gently. “Olivia is sick for simply trying to screw you.”
“I didn’t do that either. That’s not my fault,” I rasped, looking at the gun and tossing it down. I spun on my heel and walked away from the others.
“I didn’t sense them,” Kristof muttered. “I’ve only never not sensed a few bloodlines. He must have been one.”
“There are other ways to make that happen,” Nora warned, her tone clear she wasn’t going to divulge them though.
I stopped listening and hearing anything after that, my feet moving faster. Wilson darted in front of me and I walked right into his arms, feeling Wolfe hug me from behind as well.
“You’ve never killed someone before, have you?” he whispered gently.
“No, but I’ve shot people who were getting eaten or so corrupted went for them,” I answered, thinking that was the same thing. Apparently not. Then again, it could have been the whole I felt them coming like some weird ass trippy power.
Another one. I already had a bunch of them after all. I didn’t want any other ones.
Or another fucking assassination attempt. Seriously what the fuck?
I pulled away and let down my hair, scratching my head and fluffing it out before throwing it back up. I went for my rifle and bent to pick it up, frowning when Jaxon grabbed it first.
“Inez?” he whispered.
“Whatever, it’s over,” I grumbled, reaching for the rifle. “Let’s go back to fun and feeding people. Today was supposed to be fun.”
“Is that what you want?”
“Yeah.”
“Please don’t lie to me,” he muttered, sounding hurt.
“Then don’t ask me stuff like that with other people around,” I snapped, growling when he flinched. This wasn’t his fault. “I don’t want any of this, okay? I don’t want to be Aether’s champion. Or now maybe Erebus’s? Yeah, great. I didn’t ask for that. I didn’t ask to be able to feel malice through fucking energy beads that came from a restaurant I demolished, because I can do that.
“So what’s next? Another assassination? Another weird fucking power? How about it starts raining again? Or more dreams? Just—enough. I’ve had enough of this fucking shit and I don’t want it anymore, okay? That’s what I want, but I don’t actually get a fucking vote in anything as the mouse in this fucking maze. I don’t even get to know my parents or family, so sure, who’s coming for me next?”
I snatched the rifle away, ignoring the shock on all of their faces, but flinching when I saw pity on Nora’s. She shared a glance with Matilda and something passed between them that I didn’t understand.
Matilda moved in front of me and took the rifle. “She won your bet. Kristof, lead us to this hot spring you spoke of and bring Hanna to us with some wine. Put in an order of treats to your chef or whatever he has ready for fun.”
I didn’t even get a chance to answer, Kristof carrying me away, and suddenly we were in Canada. I sighed when I saw the hot spring, realizing the day was done and shot so fine, at least I got to soak.
“Oh yes, this is lovely weather for a soak,” Nora purred as she started getting undressed. “Well done Canada for such a hot spring. Kristof, you may leave. She’s safe with us.”
“Inez?” he checked.
I sighed again, nodding. Something was going on for sure and I didn’t think I’d get out of it. He gave me a quick kiss and left. I stripped and hopped into the water, dunking under when a cool breeze made me shiver. It might have been June but there were still some cooler days now and again, especially in Canada.
Everywhere even. One thing that did pan out with climate change, even with the quick stop of everything after the bombs all hit… The climate changed and often.
“Oh, this is a treat,” Hanna said as she joined us. “Forget wine, he handed me something he found for Inez.” She wiggled the bottle at us. “It’s a sixty-year-old Macallan. Apparently he’s been collecting bottles for the pub of her castle so she always has the finest of everything.” She gave me a curious look. “How ever did you manage to make that man fall in love with you?”
I opened my mouth but then closed it. “I have no idea. Reject him? Not want him for his dick or power?” I let out a dark laugh. “Be terrified of him?”
She frowned. “Oh dear, what did I miss? I thought this was the victory party?”
“No, two old vampires made an attempt on her,” Nora explained, waving for the bottle as she slid in the water. They poured glasses as she explained and the others got in. I took a sip, and it burned on the way down, but smoother than the whiskey I’d had before. “That’s lovely. Nicely done, Kristof.”
“I didn’t realize he was raiding more than gold and gems from stores for the coven,” I muttered as I let my head rest against the rock built up as part of the ledge.
“Explain that later, but for now we must talk and not with other ears that would see your meltdown,” Matilda said gently. “Inez, none of us want to be princess.”
“What?” I whispered, blinking at her.
Nora snorted. “None of us want it. Yes, some want the power and to be praised like queens and treated like goddesses and all of that, but—none of this is fun. It’s a horrible burden and responsibility. All of everything is on your shoulders and it’s not something any sane person wants.”
“All the hostility and resentment they feel towards you,” Hanna sighed. “Men of your family upset they weren’t born the princess, or couldn’t be. Females pissed you’re a princess when they’re just a noble.”
“What do the females nobles do?” I asked, curious about that.
Nora shrugged. “Whatever they want. There are princesses who are bisexual or gay, just as the males are. My younger sister found a court who wanted an alliance with our family and accepted her, but they’re not lovers. She’s actually pretty exclusive with another noble of that court, and the princess doesn’t care.”
“No one forces them to join a court, they can’t,” Matilda reminded me. “The pressure to take a noble is horrible. The weight on you to accept an alliance or even affection you don’t want. But you make enemies if you reject without a valid reason. Feelings? Those aren’t valid. Those are the fancies of women.”
“But the men can have them and put pressure on you all the time,” Hanna grumbled. “And you have to pick one to be your Night. It’s just how it’s done as there is one to stand besides you always.”
“There are at least two spots to stand next to you,” I drawled, taking another drink before I realized my glass was empty. “You’re giving me the pep talks you all give your daughters or got from your mothers, but I didn’t.”
“Yes, and you have deep resentment for not being prepared for this or knowing your family,” Nora worried. “
We’ve heard you make several comments.”
“Yeah, I don’t hide that,” I grumbled. “I get you all got memory downloads that can cloud your views, as you can’t let go of the past then, but knowing nothing was a bit drastic of the other side.”
“Yes, and I understand your anger, but for all we know you were born of a family like Branko’s or even Kristof’s,” Hanna said, shivering at the idea. “Who knows why it happened? Maybe it wasn’t Aether who took your memories.”
“I thought that too,” Nora admitted, giving me a sad look. “Maybe you were born to be Aether’s champion to help the world and that was when Erebus acted? Maybe he took your memories to fight back, as he has made the corrupted crave you?”
“Maybe it was a witch who put a spell on you like a Disney movie,” Matilda added, leaning over and refilling my glass before her own. “We can’t know, love. You’ll make yourself insane wondering or focusing on it. We know.”
Hanna snickered. “Oh, we know. I have memories of ancestors but rarely the feelings or motivations behind them. Were they jealous when they made a move, or scared? Why not let me know that?”
“Or my mother who took over a coven and I got all the fucking memories of princesses not my family because of it,” Matilda quietly seethed. “I was blessed with that gift because she didn’t want to be adopted or start her own coven, so then they weren’t even our blood’s memories and made next to no sense out of context. I hated doing that to Olivia, but fuck it was nice to talk to someone about them.”
“I apologize for the interruption but here are the first of the treats coming,” Sebastian said as he appeared. He had his back turned respectfully to the rest of us and squatted down near Nora. “Is there anything else you need, My Princess?”
“No, thank you. Just tell them she’s fine and we’re helping her.”
“Of course.”
I blinked and he was gone, my eyes filling with tears as I took another drink. “He’s so fucking in love with you, and it kills him you don’t love him as you do your Night.”