Page 18 of Princess For All

How did I figure out which I was doing?

5

Wednesday morning, I was a bit excited for my date night with Branko. He always planned something nice but also relaxing and without pressure.

Plus, the sex we’d been having was something any sane woman would look forward to.

It also made me think that I needed to come up with something for Kristof. He’d been working like mad and pushing harder and harder to try and take everything off my plate.

I didn’t want to become lax and not appreciate everything he did just as too many had done to me. I was a lot of things, but I refused to become a hypocrite.

“Princess, can I speak with you?” a woman called out. “Please, I beg you to hear me out and—”

“We said no, and do not try to go around us again,” a man cut in as he grabbed her arm.

“Release her or learn how to survive as an amputee,” I warned him, my voice ice-cold.

He was smart enough to let her go. “I apologize for grabbing you. I shouldn’t have done that.” He let out a heavy sigh when it was clear that wasn’t going to be enough with either of us. “But there is a process and chain of command for a reason. There would be anarchy otherwise and—”

“The only chain of command is the oneIset,” I told him firmly. “You want your chain of command and to control people, you go back to your settlement and good luck to you. We are not having little factions or people breaking off to deem themselves leaders. I am the leader. My husbands are the leaders and authority.”

“Not of the humans,” he argued. “The shifters have their—”

“Myknightsare in charge of the area, outpost, or settlement. I put them in that position and power and yes, in charge over the humans.” I moved closer and got in his face even if I was much shorter. “This isn’t about vampire, shifter, or human. It is aboutmy coven. I am the boss. You came into our fold, and that is the way things work.”

“I will figure this out,” Cerdic promised as he glanced around. “Lorenzo and Adam are in charge of New Orleans, but the convention center was run by us and then the new vampires to get people out of Fort Knox. They probably have been keeping their structure in place for the sake of order.”

“Understandable, but they need to be made aware that there won’t be any more silencing, especially not of women. Not in this coven. Order is appreciated, deciding the fate or lives of others in my coven is not.” I gave the guy a look that he would be wise to remember that before facing the woman. “I have a meeting I have to attend.”

She nodded in defeat as if she’d blown her chance after risking a lot. “Of course. I’m sorry to have bothered you, Princess.”

“You didn’t, and I will speak with you,” I promised her. “I just—everything is crazy and people stopped what they were doing for this meeting. Are you safe to travel with my security? Could you hang out at my castle for a bit until I can find time?”

It took her a moment to get her mouth to work. “Yes,yes, of course. Thank you. Really, thank you. I knew—thank you.” Tian went to grab her since he was on my security and she cleared her throat. “I also think I can help with the aftereffects of us traveling this way.”

“How?” all of us asked, our eyes going wide.

“I have some ideas, but one is lemon juice. Could you have some at the castle to test this?” she hedged.

I nodded, glancing over at Tian. “We’re heading right there and fine. Talk to a few of the people here and get a better idea of what’s going on and how bad this situation is. We’ll get Nick or someone to have it ready for you at the guard station.”

“Yes, Princess,” he accepted.

“What’s your name?” I asked the woman, realizing that I hadn’t even asked.

“Vanessa. Thank you, Princess,” she whispered, relief thick in her eyes.

I nodded and we headed back to the castle. It was all good news. Not a lot of updates but good ones. Things were going well in France with the Sisters of the Earth handling the Pinault coven for me. They were killing corrupted at ridiculous rates with my blood and the jets. Joi wanted to set up other sites in Africa and Russia.

She thought Erebus would act soon and I agreed.

I gave approval as long as it was really workable logistically. Plus, safe. And the pilots weren’t my knights, so I wasn’t swarmed with too many ghosts.

Princess Lawan, my ally from a coven in Thailand, sent me a side message asking for tanks and bigger weapons and our people to use them. She made it clear that it wasn’t something her coven would keep nor touch. She wanted our trained personnel to assist her coven to kill more corrupted.

Also, if we could give her fishing ships, she wanted to help provide more food to Hanna.

So did Princess Leonor in Portugal and two others.

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