Page 23 of Princess For All

That was fair and made sense.

Mostly.

“But I do recommend you maybe focus on growing some cannabis with all of your other projects. If there was ever a time people needed to smoke pot, it’s right fucking now, and I include myself in that,” she said firmly. “I would prefer edibles, but—maybe there’s someone who can get a place going and cook them up.”

“Because it’s better than anxiety medication for a lot of people,” Cerdic muttered, finally jumping in. “And can make people happier than their antidepressants. I remember that much. You would definitely need to start it slow and regulate letting people have it or we could have serious problems.”

“Yes, and even designate areas,” Vanessa immediately agreed. “People are too worn down to care about much, and I don’t want them doing it around the kids. The last thing any child born in the apocalypse needs is to get fucking high. We didn’t have many kids around Fort Knox, but I know you do at other settlements. They are going to need a lot of help, not drugs.”

Though vitamins were a drug, so… Life was complicated. We understood what she meant.

“We’re already ahead of you on the cannabis growing,” Cerdic told her, smiling when I gave him a shocked look. “I agree that we need some damn pot, love. I wanted you to get a chance to try some good, fresh hash, not whatever was left and years gross like others have.”

“The coven that invited themselves to our wedding grew it,” Kristof grumbled. “One of the female nobles of that court offered us a link to it if…”

“If?” I growled before turning and smacking his chest. “Did someone else proposition you and you didn’t tell me?”

“Yeessss,” he answered and grabbed me, dragging me onto his lap before I could flee. “Inez, I truly forgot. I wasn’t being dismissive. We haveso muchgoing on, and that weekend—you were so exhausted and then what happened with Henry. I was terrified for you and that I’d broken my wife demanding too much of you.

“I completely forgot about one stupid twat who thought too much of herself. I did. Until this topic and I remembered the cannabis conversation. I’m sorry. I’m very sorry. I didn’t even let her finish or touch me. I warned her that she should not be so stupid to proposition a man at his wedding that she was crashing if she wanted to leave alive.”

I didn’t struggle and listened to him before letting out a huff. “What’s the rule?”

“Anyone who tries to steal me from you gets bitch-slapped by my wife. I haven’t forgotten. I will find her and bring her here for your justice,” he promised.

I snickered. “Do you even know what coven she was from?” I kissed him when he sighed. Kristof hated the courts and politics of them even more than I did. I absolutely believed he had no idea but could recognize people if he saw them and put it together. “If you ever stumble upon her again, you bring her to me, but I don’t want you wasting your time on some skank.”

“Very merciful of you, my love,” he chuckled and kissed me again.

“Not always,” I purred. “I am letting Branko whisk me off and do dirty things to me and you aren’t involved.” I smirked when he frowned and slid off his lap. “That’s your punishment tonight.”

“Yes, My Princess,” he agreed.

I looked over at Cerdic. “So we’re growing pot?”

“We are. The first harvest is looking like next week. It’s not some huge production, but headed up by some vamps who have a talent for growing like Princess Nora. They offered to have a side project in New Orleans in one of the buildings back online, so it’s a controlled environment.”

“And we trust them or this idea?” I worried.

He nodded. “Lorenzo is looped in and checks on it. They’re vamps who are now permanent members of the coven and doing a lot.”

“Okay, good. Let’s put out the word that we’re looking for people with experience and extend the project,” I told them. “Also, I heard repeatedly that Boston had one of the best hospitals in the world. Let’s make sure we clear that. This lemon juice will make it easier for humans to travel with us. At least until we get the trains there.”

“Trains?” Vanessa asked. “What trains?”

“High-speed bullet trains like they had in Asia,” I answered. “We’ve got crews working on the map. Right now, the focus is getting paths ready for the outposts to reach here. But eventually there will be travel between all the different settlements.”

“I don’t think anyone had any idea that was on the agenda,” she whispered.

I smirked at her. “Do you trust those assholes who were in charge of Fort Knox? Even the ones who now took over?” I snorted when her eyes clearly said no. “I don’t either. They weren’t read in on everything. The kids behave better then.”

“You’re as smart as I heard some people complain,” she chuckled.

“How about you set a time to talk and then we can head out?” Branko interjected.

I frowned. “I wanted to shower and dress nice for our date.”

He smiled at me. “This was important and it’s a casual date this time. Snuggly and relaxing.” He gestured to his relaxed clothes. “I’m wearing this. We can dress up for another fancy dinner when you’re not dealing with so much.”

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