Page 43 of Princess For All

I glanced at Trisha who nodded.

“We’ll get the group together and transported—make sure their roles are covered,” she promised.

“With your permission, my sister and I would appreciate being allowed that task,” the vampire who reported her brother offered. “A few of our cousins as well. It’s the least we should do when our brother is the one who brought shame to your coven.”

I nodded but then went over and patted her shoulder. “But you did the right thing and reported him.” I stared out at the humans. “And that is to be commended. She’s not her brother, and we don’t carry the sins of others. Not in the world we’re building after losing so much. We need to be better than that.”

I was glad when people seemed to agree. A woman who seemed to be in charge came over and offered to show them what the job was and get them settled. I thanked her and felt relieved that we had the crisis mostly averted.

“Throw the body of this piece of trash in one of the craters we’ll bomb next,” I grumbled as I kicked the dead vampire. “Fucker.”

“You did well, Princess,” the older human who had been a president’s right hand praised. “You handled the situation better than many seasoned officials or statesmen.”

“Thank you, but I just did what was right,” I said with a chuckle. “That makes things easy. I’m not going to play politics in the apocalypse. I’m going to be true to myself.”

“Which is clearly why so many are as loyal to you as they are,” he said firmly. “I’ve heard several who protect you are the oldest living beings on the planet.”

I went to just nod but then realized him thinking that or maybe bragging it could be dangerous. “Maybe the oldest that weren’t sworn to a princess or free. We don’t know. I don’t make assumptions, and the enemy can also find allies that old and powerful as well. Certainly princesses that powerful and evil.”

“I understand, and none of us should ever lower our guard.”

“No, we shouldn’t. Not ever,” I said firmly, glad he was smart enough to understand that.

We headed back to the castle, and my next surprise of the day was actually a better one.

Namely, two princesses were waiting for me.

“Your speech was inspiring, Princess Inez,” the first said as she bowed to me. “I am Josephine.” She frowned when I winced. She quickly shot a glance to the other one. “It reached our ears that you weren’t upset with us.”

“Your name is sensitive to my wife,” Kristof explained quickly as he moved his arm around me. “These are the princesses that Kaitlin had adopted, my love.”

“Oh—oh!” I turned to the other one. “And you are?”

“Noel.”

“Okay, well, glad word reached you. Come in and let’s talk.” I waved them to follow me and headed inside. I froze when Kristof burst out laughing and glanced over my shoulder to see the princesses looking at me as if I’d grown another head.

“That never gets old, my love.”

I sighed and scrubbed my hand over my face. “It’s already been a long fucking day and we’ve not had breakfast yet and I’m getting hangry.” I went back by the princesses. “Look, I get what you’re used to and—actually, I don’t. I’ve never been through all the real court bullshit and what I hear it was. We don’t do that here, especially not when it’s just us. It’s nice.”

“We will try your way, of course, Princess Inez,” Noel said as she bowed to me.

“Inez is fine. It’s just us and we’re all princesses, you’re older than me—let’s just eat.” I thanked Nick when he checked on me and brought food out personally, barely dipping his head to the princesses but did ask if they had any nutritional issues he needed to know about.

They shared a look and Josephine nodded for Noel to go ahead.

“Our stomachs hurt. All of the time now instead of now and again when we lived with Kaitlin,” she confessed. “We haven’t had anyone to really get much blood from.” She glanced at me. “Kaitlin didn’t allow us nobles and supervised our blood intake. She intentionally stunted us after we were adopted young.”

“I’m sorry.” I looked at Kristof.

He frowned. “I don’t know the answer here either, my love. I avoided courts like the plague. I would think younger, trusted blood like Eddie to start and grow their strength? Assuming you’re allowing them to stay.” He snorted at whatever was on my face. He leaned in and kissed my hair. “And this is why so many of us love you.”

I glanced at Petre who was my guard now. “Talk to whomever and get them each two guards. Ancient vamps are fine, but hopefully we can get them roles here at the castle where they’ll heal and be protected. That will be a good deterrent for Keres as well.”

“I apologize for interrupting, especially when your offer is so generous, but—” Josephine started to say, but I cut her off.

“I’m not adopting you, and I’m not inviting you to join my coven,” I told her firmly, nodding when they both seemed relieved. “I’m offering you… Sanctuary. Let’s call it that for now. Help the coven, and we can say six months. I’ll let you stay as an acting knight level of authority if you take on tasks for me to help because I really fucking need help.”

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