Page 59 of Princess For All

“I know,” she whispered. “I sensed it too. She is wrong. Very,verywrong.”

Yeah, that was the right word for Keres.

“She wasn’t healing,” Josephine whispered when I separated from Arpa. She nodded when I frowned. “She’s younger than us, but if you’re cut with a knife like you sliced her—she should have already started healing while we talked. She didn’t. I think you’re right and she’s not truly alive. She’s undead.”

“She’s not corrupted, but her blood is off and…”

“What?” Kristof asked as he stepped forward.

I gave him the look he deserved but then sighed. “None of you assholes listened to me, even the guests.”

“I was a bit worried Nora would skin us if we didn’t go out to help you with Erebus’s champion,” Jamelle worried. “No offense, but the love of my life is much scarier than you.”

“And dedicated to her punishments,” Sebastian added.

“And I love you, so I’m not fucking leaving you alone to fight just as you have rightly called us out on,” Jaxon said too loud. “I think I’m having a panic attack.”

“You are,” Sebastian and Jamelle said at the same time.

I nodded for Sebastian to handle his son. Well, at least I knew Jaxon truly loved me if nothing else?

I held up my hand when I felt everyone about to speak at once with all the questions I didn’t have answers to. “I need to know who the fuck put down land mines and what she’s talking about and then I might need to vomit. Aether warning me was bloody painful.”

“Tian,” several people said at the same time.

Of course it was Tian.

I sighed and met his gaze.

His lips twitched, and he didn’t make me ask the question. “I was curious as to how they were taking what was going on. I asked Eddie for help and put in some bugs. They were plotting some ideas, so I thought it best to keep them distracted. I went last night and put land mines around where they’re staying.”

I was going to say something, but I caught his quick frown before he went back to a blank expression. What was that about?

I wasn’t sure, and it was Tian, so… No one might ever be able to know with the mess that was his head. I nodded that I heard him and turned back to Arpa. “I’m really glad you’re here right now because we need someone so bold and who will call people on their shit.”

She shot a glance to Noel and Josephine, getting some signal from them before meeting my gaze. “What can I do to help?”

My lips twitched this time, hearing the rest of that. “And what does your coven get out of it?” I chuckled when she didn’t deny it and her eyes danced with mirth. “A lot. I’m generous. I need someone ready to throw down and not let them be treated like adopted young princesses or whatever bullshit as they help me put their idea into place.”

“Yes, that is always the way things go,” Joesphine grumbled and then snorted. “We should form our own alliance of young princesses.” The sarcasm in her tone was amusing.

Arpa cleared her throat. “The three of us are, but Inez was the first of a new noble bloodline. That’s actually quite different.”

That was fair of her to point out, but I didn’t really care. I shrugged. “I’ve met your mom and she’s a bitch. Their moms are too from what I’ve heard. We could have the Fucked-Up Moms Club?”

“It has potential, but maybe rewording so people don’t think we are the mothers who are fucked up?” Arpa suggested. “Toxic Mothers Club. That’s it.”

Fair. Fair enough.

But she was on board with the rest and ready to get to work.

I, on the other hand, had some men who were angry with me for what I’d done. Yeah, yeah, after I dealt with the migraine Aether had given me.

15

Tian

Inez was driving me insane. Most men would be thrilled with a blow job most days without having to reciprocate or worry for the woman, but not being able to touch her when I itched to was… Maddening.

---