Page 81 of Princess For All

My psychotic brother.

Hell, I expected my mother Josephine even if she’d killed herself.

And suddenly I knew why Aether couldn’t reach us—or at least me. The ghosts were blocking her… Energy? Seriously?

“That sounds weird even with all of the weird we’ve dealt with,” Cerdic muttered, his voice not judging, just tired. Really tired like the rest of us. “Okay, tell us what you see, love, and then we go check out this idea before we figure out how to take back your castle from the ghosts. I’ve always wanted to be a Ghostbuster since I saw their cool toys.”

I gave him a grateful look. I needed that snark wrapped in support right now.

Then I took what he said seriously and studied what I was looking at, but all I felt was fear, dread, and like it would eat me. “I have no fucking clue, and I’m seriously about to piss myself. Get me away from here. Please. Anywhere but here.”

I tried to keep from crying, but now the one place I’d felt safe was the last place I wanted to be. I really hated my life and being the champion in the middle of this fucking war.

19

Matilda

For all of the slimy bastard’s faults, he wasn’t as stupid as most sociopaths or overinflated pissants. I’d give Lloyd that. He used his smooth tongue well but knew when not to push or who not to push with. He tested limits like a child but immediately backed down and apologized well.

While amused which irked me. I hated that sort of behavior. We all ate shite and apologized, but mocking it like you were better than someone you were apologizing to pissed me off. Mostly because—no one liked to be the villain in someone else’s story. No one.

And when you didn’t deserve it—when it came from a sociopath it was extra insulting and egregious.

So I went to another snake who I was shocked to find was reforming.

Princess Anise didn’t take offense, shrugging even since we were alone and had dropped the posturing. “I’ve done a lot to protect myself and this coven. We all have. It’s the only way we’ve known, but hearing Aether chose others to receive a dream—that there were others in Her good graces and I wasn’t…”

“That’s powerful,” I accepted, finally admitting what I’d wondered. “I don’t know that I would have received it if my son wasn’t in Inez’s heart. I truly wonder and worry. It’s why I strive every day now to deserve Aether’s faith in me and to be the mother-in-law of Her champion.”

“And you have from what has even reached my ears. I, too, want to do better and be—I want to receive the next dream if there is one. I certainly don’t want to become someone Erebus’s champion thinks to align with.” She let out a slow breath. “So what can I do to help your daughter-in-law even if that doesn’t lead to an alliance with her?”

“She hasn’t blocked us from trading with our allies,” I hedged. “Just certain ones that are against her, enemies, or those who behave in ways she firmly believes against—Aether would.”

“None of us want to be micromanaged, but my coven is starving and we have many humans around us who need help—shifters I don’t want to see die, so I’m willing to do a lot. More than a lot.”

“I honestly think you do all of it now. You don’t treat humans as blood cattle. You might need to push a bit more equality, but—we can talk. Either way, I’m more than willing to trade with you and definitely for you to help kill corrupted. And I know Inez will reward your coven handsomely for this help.” I smirked at her. “Or more pay for the embarrassment.”

“Oh no, you have your plotting face on,” she chuckled darkly. “Tell me who we’re killing.”

She laughed when she realized that was what I really wanted. I filled her in on Lloyd and she did laugh.

She shrugged. “Sure, I’ll kill him. Why haven’t you?”

I sighed and flicked my hair over my shoulder. “The git is popular among idiots who can’t see the slime. No, I shouldn’t even pick on them. I missed it right in front of my face from the man I thought…” I shook my head, my chest physically aching still when I thought of Henry’s betrayal.

“We’re tied into knots so young and beaten down as we’re given crowns and power that—it’s a miracle we’re not all houses like Priest or Dranga, Matilda. I hear Olivia is doing well this time around. You should be proud. You broke the cycle with her, and she has a chance to thrive like we didn’t. I don’t know my daughter will… I failed her.”

She really had changed. The Anise I’d known wouldn’t have put that on herself but blamed everyone else. Then again, how could we not change in the bloody apocalypse?

“The git is unfortunately smart. I can kill him, but he is a sociopath, so no one can sense his lies. I can’t make him a martyr for Inez to handle. I need him to be a reason they pull their heads out of their asses and get in line.”

Understanding filled her eyes. She was a descendant from the House of Liu, and after I’d seen Tian at work, I was hoping some of that was in her. “I heard my very distant cousin came out of the darkness to protect Aether’s champion. Some of us are worried about that because that house is said to be of Erebus.”

I snorted. “He’s in love with her.” I nodded when her eyes went wide. “He scorches the ground around her when no one is looking. He just doesn’t understand why he’s doing it yet. I worry what happens when hedoesrealize why he does it, and he doesn’t have the ability to love. He’s so broken I’m scared what he might do to Inez then.”

“Okay, well, something to give you nightmares about since you love her too. Let us take care of your snake problem since my coven really is starving.”

The plan was simple but took time because Lloyd wasn’t a fool. One did not live forthousandsof years—survive a house as crazed as Darbandi and not be smarter than most.

---