Page 83 of Princess For All

“The champion? No, she is too young to affect all the way over here and why would she?”

“No, Aether.” I moved closer and then turned towards her, seeing the disbelief on her face. “Anise, please, trust me now. Is there another way to enter this mine? Do you have someone who can move earth?” I looked to Jacob. “Get word to those knights. Trisha. They communicate with the satellites now, yes?”

“I think one. What are you worried of, My Princess?”

“That this is the new Albuquerque and Aether is trying to alert us or save someone—a coven specifically maybe?” I gasped. “Is there a mine near the castle?” Fear raced through me when his eyes went wide. “Go!” He raced away and I looked at Anise, quickly explaining what I was talking about and how the corrupted had gotten under the human settlement.

Her eyes flashed worried. “You warned me of that. We checked the settlements around us and yes, found some hiding in spots like that too.”

“What if that was the distraction and places like mines where we’re ignoring was the goal? How long could they hide andgatherright under our noses if we can’t detect them anymore? They don’t need food.”

“Terrifying.” She gave orders and dozens of vampires came over and started using their powers to move the earth from the collapse.

And I was right. I had to lean against some of the piles of rock they’d moved away to stay standing when I saw the first crushed corrupted.

“We are unworthy of your love and protection, Aether,” Anise whispered as she slowly lowered herself to her knees.

Yes, yes, we were. I joined her and gave my thanks, begging Her to protect Inez and my own coven and family as well.

Jacob showed up right then and took in what was going on and found my gaze. “Clearly, you were right, My Princess, and Princess Inez was just as wise. She realized the same and the mine nearest to them was loaded with corrupted as well. More than that…” He glanced around at all of the people and cleared his throat.

“Is she okay? What has happened?” I demanded.

“She is fine. Physically at least but shaken.” He sighed when I pushed. “She knows why Aether didn’t send her a vision to warn her but earthquakes instead. The ghosts are blocking Aether or—I don’t understand. All I heard was Princess Inez say the ghosts are like a barrier all over the castle and she can’t be there.”

I gave Anise a look that I would kill her and hers if she dared try to use that against Inez.

She let out a slow breath. “I’m not Aether’s enemy nor Her champion, Matilda. We have all had too much to fear. I’ve been—even I wouldn’t take things too far like this. The two main Gods are warring. No, I don’t want to step into the middle of that but will help as I can.” She took in a deep breath and met my gaze. “Tell me what to do and I will do my best.”

“Thank you,” I rasped, but then another thought hit me as I focused on Jacob. “Warn Nora. Go to Hanna and have one of her nobles—”

“Forgive me, but Sebastian already went to Jamelle and Ceawlin to Hanna since Winston is much older and could protect Inez when not at the castle,” Jacob explained. “Whatever Inez was seeing terrified her, Matilda. She was shaking and—it broke my heart.”

“And she is not one to be afraid of much,” I said more for Anise.

Jacob snorted. “No, and apparently she raced outside and decked Erebus’s champion when she came near the castle. She is some sort of deadman’s switch. Aether warned Inez. That was the last vision Aether could give Inez or her husbands. Keres cannot be killed directly, but Inez also figured out she is some sort of undead. She doesn’t heal normally.”

“I worried about that as well,” I admitted, giving a half shrug when they both simply stared at me. “Who would be the best champion for Erebus? A princess who died and was brought back to this world, right? Inez gives new life and seeds from ghosts and death. Keres controls the undead. Who would do that best?”

“One who experienced death,” Anise hissed. “Vile and unnatural.” She met my gaze. “Get me the lure and I swear to you in Her name that we will kill as many as we can and I will talk to the covens I know, Matilda. Even if they will never be friends, I will get them to kill for food and make sure they do. We’re all too hungry and scared to do much.”

“Don’t fail Aether and finish clearing the port by you and I’ll get you ships to fish even,” I promised her, nodding when she seemed shocked. “That was my plan for Lloyd. Real ships with motors, not the wind and what you’ve been scraping by with.”

I turned my head when I felt someone racing towards us, but then I recognized the person. Vaguely.

He slowed down at the last moments to signal he wasn’t a threat and bowed first to Anise since it was her territory and then me. “Princess Matilda, Joi of the Sisters of the Earth has sent me with a message for you. Mozell has had a vision and there’s information you need.”

“I believe we have already pieced it together, but thank you,” I accepted as I took the envelope but also gestured to where we were standing and the visible smushed corrupted. I opened it and read exactly what we’d learned, Mozell putting it together as well. My eyes went too wide. “She has warned Inez of this?”

“Yes, Princess. I don’t know what, but a message was dispatched to her as well. A partial vision if I understand it correctly,” he answered.

I grunted and read the rest before turning to Anise, not hiding my shock well. “Mozell, one of the Sisters of the Earth, has visions. You know this, right?”

“Yes,” she hedged.

“She had one of this moment as we’re standing here now,” I told her, nodding when she elegantly blinked at me in shock. “And then saw you gorgeous and thriving again. Clearly later. She writes whatever we are discussing is the right path. That’s all she knows. The last paragraph only if you please.”

She nodded and I handed over the letter, her eyes going too wide as she read it and then gave it back. “Well, I wasn’t going to screw you before, but now I really won’t. This is all a bit too…” She shook her head.

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