“Yes, and so am I,” Maddy confirmed, her expression impressed. “What else?”
It took me a few more moments. “Are you a vegetarian?”
“No, but my animal is so we tend to be veggie heavy. You are good.”
I bobbed my head and searched her eyes, seeing too much sadness. “You have trouble hiding, don’t you? Your animal is something hunted and prized, so even if you shift, you’re not safe.”
“Elephant. My clan is elephants and yes, we have had many troubles long before the apocalypse,” she whispered, that sadness turning slightly to hope. “It’s why Princess Nora suggested I make the trip to come speak with you, see what you’re building here.”
I nodded, giving Nora a curious look. “Right, because she might become part of my coven, but always friendly to you for giving her the introduction.”
She didn’t agree or disagree really. “Maddy has known Jaxon for a long while and her clan is friendly with our house and vice versa. As Jaxon is yours, there should never be a conflict or reason we can’t all be friends.”
I nodded, swallowing a sigh. “I’m sorry I didn’t know you were coming. We have a lot piled high and not enough time before more guests, so I hope you’re willing to be patient with us.”
She nodded, giving Nora a quick glance. “You’re right that she might be the champion of all shifters. I’ve only met someone once with an elephant spirit animal, and she doesn’t feel like that, but it echoes in a way. She feels like home, and I have no idea where that could be, but it’s with her and my clan should be too.”
“You’re not the only one who’s felt that,” James told her. “My younger brother and cousins told me that as well, and cats are her spirit animal, but that’s not a feeling we get either.”
I smirked at him. “So it’s not James’s ark, but mine?”
“Something like that,” he chuckled, shaking his head at me. “So we’ve been talking to Chris and—”
“Wait, today is packed,” I sighed, sitting down at the table. “We’re meeting up with Adam Mendez and Lorenzo Payne. I’ll now have ghosts we didn’t plan for. And I’m sure there’s lots I’m forgetting, but those two are first.” I grumbled as one of the kitchen staff brought me a tray for breakfast. “And that’s going to be stressful enough.”
Yeah, I didn’t really want to return to New Orleans given what had happened to me there last time. I shivered just thinking of it.
“So I’m the blue tabs, but how come there are more than four colors?” Cerdic asked as he walked into the dining hall.
I almost threw something at him when I saw what he was looking at. “What’s the rule with that book?”
He winced. “It doesn’t leave your room or you’ll beat us with it and never share any of it with us again.”
“Right.”
“Wait, love, I’m sorry, my head was consumed with last night.” He hid the book behind his back as if that would make it okay and leaned down to kiss my cheek. “Last night was everything, My Princess. I will behave better.” He was gone before I could blink, returning without the book as I fixed my coffee. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m still annoyed,” I grumbled, rubbing my head. “I’ve got enough stress, Cerdic.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I meant to just look, but then I was thinking of other things and saw the colored tabs. But some of the pages are written on.”
“You definitely don’t get to know my system now,” I declared, gesturing to all the curious ears. “Do you think right before I accept your oath is the time to pull shit that had me spin out so bad before?”
“Shite,” he breathed, reaching over and putting his hand on my thigh. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, love. I don’t like some of what’s going on and I was trying not to get upset and—please forgive me, My Princess.”
I almost did because I saw the glance he shot Olivia and Ceawlin who were sitting together chatting like close siblings… Leaving out the actual sibling they were supposed to be there for. Nice.
“You will be punished, and at length, when I think of something appropriate. I understand the stress, but I won’t just be so forgiving, especially when you do it publicly.”
“I understand,” he accepted. “Let’s see what we can’t handle with Chris while you eat before we head to New Orleans.” He swallowed loudly when I flinched. “I’m sorry, Inez. I forgot.”
“I wish I could,” I whispered, focusing on my food. What had happened there still haunted my nightmares, and given how it had happened to Darius too, and I couldn’t turn to him right then… I felt alone. Kristof had saved me from it though, but it was also hard to turn to him when Darius was jealous of him.
Life was so fucking complicated and adding men made it worse. I was starting to think women didn’t have multiple men to keep their sanity, not because society had frowned on it. It made sense since I was pretty sure mine would drive me insane one day.
My mood didn’t improve as Chris told us about the settlement. It was a good mix, but that meant there were bad parts and groups who weren’t the kind of people we wanted to help or be near.
Basically, once he got out the government people he was supposed to, they were stupid and got a lot of people killed or infected until they did it to themselves. The bombs were mostly done dropping by then as the power was also out everywhere and Corpus Christi was in decent shape. Lots had run from
