“Go, we’ll run totes,” I told Tian when I got back. He nodded and took off. It was the better plan as we had several totes that we could have waiting instead of standing there on hold until they were loaded.
But we got a workout. I was actually a bit winded after fifteen containers.
“Switch, we’re faster, but the weight is tiring us,” Vitor told Tian and Moon since they were the next oldest.
I was glad, but also because I wanted to do some hunting. I hadn’t hunted as I once did in so long, and even if our nature was to hunt evil humans to feed from in our princess’s lands, hunting of any kind helped. I found myself moving faster and faster, wanting to catch the piggies fleeing now that they knew predators were in the area.
We were predators for sure.
“Done!” someone bellowed in the quiet night.
I froze. No way. No way they beat us! I took what I had and went right to the containers, growling when I saw we had two more to go and they were finished.
“Hey, ours are overflowing though,” Kristof bitched. “You’re a bit light on some of those tops there.”
“Agreed,” James called. “Get back to it and don’t waste space. Go!”
Still we lost, but barely. We were one tote shy really, in that last container. Fuck.
“What’s the prize?” Cerdic asked, waggling his eyebrows at Kristof. “What did I win from my princess that the old, old fart didn’t get?”
“Only she gets to call me that,” he growled in warning.
“We’ll show you in a bit, but we have something else first,” James cut in. He looked over to a bunch of guys that had been there when we arrived. “Two are going to that settlement and the rest are meeting up with the train in Amarillo to head to St. Louis. We checked and Inez made a deal with Nora and Hanna, so they go.”
We ended up helping them attach up the containers that were on trailers to the semis, each one taking two with the note that there were twelve containers done towards the next deal of one to twenty-four, so Nora had a huge haul already.
That was a lot of fucking wild hog for sure.
Next, we headed to Albuquerque where the Air Force base was that they now used as their main military hub since it was in great shape. They seemed relieved to start having places to bring things instead of just loading it all up so others didn’t get it. I could understand the need to feel more settled. They were using Seattle for all the vessels, but Albuquerque was closer and worked for the coven.
“We’ve got runs to make to Houston where we’ve got corrupted congregating, waiting for us to show,” James explained, tossing over a helmet over to Cerdic. “You’re riding with me; Kristof, you’re with Tyson.”
“Doing what?” Henry asked, glancing between us. “What runs?”
“You’re a bit behind,” Jacob muttered. “Fighter jets. They use the military fighter jets Inez fixed as they were Navy fighter pilots, and bomb major cities after they lure corrupted in with her blood.”
“I did know that,” he sighed. “I heard Matilda say it. I’ve been dealing more with local issues, and on the ground by us, so I’ve not kept up best.” He gave Jacob a look. “The humans are getting pesky now that we’ve killed so many corrupted. We’re trying to handle that, along with rebuilding as well.”
“I understand,” Jacob accepted. “It wasn’t a slight. I know we all work hard.”
Okay, so something was going on there, but I wasn’t touching it, and I was pretty sure everyone there had the same mindset.
Especially because Kristof looked like he might argue going up in the jet. I found that hysterical given he was so ruthless, and never had I seen him even slightly afraid before besides when Vitor had hurt Inez.
“I won’t fuck with you like James will Cerdic,” Tyson promised. “It’s terrifying but fun, I swear. Plus, I don’t like cleaning up puke.”
“That’s why you give them the barf bags,” James drawled.
“I honestly don’t know if I’m jealous they get to ride in those or relieved I’m not one of them,” Vitor said once they were in the right gear and heading to the fueled up jets.
“A bit of both is the right answer,” Simon told us. “It’s awesome, totally trippy in a way I’m sure it is for you guys to blur so fast. But you’re the passenger this time and getting to see it all from that high. It shouldn’t be as much of a shock since you can move that fast. But James is a bit of a sadist. It’s why I ride with Tyson.”
Fair enough.
We spent the time catching up on this and that, Simon telling us what was in store with Inez’s party. I noted a few of the nobles visiting just for the festivities had unflattering opinions of the fact Inez would enjoy a party like that. Or maybe their princesses were being subjected to that, but Inez hadn’t really even invited them, so they chose to do it.
Which also made me realize something important.
“Henry doesn’t like Inez,” Vitor said at a level only a few of us could hear. “It’s clear he doesn’t like Kristof, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t like Inez or approve of the match.”
“It explains why Jacob is always the one helping and involved,” Tian agreed. “Fine, Sebastian is Jaxon’s father and not Nora’s Night, while Henry is Matilda’s, but still, that seemed telling he never came until it would be expected he would.”
“I’m surprised Nora’s Night isn’t here as this isn’t Jaxon’s oath,” I muttered.
“Jaxon’s sister, who is next in line, bleeds the same time Inez does,” he explained. “After the girl
