“I thought Sebastian explained this to you?” Cerdic worried.
“Yeah, I mean, sort of,” I muttered. “I get embarrassed when my father-in-law talks about my period and so did he. It’s the openness thing that says we might have a baby one day. I know that.”
“Yes, but also that your court is still open to be added to,” Vitor told me, sighing almost like Tian when I blinked at him. “Your blood sings to those who would be a good fit for you. To invite courts or covens during the time you bleed says you’re open to being courted.”
“Mother fucker,” I groaned. “Of all the things people have been telling me—warning me I’m waving a big sign saying I’m open for business sounds like something to make sure I get.”
“You haven’t been all that open to listening,” Cerdic said gently.
I flinched. That was fair. I also hadn’t been as interested in it all as most brides-to-be given I basically only had one husband left from the first duo. Horrible to think of, but true. I still thought all of this was way too fast, but everyone else said waiting too long was a sign it was never going to happen.
To me, vampires were stupid and moved too fast to secure a union when the bonds were forever. To them, locking in the alliance was more important. Who needed feelings?
“It’s also a time to shine in front of others,” Jacob added. “You’ve been extremely generous and covens have the same chance now to show off what they have. It’s a lot of posturing because there are lots of courts coming, but it won’t have the flare it would have had before the apocalypse. These sorts of events were the way to make other connections.”
That sounded oddly specific while being vague. “Like?”
“Like you have several of the most powerful, unattached nobles alive in your coven or staying with your coven,” he answered. “Many will want them, and while you made it clear there is no ordering of being fed, be ready for all of them to try and take them as you have not accepted their attentions.”
“They haven’t offered,” I drawled, holding up my hands in surrender when I got some looks like I was splitting hairs. “I’ve not been open to it. I know. I’ve explained I’m not blowing anyone off or not interested in them, but I have a limit to what I can handle. Everyone gets it as courts are built over years and decades before they even think of taking over. I’m not in the same spot.”
“If someone values you and understands you’re worth earning a place at your side, they will be willing to work for it and your favor, especially as you do not view any of us as pawns or only our power,” Vitor said as he stared out in the distance, always diligently checking for any threats.
It was really sweet of him to say that, and it was the comments like that which helped me fear him less over the past couple of months. It was still there, and while I admired his looks, I had a very, very full plate.
“We can ask Mother tonight what to do about Ceawlin,” Cerdic grumbled, frowning when I did a double take. “Mother, Nora, and Hanna are coming early as your in-laws.”
“Oh, yeah, I totally remembered that,” I lied, rolling my eyes when Vitor snorted. “Yeah, cool, so today and tomorrow with them and everyone else is coming Friday? The big plane was picking them all up or something?”
“Yes, the ‘rehearsal’ dinner is Friday night,” Cerdic reminded me, looking amused. “Saturday is our ceremony and Sunday is yours with Kristof if everything works out. That still sounds right, yes?”
“Yeah, I’m PMSing and if my boobs are sensitive tomorrow, we should be good, which is something I’m fairly certain no bride has ever said ever.”
“Probably not,” Cerdic agreed, leaning down and giving me a quick kiss. “We’ll talk about it tonight when Mother arrives.”
“Cool, I’ve got the thing with Texas. I need to actually get going. Kristof tried to fit in something and then Ceawlin so, yeah, gotta go.”
Cerdic winced. “Today? Can’t that—”
“We keep pushing it off and it’s time,” I cut in. “If we’re going to have problems, it’s better to know it now instead of later. We need to handle it either way.” I stood on my toes and kissed his cheek. “Besides, I’d rather deal with another potentially crazy remainder of the US government instead of going back to New Orleans, but that’s being the princess.”
“Be safe.”
“Go with her, we have this,” Jacob told him.
Even better. I let Cerdic carry me over to where we were meeting the others. I swallowed my shock when Darius was there as he’d been missing the group stuff, but given our last dealings with the US government at Fort Knox, it made sense he would be here for this one.
James and several of the officers from his ship were there and he nodded we were ready. We jumped into the vehicles that had been driven down from the coven and headed to the huge settlement at what used to be Corpus Christi, or a bit south of it to start., Or maybe it had formed after some of the dust settled? I wasn’t sure and no one had paid attention in all the other chaos.
What we did know was Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and northern San Antonio, along with Austin, were hit hard with bombs. The only nuclear one hit the Dallas area and the state
