“You’re always such trouble, sexy bite,” James sighed, reaching over and swinging me up into his arms and then over his shoulder. “I caught her. She’s mine for a while.”
I punched him in the gut while kicking where his kidney should have been while flipping my other leg over and down so I basically used his shoulder and arm as my slide down. I smirked at him as he groaned and held his stomach.
“No making me seem like a puppet boss in front of the neighbors.”
“I know, I just wanted to get grounded too,” he explained, several people growling.
“I already said I had stuff with the in-laws.”
“And just whose family are your in laws?” Chris called over. “As several of you wear matching rings.”
I glanced over at him with my “cheeky grin” as Cerdic called it. “I love a perceptive man.” I held up my right hand. “Security.” Then I held up my left. “Husbands. After this weekend, I’ll have four if it all goes to plan.”
“It will if I have to bloody anyone who gets in the way of becoming yours forever,” Kristof grumbled. “I suggest you accept that if you want to become friends as you’ll most likely be dealing with her husbands.”
“And we don’t like people being demanding of our wife,” Jaxon added. “So no offense, we’re not against being friends, but if you want our help, you better figure out what you bring to the table.”
“We could always use more wheat and no one’s started with corn, right?” I offered, glancing between them. “That one grain makes animal feed, and molasses is from here and peanuts.” I rolled my eyes when I received several amused looks. “Hey, I might not have the penis so they listen to me, but I can read and look things up. Texas was a big player in farming.”
“Trading with you guys wouldn’t be off the table if it was safe and we could do it easier,” Chris interjected.
I nodded, glancing between the others. “Anything else?”
“Your bobcat population has exploded,” Cerdic answered. “They’re wiping out your deer population along with the surviving farm animals around Laredo. I’d be willing to handle it if you have someone who can tan those hides.”
“Cats?” I muttered, giving him a worried look. “I like the wolf ones but—”
“We know others who would trade for them,” he reminded me.
“We can handle that. We could use the meat,” Chris told us. “How are you going to take care of that?”
“Mate, your mind is nowhere near that open yet,” Cerdic chuckled before turning back to me. “Let’s not keep Mother waiting. She’s going to be pissed enough as is.”
“She should get in line,” I drawled, giving Chris and his guys a wave before we all started loading up. Yeah, I wasn’t any happier about the turn of events.
Not. At. All.
3
“Glad you had a safe flight,” I said to Nora as we hugged.
“It was rather luxurious,” she promised. “Thank you for the invitation. It will be nice to have another break from the apocalypse.”
I nodded, going over to Matilda and greeting her the same way before Hanna.
“Did you receive our gifts?” Matilda asked.
“Not yet.” I turned to the other princess there, smiling in a way I knew didn’t reach my eyes. “Just the one from Olivia so far.” I pulled back my fist and punched her in the face, startling all of the guests. “It was going to be a bitch slap, and I was going to give you the option of it happening in private, but now it’s a public punch.”
“Why?” Matilda bit out, angry, but I wasn’t sure how much of it was at me.
“Oh, come and see,” I chuckled, smirking at Olivia. “It must be exhausting to always think you’re the smartest person no matter who you are around. I hope you get some well needed rest during your visit.”
I went over to Kristof and he grabbed me, blurring us to the castle, the others following.
“Well done, Darius,” Nora muttered as they took in the shining glory that was my castle.
“Thank you, Princess,” Darius replied humbly. “It was all for my princess and our coven, a labor of love.”
I swallowed a flinch and continued towards where we needed to go. “Since we don’t have full security in place nor the whole coven built yet, you’ll have to forgive your accommodations. You and your nobles may stay in the guest rooms, but we’re a bit leery of any more than that staying in the castle overnight. We’ve arranged luxury trailers for the rest of your courts or coven. Olivia as well.”
“Silence,” Matilda hissed, and it took me a moment to realize she was speaking to Olivia who had opened her mouth to say something.
I would think it less than flattering to me.
“Ah, here we are,” I chirped as we reached the dungeon below the castle. “I expected no less of a present from you.”
“I’m not sure what you’re accusing me of, but this is a highly unorthodox way to treat a noble you’re engaged to,” Olivia answered.
“Oh, that’s not me,” Cerdic chuckled from the corner of the dungeon. He gave me a confused look. “Why do you accuse Olivia? Ceawlin is more than able to have come up with this stunt on his own.”
“I’m sure, but he said something that gave him away.” I smirked at Ceawlin. “I’m wondrous, so sweet and kind, right?” I tapped my chin. “Now where have I heard that oddly exact phrase from?” I snapped my fingers and turned to Kristof who had already figured it out.
“Olivia said it when I visited their coven,” he confirmed. “She didn’t mean it, but I’m sure she told him that when—”
A timer
