Darkest mate rejected fa.., p.9
Team Changes, page 9
Personally, I didn’t really care. It hurt me to be around, so I gave zero shits if their situation sucked. Mine had at times, and I didn’t pass it on. Like right then, I simply smiled and agreed, not arguing or sharing my issues to keep the mood light and people happy at the progress.
Maddy quickly caught me up with where they were at, and I was happy to learn how much had already been done in one night. It seemed at least a thousand immediately jumped on the idea of coming to the coven of the princess who freed them from Bahati and killed the corrupted Kristof had required them to.
And in an effort to be fair—and probably help their chances to be accepted to the coven permanently—a few hundred vampires, originally from Safie’s coven, had done the same. They also liked my idea to speak directly to the people of those three covens—the ones where the princesses had lied about their dreams from Aether and were already hunting gobs to help.
Awesome. Help and people agreeing to work towards peace were awesome.
And so was Maddy. She had her shit on lock and was so confident without being overbearing or a pain that even the much older vampires had no problem taking direction or working with her. Something that seemed to shock her, but I reminded her that they were used to a female leader.
I think that warmed her up to the idea of being in a coven. Most shifters didn’t inherently seem sexist, but they defaulted to men being the final say or boss. Even my knights had to adjust to the idea that I was the boss sometimes. Granted, I wasn’t all about it and was fine they handled things with my nobles given how much more experience they had, but it was something I’d noticed.
And so did others, so I was glad they watched it. I was also glad Maddy appreciated things were going well as she was definitely an asset.
It gave me a moment of calmer feelings when I went off to handle the ghosts from the corrupted my power barrier had killed while I’d killed Bahati.
Yeah, my mood was right back in the toilet then.
Apparently, we’d have all the toilet paper we’d ever need for that though after I fixed the factory they wanted me to. My life was so damn weird.
8
By the time I arrived in New Orleans, the festivities were already in full swing. I barely had enough time to notice much or get filled in that the whole plane filled with humans from the settlement took the offer before I was escorted onto a boat waiting for me. I smiled at Wilson and Wolfe—the twins who were my knights and two of my best friends—when they were standing there with fishing rods.
A lot of my knights were there and clearly needing the time-out and fun as much as I did… Except James. He’d been missing from a lot since the wedding. The personal stuff at least. He was always at the stuff he should be as the boss of our military or whatever title he was using this week, but the rest he wasn’t really around for. He was keeping to himself, which wasn’t really like him.
Had something happened at the wedding that I didn’t know about?
My mind kept going to the night I went to him to get sleep before and assumed it had to do with that. It sounded selfish to immediately think it had to do with me… But it tended to, and I was normally oblivious to it.
I also had enough on my mind constantly to worry about possible problems.
That didn’t really stop my brain from doing it, but I did try.
I noticed Trisha, Lara, Maggie, and Hope sitting in chairs attached to the boat looking fabulous and tan in swim shorts and bikini tops. I went over to them and raised an eyebrow. “You’re fishing, huh?”
They all nodded but Lara answered. “We’re on pole duty while people grab catches out of the water. Gotta be careful and tend to those poles.”
I wasn’t the only one who groaned at that.
Still, it made sense. Trying to catch fish that got bigger than twenty pounds was definitely a team sport, and there was no guarantee we would only catch bass.
Someone had a long-sleeved white shirt and hat for me, which I appreciated. My legs were normally not a problem as long as I slathered them with sunscreen—which I did—and then listened to a quick instructional from Wolfe and Wilson on what I was going to do. I was shocked that they knew so much, saying as much and frowning when they instantly turned somber.
“In general, shifters are into hunting, but cat and bird ones also get into fishing,” Wilson explained with a sad smile. “Our clan was super into it. We had several beach houses, and we took summer family trips to fish.”
“I’m so sorry,” I murmured as I walked over to him for a hug.
He gladly gave me one, rubbing his cheek against my hair. “Thanks, but it’s good we’re doing this. I’ve missed it, and our parents wouldn’t want us to stop fishing because they’re gone.”
“Not when we love it,” Wolfe agreed as he got in on the hug.
One of the things I loved most about my feline knights—and all shifters—was how super open they were with affection and touching. It was nice to always have the option for a hug or comfort when you needed it.
It was something I found I needed in a way I’d never realized and couldn’t ever go back to not having again.
“Okay, so let’s do your family proud and teach me everything,” I said with a smile.
“I can’t believe James is missing a chance to fish,” Asher muttered as he did something with the rod he’d been handed. “He probably loves it most of all of us. He never skips an opportunity to go.”
“He’s been doing it a lot lately, and there were some things he needed to attend to if I was taking the day,” Trisha replied… With a tone to say to let it go.
And why would that be needed if nothing was going on? Yeah, I was fairly sure something was up there, but I wasn’t going to touch it. We all had our off days or needed our space.
Hell, the idea of calm time doing this alone with James sounded so appealing the thought popped into my head several times throughout the day.
We cast off, and after we were a ways from shore, they got me set up with Sisay spotting me just to be safe. A few people made comments about it being overkill, but I appreciated people being smarter and taking precautions with newbs.
I really appreciated it about ten minutes later when the warning I’d gotten that we might not only catch bass came to fruition. Something pulled on my line, and by pulled, I mean yanked in a way that almost took my feet out from under me.
And I hadn’t had a tight grip on my reel. I tried to grab it and slid on the deck, Sisay’s quick reflexes keeping me safe as he snaked his arm around me.
But whatever took my bait tugged us both. We didn’t move at all with Sisay holding us, but it hurt my arms, something he clearly noticed.
“She’s got something real here,” he called out as he grabbed my rod as well. “Shit, she really does.”
People jumped into action, Wolfe and Wilson handing off their rods to Trisha and Maggie as they grabbed a hooked spear thing and huge net to help. I did okay cranking the reel, but really it was because Sisay was helping me. Without him, there probably would be no chance I’d have managed.
That became glaringly obvious when he took over and I ducked out of the way. I wasn’t even offended when I saw what he was reeling in peek out of the water. It took both Wolfe and Wilson’s help to get it up and onto the boat, but a few minutes later, there was a massive swordfish flopping there.
“That’s at least three hundred, probably three-fifty,” the captain from the Mendez clan told me. “I can’t believe that’s the first thing you pull in your first time fishing. Unreal. Clearly, Aether was all about you taking the day off, Princess.”
I bobbed my head, shocked myself, but also because I didn’t want to say what I was thinking. Namely, I hoped that Aether had more important things to do than get a fish on my damn line.
I mean, really, that was just a little too much and creepy. Plus, there was an apocalypse and all of that. I would think divine beings were busy.
Or they should be when shit went wrong.
“Thanks for the save,” I told Sisay once he was done helping to put the fish where it should go.
“No problem,” he replied with a huge grin. “For the record, I would have needed the assist as well. When weight isn’t compact and moving against water, it’s difficult for any of us. The line unbalances you and—it’s half the fun of fishing. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed this.”
“Yeah, so far it’s been fun,” I chuckled, not really sure what I made of it since I bit off the crazy end.
I caught some normal bass by myself after that, and I really enjoyed fishing then. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. It was a large boat meant for many, and there were several groups on different sides fishing like we were. It was a good time.
We were loaded fast, and then we were back at shore for lunch.
“She caught a massive swordfish,” Sisay bragged once we rejoined our inner circle. “First catch of the day and it’s hers and it’s huge.”
“We weighed it,” one of the shifters who lived there told me. “It was three hundred and twenty-two pounds, Princess. Nice catch.”
“Thanks for the bait,” I praised, giving her a wink. Everyone chuckled at that, and we focused on food. I mostly did, but also noted how many of the humans were helping out and what was going on there. I didn’t have the senses yet as a vampire to tell, but it wasn’t hard for me to make the distinction.
Our people all had decent clothes. We’d raided enough and they had what they needed, even if something was dirty from working right then. They were also clearly well-tended to and groomed better.
The humans from the settlement were in clothes they’d been wearing for so long that they were now no better than rags. Most didn’t have any access to showers or soap. I was fairly sure they bathed in part of their ocean access and that was it.
It was glaringly obvious who was with us and who was visiting to check us out. Sad, but true.
“She spoke with you this morning, but I suggest you not inflate your importance to think you have direct access to the leader of this coven as you want,” Sebastian said from behind me, his tone cold. “She is in charge of more people than some of the states you used to have here. You could not walk up to a governor and eat with them whenever you wanted, correct?”
“You can’t even do that with Chris, so don’t be disrespectful because she’s a woman and not scary to you,” Ty added.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw they were talking to the guy I’d spoken with earlier and hadn’t been rude. Plus, several people with them who were now frowning. “You planning on being a dick and ruining my afternoon off?”
His gaze locked on mine, and I noted it wasn’t as hard as before. “No, and I get what they’re saying, but I thought you were part of the deal today.”
I raised an eyebrow at that. “I’m never part of any deal.”
He nodded. “I didn’t mean it like that, and I’m not for making deals to get women. I just meant hearing stuff from your lips and talking with you.”
I glanced over the group again and nodded. “Fine, but my people will be on edge to protect me around so many. I suggest no one get pissed and grab me, and everyone behave with manners.”
“We’re not like that,” a different guy grumbled.
I shrugged. “Glad to hear it. You know that’s how it goes a lot.”
He seemed to accept that, and they came to sit on the other side of the folding table from me and a bunch of my knights. Others had been about to take those seats but went the next table over instead, making it clear they were going to be watching the humans like hawks.
“Are we handling work while we’re eating?” I asked Hope, Lara, and Maggie.
“I’d prefer we didn’t since that’s all we do,” Lara grumbled, sighing when the others snorted.
Yeah, we weren’t the only ones, so it wasn’t the same as complaining when we were the only ones doing everything.
“We need more hotels in Albuquerque,” Maggie started with once they had their tablets and what they needed… And never left the castle without.
I couldn’t hide my shock at that. “Already? How many are we up to? We put that huge hospital back online too.”
“Yes, and Chris is asking we do the other one not far away. It’s a children’s hospital and has specialized equipment the docs want. All of the kids are malnourished. They need physicals and—human stuff.”
“Well, whatever the kids need always goes to the top,” I muttered. “That’s the rule across the board.”
“You’ve been clear with that,” she promised. “And we’re up to ten hotels. Some are for the Boyles. They also reached out to other shifters who don’t have much of a clan left, but that someone in his clan vouches for as safe. Plus, a lot of the vamps from Safie’s coven don’t want to be right near your court, but don’t want to be too far.”
“Right, yeah, I—the lists are long,” I grumbled. “They’re raiding and making sure the humans are protected?”
“Yes, diligently protecting them as they aren’t used to humans and working hard from the reports Shawn Boyle’s given me,” Hope interjected.
“Ok, let’s do the hotels, but also look for some apartment complexes for longer-term,” I decided after several bites of lunch. “Nicer ones like outside Salt Lake.”
“We want hotels for the humans so we have room keys if there’s a problem,” Hope reminded me.
I snorted. “I’m sure doors can easily be broken down if we hear something we shouldn’t. Let’s just make sure to work smarter, not harder, and we can warn them security is on-site to keep peace.”
“Or limit what we can do,” that guy said, his tone not happy.
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Yeah, one of yours came to kill some of us, including me and the men I love, after learning about what we had. You want trust? Earn it. We stay alive by being smarter. You are not the only ones we’re doing this with.” I didn’t give him a chance to respond. “I also want to get some of those fast-food restaurants back online over there.”
“For?” Hope asked as she was already typing.
“Nick and the kitchen are too overworked. All the areas are feeding more and more. That’s a job anyone can help with. If we don’t have meetings while eating, we’re always slicing or doing something to help the kitchen. If we get more going, then that’s people raiding who can move faster. Plus, Chris said we have to remember they’ve all been malnourished and need recoup time.”
“So let them sit and wash potatoes or whatever,” she muttered, nodding her head. “Yeah, good. That’s close enough to the other raiding locations that parties can go fuel up and take breaks. Or take trays of whatever on-site. We can get into what jobs the people from the settlement want later once we know them better.”
“The new people coming in from other covens are getting the same treatment,” Maggie said, focused on the humans when I looked at her. Clearly, she got something off of them. “It’s fair. We’re using their speed and taking what they need into consideration too. We can work out details once people aren’t starving and more corrupted are killed.”
“Yeah, you just won’t trust us with guns or security,” one of the guys griped.
“Nope,” I agreed, popping the P loudly. I shrugged when they gave me a range of shocked looks. “I’m not doing it either, and I was used to the same. They can sense corrupted from miles and miles away. Way further than you and I can. That’s a waste of manpower and inefficient. I shouldn’t be doing that when I can get the hotel back online. We’re smarter than that.”
They seemed to mull that over for real as we kept eating.
“I know fishing and not just for sport,” one of the other guys said as more sandwiches were brought around. “I was a commercial fisher before everything went bad.”
I nodded. “If that’s what you want to keep doing then you’re more than welcome to settle at one of the outposts like here or Seattle doing fishing. Or we’re going to get Boston back. Once we know you, and that you’re cool with us, sure, go there. You just have to understand the clan leader there is like mayor. They swear an unbreakable oath of loyalty to me and it protects them. That’s the deal.”
“I don’t want to be in charge,” he admitted. “All it brings is problems.”
“Oh, preaching to the fucking choir,” I drawled, several people chuckling. I glanced at Lara. “All the clans are fine with humans, right? As long as they don’t have to pretend to be human, they were good with it?”
“Yes, none had any reservations once you promised they didn’t have to hide. They wanted to make sure there were some rules in place about weapons since Chris admitted several factions were trying to take over the settlement, and they all have children.”
“No one we don’t trust to come to the castle gets weapons. Hard rule. Only exception is if corrupted come for them and all the areas are clear of them.”
“Your vampires are weapons of their own, and we don’t have anything to defend ourselves with,” that lead guy argued.
I nodded. “Yeah, they are, but you don’t need them. We’ve told them they touch a human, they’re dead. That’s it. We’ll know if they did it, or are lying to us, and dead.”
“Your fear wants you to be armed,” Maggie said gently. “We’ve lived around you guys all of our lives. We don’t care you’re humans. You care we’re not because you just found out about us and are scared.” She shook her head when he tried to object. “You didn’t ask for weapons to protect against corrupted, but us. You trust we’re really killing corrupted, but you don’t have any faith in us.”
And that seemed to break her heart. Even I felt guilty how sad she seemed, and I hadn’t done anything wrong.
Several of the guys across the table looked like they’d been kicked in the nuts.
“Can we ask what you are?” that lead guy muttered when the silence dragged on.
“I’m a shifter,” she answered after a moment. “I turn into an ocelot. It’s a smaller jungle cat. And no, that’s not rude. If you start talking about liking furs or rugs after we tell you, that we frown upon.”
