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“Let me guess—Lavinia?”
Maisie nodded. “Naturally. She and one of the ancients have turned against the other Dominae and are refusing to step down. I was hoping you’d be willing to come down for a visit so we can convince dear old grandmother to cut the shit.”
I pursed my lips. Part of me would love to give Lavinia a dose of humble pie, but the other part didn’t relish the idea of spending more time in the Bloodlands.
Sensing my hesitation, Maisie continued. “Mom and Dad have been asking when you’re going to visit again. You can even bring Adam.”
I sighed. It had been a couple of months since I’d been down to see my parents and even longer since I’d checked in on Vinca. “Okay, but we can only stay for a couple of days.”
My twin smiled. “Deal.”
I made a mental note to share the news with Adam later. He loved being able to visit with Orpheus when we went to Irkalla, so I was pretty sure he wouldn’t have a problem.
“Alpha Romulus, do you have a report?”
As the only male in the Cabinet, Michael Romulus was hard to miss. Because it was the night of a full moon, he sent off waves of pheromones that permeated the air like musky cologne. I even caught the Queen shooting him a suggestive glance or three.
In addition to being the only male, Michael was an exception on the Cabinet because he wasn’t technically the leader of his entire race. Instead, the werewolf Alphas had elected him as a sort of delegate. He reported our decisions back to the leaders and came to us with requests from individual packs. Even though we’d had our share of run-ins in the past, I actually enjoyed working with him. He could be surly and dominating, but I enjoyed the challenge every now and again.
The werewolf cleared his throat. “There’s not much to report since last quarter’s meeting. The Alpha of the Miami pack has had a little trouble in his sector and wanted me to ask High Councilwoman Lazarus if she’d be willing to send a few mages down to help handle the situation.”
“What kind of trouble?” Rhea asked, switching to business mode.
“Some immigrants from Haiti hexed some of the weres.”
“Hmm,” I said. “Voodoo?”
He nodded. “I was also going to speak to Madame Zenobia to see if she had any solutions.”
“That’s a good idea,” Rhea said. “If she can’t help you, I’d be happy to send a couple of people down to look into it.”
Michael smiled. “Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”
“Anything else, Michael?”
He paused, as if reluctant to bring up the next item. “Actually, yes. As you know, my niece Mac is expecting her first cub in a couple of months.”
My stomach sank. It’s not that I didn’t know about Mac’s pregnancy, but this topic was a touchy one for several of us in the room. Georgia worked for Nyx, so Nyx knew the whole sordid tale of how Michael forced his niece to leave her girlfriend to marry a male of his choosing. And Rhea and I had both been friends with everyone involved. I nodded for him to continue.
“The doctors believe the cub will be a female.” His tone was so disappointed that I had to bite my lips to hide my smile. Served him right. “Mac asked me if you would allow her to bring the cub here for a blessing once she was born.”
I frowned. “A blessing from whom? Zen?” Before she’d left for New York, Mac and Zen had been good friends.
“From you.”
I blinked. I still wasn’t used to the more ceremonial parts of my new role among the races. Plus, the whole thing would be so awkward. Still, Mac had made her choices and Georgia actually seemed happier since she’d been in Los Angeles. Balking about a simple blessing on a child who didn’t have anything to do with the pain of her parents’ joining would be pretty hypocritical of me of all people. “Tell Mac I’d love to see her and meet the baby.”
Michael’s eyes shifted. “Will Mac’s mate also be welcomed?”
Ugh. I wanted to hang out with Logan Remus about as much as I wanted to get stabbed in the eye. But to slight him now would be a huge humiliation for the male. “He may come, too.”
Michael let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Sabina.”
I nodded and held his gaze. Michael knew I still didn’t approve of his actions where Mac was concerned, but it wasn’t really my business. Even as the leader of the cabinet, I tried to keep my opinions to myself unless an issue arose that affected more than one race. I wasn’t a dictator, but more of a mediator. I’d learned my lesson the hard way about trying to control people.
I cleared my throat. “Anyone else have anything to report?”
The aisle seemed so long. Longer than it should, considering the happiness of the occasion. I’d never given much thought to weddings. In fact, I’d never so much as been invited to one. But now here I was, in one.
Giguhl’s green-scaled arm was linked through mine as we made the journey together. I looked over at him and found his gaze riveted to the altar, where Zen, Rhea, Brooks, and Adam already stood. I looked at the mancy and smiled. He winked back, looking both relaxed and downright sexy in his formal black chiton.
On either side of the aisles formed by the parted crowd of spectators, I spied dozens of familiar faces. Georgia and Slade on Giguhl’s side of the congregation. I was so glad to see Georgia smiling. After we’d returned, she had still been in a funk about Mac and had never warmed up to owning Lagniappe. But when I’d recommended Georgia to Nyx as an advisor, Brooks had stepped up with an offer to purchase the bar from the vampire. The situation worked out brilliantly for all concerned, since Brooks was a far better bar owner than performer and his drag queen employees worshipped him.
Speaking of Brooks, he’d also done an amazing job of pulling together the demon wedding of the millennium. After some initial bitchiness, Brooks and Valva got along famously once they’d discovered their shared love for all things gaudy. After that, the Vanity bride and the Changeling had worked together like two fabulous generals staging a rhinestone-studded battle against singledom.
The courtyard of the house Adam and I owned in the Garden District had been transformed into a sort of faery autumn garden. Tiny white lights crisscrossed overhead, creating the illusion of stars or faery dust. Valva had tried to explain the theme they were going for, but I hadn’t really paid attention. Anyway, there were flowers everywhere and they’d thrown jewel-toned ribbon all over everything without a pulse. The effect was totally not my taste, but then, it also wasn’t my wedding.
