EJ
At sixteen hundred hours, Angie’s wall screen lit with an incoming royal call. They were together, as ordered, without being told why they had a call or why they had to take it together. Fortunately they had the heads-up from the message EJ andOjoshad intercepted and weren’t in workout clothes or pajamas.
Moments before the call came through, Angie looked at thetime and said, “Mere witches don’t need explanations or get asked if it’s convenient.” But his sister was polite, and, like him, drew on years of royal upbringing when Her Royal Highness appeared on-screen.
He bowed. Angie bobbed a curtsy.
The queen looked them over, staring at Angie’s hands. Her mouth pursed with concern. “We have sent you an invitation via email. Take it and stay in Chattanooga, or move back home.”
Angie’s back went straight as if someone had goosed her.
EJ frowned, faking it. “Your Majesty,” he said stiffly. “We will consider your…offer…in the spirit in which it is tendered.”
The queen’s lips twitched. “See that you do.” The connection ended.
Angie flopped back on her sofa. “You think she bought us being pissed off?”
EJ drank an entire glass of water before responding. He was juiced and sleep-deprived on the espressos. “Does it matter?”
“Feels like it should,” she said, “but no.Ojos, open the queen’s missive.”
The queen’s seal appeared on the screen and then the royal proposal. EJ read it through, aware of Angie at his side, reading too. Attached were offers to the others andOjosopened them. Angie scrolled through, sipping tea, something herbal and smelly EJ had put together.
Everyone’s proposals were pretty much like the template they had read earlier.
“How soon do you think the others will react to their offers?” Angie asked.
With a soft ding,Ojosnotified them that the others had just received offers via royal emails: the unit, Walter, and Shiloh. It was only a formality, as the others had already agreed in principle. A second ding let them know that the unit were alreadymaking plans to move ASAP. Walter and Shiloh would read theirs after they woke and fed from the blood donors.
EJ settled himself and picked up George, putting the hound across his legs and wiping up drool. Everyone in their immediate circle had decisions to make, plans to make, and major changes to deal with.
“Walter will become the Master of the City of Chattanooga, and the Dark Queen’s consul in Chat-town. He’d never wanted blood servants or responsibilities, but he will say yes. For us. That just leaves Shiloh.”
“What do you think she’ll do?” Angie asked again, for the third time.
“I have no idea,” EJ replied. Again.
“I’m gonna have a party.”
EJ burst out laughing.
“Why not? Real pizza and wine or beer for the humans. I asked Corry, Lissa, KeeKee, and Lissa’s new man.”
“Lissa has a man?” EJ asked, surprised.
“I think KeeKee set it up. Anyway, we have them, the six humans on the unit, Villetti, you, me, and since we have four blood donors on-site and Amy Lynn Brown, our vamps will be well fed and festive.”
“Ourvamps?” EJ asked, mildly.
“Why not. We’re stuck with them.”
“In that case we should invite Rocas.”
“Ooooo,” Angie said. “Aiding and abetting romance!”
“An old vamp would say, ‘Walter is smitten.’ And so are you.”
Angie ducked her head, blushing slightly, the curse of redheads the world over. “Yeah. Lee is…” Her voice trailed away and her blush went brighter.
