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“And if anyone breaks it or cheats these deals, they’re out with the rest of us not willing to trade with them, alliance broken. I agree with Aether that it’s time to draw the line in the sand and know who’s on the team of making the world better, protecting our people, and fighting against Erebus. I want it loud and proud. I think these alliances are worth it—worth protecting.”
“My princess agrees,” one of them said, but I couldn’t remember who he was attached to.
I was glad when saw several others nod. “Good, because I’m going to change the terms of the deal to something better showing we’re allies. No one has broken the deal or started shit. You’ve all gone above and beyond, but so have we. I want that to be the future and no more of this invading or hoping someone fails shit.
“If one of you has a hardship, we work together and help our friends. I want trust in our future, and I want you to hear it from my lips and tell your princesses that I do that for them.” I nodded when they seemed shocked. “Our jobs are not fun. They break us. It’s why Aether wanted us to have multiple husbands to support us.
“We all know things didn’t turn out how She wanted and there are nobles near your princess that have tried to break them. They are snakes and then we’re stuck. We become hard and cruel to everyone else, unfeeling and cold. That’s what it takes to lead in the current setup and what the ‘norms’ have become. I want to help my sisters who lead as we are humans and others.”
“That is a future you have made several of our princesses want as well, Daughter,” Sebastian said proudly. “We’re in. Nora already said it. You’re never unfair or cruel, so she told me whatever the new deal is, Ireland stands with you.”
Ceawlin and Winston said the same, but they were all my in-laws, so of course they would agree.
“My princess is also in,” Princess Leonor’s noble said… And he wasn’t the only one. Princess Lawan’s noble and a couple more agreed. Almost half.
Wow. That was a huge change from where this all started.
Nice. Really, because that was progress and I believed them.
Plus, there were people in the room who knew if anyone lied and they seemed pleased.
“Good.” I glanced around one more time and nodded. This was the right move. “I’m offering half of the raiding going forward. No more of this one pallet for every twenty-four. We have more than what we need and you’re still struggling.” I smirked as mouths fell open and more shocked reactions appeared.
Hell, Winston had been drinking something and spit it all out.
Whoops?
“And no more that the stores are out of the deal. Everything. If you need more clothes, we can trade a container of that for something else. I know there is something you all need specifically and we’re going to focus better. But I want the areas closest to the humans handled first and fully. We’ve got bugs in there now and they are noticing there are less corrupted.”
“They’re going to get brave and soon venture further,” someone muttered.
“Yes, and they know Cincinnati was taken out from under them. They’ve heard our planes, but don’t know it’s us. So the more we get out from under them, the more we get that won’t be lost later.”
Kristof snorted, fully believing we were just going to handle them like any other settlement.
Probably, but I wasn’t there yet to just take over what remained of the government.
“And you will ask what for this extreme generosity?” Winston asked.
I smirked at him. “Oh, I’m not done. As you know, I’m a very good friend. I’m offering that to all the covens who say it loudly we’re not just working together but friends.”
“There’s more?” Jaxon hedged, not being read in on this part.
I shot him an apologetic look. “You had to leave and we came up with some more. Sorry.”
He gave me a soft smile. “You’re the boss, Inez. I wasn’t questioning you, just wondering what I missed. Thank you for filling me in.”
I nodded. “I believe all of you know that I gifted my husband all of the alcohol in a state. Most of you were there or heard about it later. It was the prize for that competition.” I was glad when they all chuckled and clearly knew about it. “There were thirteen states that did that, and we found the other twelve facilities. Ten are intact. Two are… Meh. Still booze to be had.”
“We are practically dry in all of Italy besides what we make,” Matra’s noble said, shaking his head with a wistful look in his eye.
“Well, I’m offering those two that are meh and two more to your covens. Completely. They’re to be distributed evenly between your fourteen coves.” I nodded that I wasn’t kidding, winking at Jaxon when he chuckled. “And—”
“By the gods, there’s more?” someone whispered.
I bobbed my head as I looked at my notes again. “We have a situation in northern Indiana that we need to handle fast. The population of black bears, coyotes, and wild hogs are apparently fucking ridiculous.”
“And wild turkeys,” Ceawlin added, his tone amused.
