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And I was relieved that we’d started mending our relationship a few days later when the next shit hit the fan.
We had just finished with going over the next shipment out of St. Louis and getting the extra deals Inez had made all wrapped up. There was still raiding going on, but everything else she’d offered as done. Even to Nora and so many extras to Hanna that it would take her a least a month to get through all the animals this last shipment.
There were still more to be sent out since it was an ongoing thing, but now it was keeping up with the new level of busy at the trading post. And it was nice to have it done early morning right after breakfast when there would undoubtedly be a full day lined up for Inez.
“I don’t care who you think you are, I’m telling you that I want to see my sister Viola this instant,” a man bellowed.
We had just arrived back at the castle, right by the guard station, and there was a commotion there. I didn’t care about that even if I knew I should. The way I had stopped put me right in front of Mozell as she set down Inez.
And I had a front-row seat to witness how fucking terrified my wife was.
I grabbed Mozell’s arm to get her attention but never took my eyes off the woman I was deeply in love with. “Inez, do you know that man?” He yelled again before she could respond and her whole body seemed to seize up, Mozell and Petre instantly on guard.
“No,” she breathed, starting to shake. “I don’t know him.”
But clearly, she did.
I turned to see who the man was, and it was like everything slowed down. He turned at the same time to see who had arrived and his gaze went past me and landed on Inez.
His eyes went wide and then filled with thick rage. “Viola, get over here and tell this cretin who I am. Do you have any idea the suffering you’ve put us both through?”
“I don’t know what nonsense you are barking of, but if you speak to my princess like that again, it will be the last thing you say,” Kristof told the man as he stepped out from behind the guards, obviously having been in the castle and hearing the commotion.
The man glanced at Kristof and then did a double take before focusing back on Inez. “You took a noble? Without our permission? Have you lost your mind?”
I moved to block his view of her. “Her permission? I know ya’re not a noble, lad, but ya talking shite if ya think a princess asks permission to build her court. And as one of her husbands, ya best watch what ya say before we take ya head.”
“I forgot how bad your temper was,” Sebastian chuckled as he moved up next to me. “I’m Sebastian O’Cleirgh, noble of Princess Nora and the father-in-law of the princess of this coven. Who are you?”
The man pointed at me, but clearly to Inez behind me. “That is my sister, Princess Viola Velius, who was abducted from our family and we have been searching for—I can’t even remember how many—for years. We’ve been looking for her for years.”
“He’s not lying,” Sundar muttered, standing near the guard station with other nobles of the coven. “Sebastian asked your name. What is your name?”
“Emil Velius,” the man answered, flinching and moving so he could see Sundar as well. So he was young enough that Sundar being upset was something the vampire felt physically. “This is my mother, Josephine Velius—Viola’s mother.”
“Inez, I know something is going on deep inside of you, love, but we need you to be the princess here,” I muttered over my shoulder. “At least for the moment to make the call or handle this.”
Kristof seemed to catch on that something was happening with Inez. “Do you have any proof of this?”
“Who are you to ask anything of us?” Emil challenged.
“I’m Kristof Garner, her eldest Night, formerly Kristof of house Priest.” His lips twitched when the guy and woman with him both flinched. “And many here witnessed my giving my oath, Inez accepting it, and our love—how she treats me. You are the unknown here, boy.”
“I am her elder brother and the fact that any of you did anything without—”
“Why do you keep calling her Inez?” the woman demanded, finally saying something. “I named my daughter Viola. I would never have picked such a drab and ugly name for my child. And we are a well-respected house unlike Priest. We’re from the house of Velius.”
I almost turned my lip up. She was elevating her importance. Only noble houses were stated like that because we all came from princesses of covens. We were the children of leaders.
It was like the nobility structure of a monarchy. And she was acting like she was part of that when she wasn’t.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but relief filled me when Inez grabbed my hand and squeezed tightly.
She moved out from behind me but kept my hand. “I don’t know either of these people, and they’re not the first to even say I’m their family or arrangements were already made. What I do know is I don’t let people show up at my home and throw fits or treat my people rudely.”
“Viola, I won’t tolerate this kind of disrespect,” the man bit out.
She snickered, shooting him a look like he was shit on her shoes, while shaking against me. “My name is Inez Garner and I’m the head of this coven. I don’t give a fuck what you want, but if you want to live through what comes next, I would remember your place in life.” She looked away from him to someone else. “Lock them both down.”
