Extending Family (House of Garner Book 5)

by Erin R Flynn

  Right?

  13

  The next morning, I was showered and ready before people arrived to start making me up. Hope and Lara also had updates on everything extra and changes, and we were about as ready as could be expected. It meant a lot to me how much people were willing to help and jump in to support me and the coven. It honestly made getting through the weekend easier.

  Especially since everything was so backwards. I mean, vampires were night owls and we were starting with brunch. And a wedding then? That was weird, but most weren’t based on a period. I was a ball of nerves, hoping it was coming, nervous it would start too soon, and just all around not wanting to do this.

  “Inez, you’re hyperventilating,” Hope worried.

  “Sorry,” I wheezed, not having realized I was doing it. I just had to get through the beginning right? Yeah, and then I’d just be having sex for more than a thousand people to watch as they wanted.

  Why had I ever agreed to this?

  I finally got it together, remembering that it would start formal, but just like a reception, people relaxed and after brunch, it would be the same. They were going to have as much alcohol as they wanted and stuff their stomachs with all our food. Why? I couldn’t even remember anymore why we were putting up with this, but hopefully the pool and fun would be enough that not everyone would watch me fuck.

  I really, really hoped so.

  When it was time, they helped me into the blood red satin ballgown. It was off-the-shoulder straps and really low cut. The skirt was huge and the train made me nervous, but it wasn’t too bad. I had my now curly hair mostly down, but they pulled some strands up and pinned them so it wasn’t all in my face, which I appreciated. I looked astounding in the mirror.

  I also didn’t look like me again. I swallowed loudly, knowing I as doing this for my coven, my people—even if it freaked the shit out of me most days that I had people—and for the men I loved.

  This time, my knights were in white dresses or tuxes with red accents to match me and honestly, I was too nervous to remember the significance of that. I wasn’t sure anyone else would pick up on it or care; besides, they all looked amazing.

  I let out a shaky breath before stepping off the elevator, Trisha muttering under her breath I was super hot and just remember we were going to have a fun day. Fun sounded nice, even if I’d still have my period.

  Assuming it started soon.

  Oh boy, I really was going to end up having a panic attack or something.

  I stepped into the ballroom and my breath was taken away at the sight before me… Namely all my nobles in sexy, sexy tuxes. They were black with silver vests and shirts, and those thick ties, not a neck ascot, but the stylish pinned ones. I honestly had no idea what they were called, but it was a good look for them.

  All of them.

  They were a rainbow of colors, Cerdic’s matching mine since it was our day, but the others were clearly sending a message. I wasn’t sure what, but my mind went to something cheesy like they were my rainbow and I was theirs, with the name meaning pure or whatever. It was nice though, cool they coordinated.

  “Bloody fuck me dead, love,” Cerdic greeted and a bit too loudly, his eyes eating up every inch of me. “I don’t give a fuck it’s the apocalypse because we’re going to start having some dress up dates. It’s a crime we don’t get to see you like this more often.”

  “It is,” Darius agreed, clearing his throat. “You look stunning, My Princess.”

  “Mouthwatering and absolutely divine,” Kristof muttered.

  “A vision none of us deserve to look upon,” Jaxon added. The others nodded, and I felt my entire body flush, even as I couldn’t look away from them. Wow they looked good.

  “Eddie, who knew you cleaned up so nice?” I teased, figuring he was safe, but shocked he was with the others.

  “I was a Naval officer and I pulled off the uniform well,” he promised, winking at me. “I’m on Team Inez all the way.”

  I chuckled, turning when I heard a throat clear. I was struck stupid again when I saw my knights. And it wasn’t only the ones who where there all the time, but all of them as this was a big thing. All of them looked amazing dressed in their suits. It sounded weird and cheesy maybe to be in a white suit, but no, they pulled it off for sure. Especially the Begleys with their tanned skin, caramel hair, and golden eyes.

  Seriously, I was seconds from fanning myself with all the sexy going on. Like dayumn.

  Even Simon. He was good looking, but always goofing around and a brightly smiling young guy. Now he was a man, a hot one, with his hair styled and giving me a look that he might be a little cat, but he was a man who wanted to show me what he wanted to do to me.

  “Yeah, dressing up more often sounds good,” I whispered, trying to shake myself out of it. “Thank you for coming and joining the circus.”

  Thomas Gagon dipped his head. “Always, Princess Inez. Our family is no longer only our clan and you did that. We will stand with you always as our coven is worth that.”

  It was. I absolutely agreed with him; which was why I was putting myself through all of this. I greeted each of them, careful of my lipstick, but getting some on James when he pulled me against him and whispered something naughty in my ear. I shivered, completely under his spell as well.

  The man could wear a suit for sure.

  Then I went to greet my nobles, thanking the ones who were willing to show their solidarity, even when they didn’t want to court me or whatever. They gave me several funny looks and reminded me it was a dream come true to join a coven and not have to be a part of the court or traveling all around, expected to find one. Hey, if they were happy, that worked for me as we needed everyone in our corner we could get.

  “Let’s get you something to eat,” Cerdic offered.

  “Um, I don’t know I could keep anything down,” I admitted.

  “She started having a panic attack three times,” Hope told them, and I couldn’t even get mad at her for snitching as she never did. I wasn’t objective, but she was, so if she thought they should know, I trusted her. “How about some of that ginger tea you like and a bagel? Just something to soak up the acid from nerves.”

  I nodded, following after her over to the start of the setup and it was a setup. Holy crap. My ballroom was huge and to the right of the last entrance was the first buffet table that was the coffee and tea station. There was every kind of coffee option we had, from already brewed carafes to coffee presses and fresh-pour coffee cones with filters right there.

  There were kettles of hot water ready to go, electric and safe, but also tea pots if people wanted to take those to tables. There were dozens of tea bag options, plus loose leaf, and then an array of fixings from sliced lemons for tea all the way to syrup pumps to make fun coffees and everything in between. Nice.

  I fixed my tea with honey and moved along, curious what else they had thrown together, hoping it wasn’t too bad. The table was full of fresh fruit and juices. The juices were in individual carafes that looked cute but fancy, and there were markers of what everything was. Right, we had those juicers someone had found and brought here at Nick’s request.

  “Thanks, guys,” I said to my nobles, knowing they had gone for the array of rare fruits even before the apocalypse. Or they’d shown people where to go.

  “Actually, it was several from my previous coven,” Vitor told me. “They are very keen on making sure you shine in front of so many as they like the life you offer them, the difference of your coven compared to others.”

  “Good to know. Thank them for me. This is impressive.” I swallowed my feelings that shining wasn’t always good as that had been the exact reason Safie had wanted me. I preferred under the radar, but Princess Leonor had had crap of people trying to adopt her and take over what she had since she didn’t shine. Life was a crazy balancing act with severe consequences too often.

  After fruit and juices were all the adult-type brunch drinks and fixings. There was a mimosa fountain and
Bloody Mary station and a bunch more I didn’t even check out since I wasn’t all that knowledgeable on booze yet.

  Next was an entire table of pastries. It was overflowing with them. There were donuts, bagels, eclairs, cream puffs, muffins, cinnamon rolls, croissants, and more, and all with options of stuffed this or that and crazy looking toppings. I simply blinked at the pretty and sugar heaven a moment. Then I looked at the others as if trying to figure out what I was missing.

  “The Novak clan are still in Seattle helping there, but eventually they want Portland,” James explained, always up on goings-on with the clans and leaders. “They used to own a very successful bakery and several other useful businesses they would like to have again if older vampires of the coven deliver to the outposts. They were going to help with some of the food, but they took the chance to really shine.”

  I nodded, getting it. Wow, shine they did. “I’m going to get fat if we can get this all the time.”

  “You would be just as attractive if you were plump,” Kristof said as he loaded his plate. Most might have gotten annoyed with him, but honestly I found his bluntness, and sometimes dense nature without tact, charming.

  It was something we shared too.

  The next table was a bagel station. There were a dozen flavor options and then slicers, toasters, and just about every option of topping ever. First were several cream cheese flavors, smoked salmon, capers, onions, avocados, cucumbers, fruit, jams, peanut butter, and about eight things I didn’t even recognize. The tags told me what the peppers and weird tomatoes were, but it was a cool set up.

  And a bagel on a plate ended up in my hand. I wasn’t even sure who put it there, but yeah, a plain bagel seemed the least scary.

  Next was a crepe buffet, plates of them folded all pretty, made with the crepe machine I’d seen Nick use to feed us all. There were a few flavors, but the star was the range of toppings again. There was everything for breakfast crepes someone could imagine; all the syrups, jams, fruits, compotes, and more labeled clearly and perfectly.

  After crepes was a yogurt parfait station. Again, a few flavors, but the toppings were ridiculous. Sure, there was a lot of crossover on what you might want on your crepes and yogurt, but that was sort of the awesome part as maybe I’d do fresh fruit in my yogurt and try something else for crepes. Or multiple things. It was really cool.

  Last was the egg buffet. There were metal catering trays with domes to keep them fresh, and they had an array of eggs: poached, fried, hard boiled, over easy, and then several types of scrambled eggs with fixings. Those were basic, but then there were more toppings to add as everyone loved bacon in their eggs, but not everyone like onions or black olives.

  I did, but not everyone did.

  There were also other options for sides, like breakfast potatoes, sausage, bacon, and more for those who didn’t like it all mixed together. Overall, there was nothing anyone could bitch about. Really, they’d have to just make shit up; Nick and his helpers did such a great job. There was something for everyone, it was done well, and knowing Nick, it all tasted amazing.

  Relief filled me, and I reminded myself I was annoyed people crashed the weekend. It was hard to balance as I didn’t want everyone to look bad when they’d put so much work into the event, but then I was pissed people were abusing my coven. Again, life wasn’t easy, and I reminded myself it would be over in less than forty-eight hours.

  That helped. A countdown helped.

  Everyone else was still getting food, so I went over to the far table in the corner and sat down, careful of how I did with the dress. I bit back a groan as my cramps kicked up, hoping my period would just start already now that I had made an appearance, and when I had sex with my nobles during my period, that weird thing happened with them making me feel better. Well, better than over the counter medicine could.

  But I knew a lot of this was nerves too, so I didn’t want to get to the part where I was naked and having sex like an adult show for a thousand people. Yeah, I felt a stronger need to groan then. Instead, I nibbled on my bagel and sipped my tea.

  People started arriving and the reaction to the spread was actually good. I think people were so shocked and happy to get food they couldn’t get as much anymore—or at all depending where they were or their situation—that it overruled the petty side of them. The helpers were really booking it though as carts came out again and again with refills.

  At least people didn’t seem to be wasting the food. That would have just pushed me over the edge when people were hard up for food all over.

  I realized my group had sat down with me and the overflow at the next table, all of them chatting about what was going on or updates. I hadn’t heard a single word. Glancing over at Tyson, I was glad I wasn’t interrupting him, but I didn’t want to forget. “Where’s Chris?”

  “He wanted to see what was going on at Albuquerque,” he said, clearing his throat. “I suggested it. Being okay with us and getting thrown in the deep end of visiting courts and all of this crazy is very different. I would never have joined a coven if yours was like most, and I don’t want him to think that’s who we are.”

  “Smart, yeah, I get that,” I agreed. “How is it going there?”

  “Good.” He nodded when I gave him a nervous look. “Ten stayed with the thirty elderly the first time and the others went back to get more. They should have arrived with a second group today, and a few are going to be helping at the hospital right across the street, so they were going to get started cleaning it up. Chris made it clear that’s the limit for the quarantine, there or the hospital.”

  “Any more problems with that asshole?”

  He sighed. “Yes, but he took it back down to disapprovingly hostile instead of upping the level. I think he was testing the waters for a takeover, but people weren’t happy his bull was risking help. It maybe bought more peace, but things are going to boil over. Chris and I agree with you to let the assholes self destruct, but he’s determined to get the good people out.”

  “He’s a catch like that,” I teased, waggling my eyebrows at him.

  “He is.” He gave me a worried look. “He asked if we can be together again, for real this time instead of when we could and not on assignments. I want that. I love him.”

  “Of course.” I searched his eyes. “Why do I feel like you’re asking me for permission?”

  “He is. It’s a princess’s right to deny relationships of her knights she finds unfit,” Trisha explained. “And he swore his loyalty to you; that means you come first, and to some princesses, that means sexually.”

  I had trouble making my mouth work for a few moments. “As long as he’s good to you, I would never object. He’s a good person, I think, and there’s no reason it should ever be him or the coven, so I have no problem at all. I would never ruin your chance to be with him.” I frowned. “Did you explain feeding? I mean, I don’t normally, but if there’s a problem or—”

  “I did,” he cut in. “And also my tie to you had certain side effects. He’s fine with both, getting he doesn’t fully get it yet, but anything past that or the chaste kiss you give us, he was clear he wouldn’t be able to handle.”

  “Well damn, I should have seduced you before you were off the market,” I said with a dramatic sigh, giving him a wink. “I’ll miss our snuggles, but maybe once he knows it’s a cat thing and not what most humans would assume it won’t be off the table. It’s worth it though, I can see how much you love him.”

  “You’re dying to ask something you don’t think you should,” Hope muttered. “If we mate with a human, we share our immortality, so Chris wouldn’t die on Tyson.”

  “Oh thank fuck,” I sighed, rubbing my hand over my chest. “I was so worried you’d have to suffer through that if you got together for real.”

  “You are so damn kind,” Tyson chuckled. “We can share it, but we give up some of our strength, like when you splice cables, you weaken the strength or power. Some don’t approve when babies are involved, but tha
t won’t be a thing with us.”

  “Well, you’re super strong and badass, so now you might just be like regular shifters,” I defended, smiling when he blushed slightly. Well, that was my good deed for the day.

  I finished my bagel and tea, saying I was going to use the bathroom as I stood. I went over to Tyson and hugged him, kissing his hair.

  “I’m happy for you. I want all my knights loved and happy, but if he so much as steps a toe out of line, I’m shooting him. Maybe with an airsoft gun, only since he’s human.”

  “I’ll let him know and that you gave your blessing,” he chuckled, squeezing my hand before letting me go.

  I felt a bit lighter as I walked off, glad there was some good among so much crazy. We needed those moments and maybe more often. It made me wonder how many others might have a person still alive they thought dead. Maybe there was a way we could get lists from settlements and trade them? No, watch, someone would find a person hiding from them and more bad would happen.

  That would be just my luck.

  As if to prove that point, someone I didn’t want to talk to was waiting for me after I finished in the bathroom. I had a snotty comment on the tip of my tongue about waiting outside of the women’s restroom for a person, especially when it was down the hallway from the ballroom so it was good for a breather too.

  “I’m finally starting to understand what my son sees in you,” Henry greeted, eyeing me over in a way that made me feel dirty. He reached out and ran his fingers over my naked shoulder and down my arm, clearly testing me to see how I reacted. I was pretty sure no matter what I did, he would chastise me, so I didn’t react at all. “A taste would push me over the edge, I would think.”

  Okay, that I would react to. I chuckled darkly, smiling in a way I knew didn’t reach my eyes. “Gross. Not in this lifetime.”

  Rage filled his gaze instantly. “I would be less full of yourself, young princess. You’ll learn fast that while the princesses are the bosses, their nobles have a good deal of power and sway. Do not burn bridges you cannot repair later, and learn quickly how to use what you have to make the right alliances. A few words from me and you will lose my princess’s support that you need.”