The corner of the stately building approaches and I can begin seeing the stands set up in front of it. The seats are packed and there are people standing in the street in front and around the area, fully focused on figures atop the steps of the government hall. Security at the base of the steps let Zia and I pass and we head up to the corner of the grand entry of this column-ridden beauty.

  “Huh, how did I not know Francesca was a founder?”

  “You probably never learned her last name. She’s Partnered with Jenna and are both my Godparents. Have you met the other two?”

  “Nope, but the beautiful yet severe woman with a critical gaze that you described your dad with must be the red-head. So the other one must be Tessa, though she looks pretty severe herself.”

  “Mhm. She’s had a bit of a personality shift since Izzi was born. She did not like when Mom told her she’d used Tessa’s alpha patterns as part of the base of Izzi’s intelligence matrix. Then Mom chose the worst time in the world to reconnect with Mikayla.”

  “Why were Tessa and Penny never together?”

  “Oh, stupid reasons. She was originally mom’s AI. During a space-time-aether mishap, she was given a User status and couldn’t reconcile if her love for mom was induced or natural. Honestly, she was not a great parent, but a decent nanny. Dad was god-awful, but I still love her.”

  I can’t relate so I just squeeze her hand to tell her she can talk to me later if she needs to. An image of my parents alive and smiling flashes in my brain and that’s disturbing on its own. I’ve never had that happen before. Can tier three meds cure emotional scarring?

  While my questions persist, I see that Francesca rises to the podium for her address.

  “Citizens. We continue to progress our understanding of what the Matrix’s technology can do for us and increase our contributions to the Supercluster at large. I am proud to reveal that our botanists and zoologists have discovered a way to acclimate honeybees to the Astorian climate, which will open avenues for many foodstuffs that required bees to pollinate their flowers on Earth. I’m most excited about developing local variants of Earthen fruits that we can enjoy on our tables, in our glasses and thanks to burgeoning Alchemists, in our tinctures, potions, and liquors.

  “Can I get a hell-yeah for bees and booze?”

  “HELL YEAH!” the crowd shouts and cheers. The botanist turns around and flips off the gallery. I laugh loud enough for her to see me. She veers away from her seat towards us. Damn it.

  “So, burgeoning alchemist Kimber, you got my delivery?” She seems very desperate for it.

  I pull a liter of purple-drink-like liquor with an aether twist and hand it to her.

  “The rest of the shipment is waiting in the Exchange for your receipt.”

  “This is higher quality than we agreed?” She takes a sip and gives a little bridal party ‘woo’ and goes in for another pull.

  “I don’t see a complaint. It would have cost more to alter my setup. So you get a free benny.”

  “How did you come up with this?” Zia asks and takes a sip and makes yummy noises.

  “I did some research on wine coolers and basically made something similar with aether and those g-berries I love so much.”

  The Botanist takes the bottle from Zia, takes a sip and puts it in a coat pocket. Zia frowns, and since I can’t have that, I hand her a more petite bottle of the stuff. We chat about some flavor notes and perhaps different colors before Kaitlynn walks up to the podium.

  “Citizens and Honored guests, my main focus to benefit the Empire continues toward connectivity, communication, and magitec integration. My company is beginning to deploy communications networks to link the Prospects with the Astorian Data Network and are putting the finishing touches of a less intrusive method of interfacing with said network with our bio wetware. Also, per Imperial sponsorship, the network now has several opt-in options for the more vulgar and deviant sections of our information databases. As a corollary, the deviants out there can opt-out of routine query responses.” Mixed cheering for both the opt in and out options and one may shouts ‘yeah porn!’ causing some laughter in the crowd.

  The tall, gaunt woman turns away from the podium, sees our impromptu gathering and approaches us as Tessa stands to address the gathered. I couldn’t tell you if she was speaking or not because the rest of reality is outside of the tunnel that Kaitlynn has locked me into with her glare.

  “Good morning, Daughter,” she side hugs and kisses the top of Zia’s head while still staring at me. “May I assume this is your new paramour?”

  “Yeah, dad, but can you stop trying to thrall her, or whatever that gaze is supposed to do?” She looks down at Zia. “Thank you. Her name is Kimber and we’re engaged.”

  “Engaged? Isn’t that a little sudden Zia?” She returns her gaze to me and the weight returns, “Or perhaps ambitious?”

  “Is that actual interest in your daughter’s life? Or some possessive controlling bullshit?” I focus through the weight of her gaze and flare aether to my [Illuminating Gaze]. Indignation, guilt, and anger are present in her statement and demeanor. Zia’s father sneers at me and blinks rapidly.

  “In an attempt to delay some needless posturing from the both of you, let me simplify. Dad, we’ve been together for years, and I knew she was my person after a month of chatting with her. She’s as loyal as Petra, but with morals.” Zia turns to me, grabs my chin and forces me to pay attention. “The leaders of the Empire have at least three tiers on you. Stop picking fights. People are going to say stupid shit about me and if I play it off, you should too. Please.” Zia looks back at her father and sees the smug look on her face. “Say Kimber, do your glowing eyes see through her glare?”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  “Yep.” I say with a pop on the ‘P.’

  “Tell us a story, would you?” She asks.

  “Hmm, Kaitlynn Anne O’Connell. Katie-anne? Nice. Vampire Countess, Meticulous Menace, lvl. 72. Harem of . . . seven? Wow. That’s a lot of responsibility. Standard novelesque vampire talents. I think she was using a version of Presence on me earlier? Yep, there it is, Aura of Oppression. There are a couple of expand buttons I could hit if you want me to keep going.”

  Zia looks up at her dad and returns the grin. “Imagine having Talents at tier 1 that can pierce even your defenses. She’s curious by nature, so maybe don’t call attention to your bad side?” She turns her head back to me. “And Francesca, popcorn is hardly appropriate.”

  I turn to find the botanist leaning against the nearest column popping fluffy crunch nuggets into her mouth. I snort and chuckle because I’ve always wanted to do that.

  “Thank you Founders, and Mayor Yolen!” Penny shouts from the podium. “Now it’s my turn. A lot of changes are coming, my Citizens. Next year is the 20th year of the Empire of Astoria and I want it to be a benchmark year, so some changes must be made. First of all, three of the prospect systems have petitioned to be Imperial Protectorates—the same classification as Earth. Now, many of my staff and the House of Governors asked the same question you may be asking, ‘What does that mean?’.

  “By practice, it has meant a self-funded, self governing entity that has Imperial protection and minimal oversight. Seeing how poorly that has gone on Earth for the most part, Protectorate will have official meaning. They will have a government officer, called a Protector, to mediate disputes between nations on said planets and between other systems. It also means transit and commerce protections to these systems as well to foster tourism and businesses that want a more stable environment to expand to.

  “The over-arching changes this will cause include the establishment of a Coast Guard to patrol the systems in the Imperial Economic Zone and the restructuring of Imperial Law and Justice. This will mean more opportunities for localized service in space for those that don’t wish to travel far from their families, and new openings for judges, lawyers, clerks and police-like employment.

  “Lastly, the majority of these changes will be unnoticed by Empire Core Worlds unless you’ve had a dispute judged by me. Those changes will be significant as Systems will now have arbiters Called Justicars. They will be the first round of Imperial Justice, should local law be insufficient to the task. Their rulings can be appealed to the Imperial Court, and above that, should select laws, policies or edicts need review, I will take a few petitions a year to set precedent or shore up gaps in a nascent legal system.

  “For questions about these opportunities and changes, please message my office and the appropriate parties will get in contact with you. And, without further ado, let Founders’ Week Begin!” She shouts and gouts of magic and flame burst into the sky in a barrage of color and sound.

  “Always one for attention, she is.” I hear Kaitlynn say.

  “Better her than me.” Francesca responds.

  “I mean, I kinda get it. My people don’t really know or see me often and it causes all kinds of problems.” I say, staring at the pixie floating in our direction, feeling the heat of multiple eyes on me. I see the interest in their eyes. “What? I own three Settlements and help run three businesses. Hard to build loyalty if they don’t know who you are.”

  “Ladies!” Penny exclaims. “If I didn’t know better I’d think you were colluding.”

  “Closer to colliding, Penny, but luckily Zia’s the responsible adult in the room.” I say, “So I see you’re jumping the Justice gun this year. Is this where you tell me I’m going to be the Justicar for Sol?”

  “No, no, no, you think I would surprise you with that?” Her smile parts to show her freaky-ass teeth, “That would hardly be a surprise at all. You’ll be our test case for the Sol AND Kepler systems since Earth is only a Protectorate.”

  “There’s the pixie prat. Fucking trying to kill me twice today.” I grumble.

  “Do we just casually tolerate irreverence now? Letting toddlers be snotty just encourages them.” Aww, kitten.

  “Does your Harem actually like going down on you or are they just in it for the salt fix?” the four of them are quiet, apparently stunned by my sick burn until I hear Francesca crunch another handful of popcorn. Zia hisses and slaps my should and Penny has her mouth covered but is shaking so much glitter loose with her restrained laughter that I have to step back. Her dad, however, reaches over and picks me up by the front of my coat and pulls my face close to hers.

  “I haven’t even heard of you before today, so don’t take liberties you have not earned, little fly,” she seethes into my face, her breath smelling of old blood and herbal tea.

  “I’ve heard and read plenty about you, but Penny’s and Zia’s opinion are all that matter to me.”

  “If only you listened more often.” Zia huffs.

  “Hey, babe, just because she’s important and powerful doesn’t make it okay to be an asshole to people you don’t know. Plus, if you can’t take it, don’t give it rules apply.” I’m looking into Kaitlynn’s eyes the whole time burning aether to keep her shitty aura from affecting me.

  “That aura is distasteful, Katie, please turn it off.” Penny says in a calm, level tone.

  “You’re threatening me over this?”

  “No, I’m asking you to be civil and not throw your slimy musk around. It clearly doesn’t affect Kimber anyway.”

  She sneers at me again and, to my great surprise, tosses me aside—literally. I fly about two meters and wiggle to position myself into and arm-soften roll. I turn and see Zia slap her dad and then chew her the fuck out as I walk back. She stops as I walk up, give her a kiss and put my arm around her.

  “I’m irreverent with Penny because she’s my friend and we’re in business together.” I turn to Penny and ask, “How’s the campaign to get the dangerous cocaine off the market?”

  Penny beams at me. “Really well! I cleaned up some cells that were cutting their products with warfarin and NSAIDS. The initial low portion of cocaine had people taking more of it to get high and then they would get internal bleeds and die from those complications. The new aether-infused stuff takes less and doesn’t need any high-bolstering effects.”

  “Did you want me to judge them or something?”

  “Oh, honey. When I say cleaned, I mean that I killed them. Organized crime is fine, but not if it’s killing Citizens. Knowingly distributing a substance that has a habit of killing people is a death sentence because I have to get involved. With the upcoming justice changes, we might get a police force or an FBI-like entity that could go detain them, but I have no interest in prisoners.”

  “I like how you’re just casually discussing killing my people.” Kaitlynn states.

  “I dislike how you’re casually dismissing killing my Citizens with negligence and greed. It was either replace your product and get involved in the drug trade nationally or get more involved in your organization personally. You tell me which you’d rather. It’s been fifteen years and I’m still waiting for you to police your own people.”

  “And you can keep waiting.”

  Penny smiles that creepy smile again. “Nah, the Justicars and the Coast Guard will have more time for that shit than I do. Should be fun to watch.”

  “Franny, after we pick up Alphea, you wanna grab lunch?”

  The botanist shakes her head, “Can’t. I promised Jenna that I’d do a pack thing with her in the Genoan Wilds.”

  “That the hunt or the festival? Penny asks.

  “Festival. She wants to go on a hunt later in the week, but she promised me that there would be Druids and Shaman at the festival to hang with while she’s gone?”

  “You still trying to find a Warden?”

  “Penny, that is a private matter.” She narrows her eyes at the Pixie and Penny raises her hands in surrender.

  “Alright girls. Let’s head to Guiseppe’s.” She flutters down the stairs following Francesca and Zia moves to follow.

  I turn to smirk at Kaitlynn and bump two fingers against the brim of my hat in a mock salute before heading down the steps after the two most important women in my life.