years, but I see that it should be considered again. I suggest that an additional three percent be added to the taxes collected from Casino City and be handed to the Crown to cover expenses."
That set off another session of debates. "What do you think, my Queen?" A vampire, who was just as weary as I was with all the verbal pushing and shoving, asked.
"Three percent is too much. Half that would cover the expenses and leave a small amount for emergencies," I replied.
"Then I suggest two percent," Flavio said. "We need a rainy-day fund."
"Then one-and-a-half to support the Crown and half a percent for a rainy-day fund," I said. Shockingly enough, the measure was passed with only a small amount of discussion. Gavin stood by, his face unreadable to everyone except me.
"Congratulations, you just raised taxes in Casino City by two percent," Flavio grinned as we walked toward the Queen's suite.
"Twelve percent is a bargain," I grumbled. "We have the lowest business taxes in the Reth Alliance. I hope all those grumpy vampires realize that."
"Most of them do, but they still want to complain," Flavio grinned. He was the handsomest man I'd ever seen, and loved his mate Kyler very, very much. I was thinking about that when Grant appeared at our side in a blur.
"I already have the messages sent to all the businesses, telling them the new tax rate goes into effect next month," he said. "Heathe and I got it done in record time."
"Good," I nodded at Grant. "Thank you."
"At least we can stop draining Niff's accounts to pay for stuff," he said. He would know about that—he co-owned Niff's Ice Cream Shops with Heathe and the Queen.
"You can stop draining Niff's accounts to pay for stuff," I agreed, smiling at Grant. "I didn't tell them what else I wanted to do, either," I said.
"What's that?"
"To raise the price of the tour tickets. They haven't gone up since they started, and prices certainly haven't stayed still for what those tickets buy for the comesuli."
"I believe we might tackle that next week," Flavio laughed. Gavin didn't say a word.
* * *
"Dad, I need her. For the annual meeting here on Campiaa. If she could give me information on a few people," Teeg, whose given name was Gavril Tybus Montegue, said. "If you'd witnessed what she did with that prisoner—just spouted off his name and everything else about him. We couldn't get past whatever was blocking the information."
"Then I'll have her ready. When?"
"I'd like to take her now. The meetings begin tomorrow. I know it's off-days for her, but I heard she usually works on those distribution accounts for the comesuli anyway."
"I'll have to call the Larentii to change her face back."
"I can get the warlocks to do it."
"I'll get her."
"I'll come with you."
* * *
Breanne's Journal
At least they knocked before barging in. Gavin, followed by Teeg San Gerxon. Father and son. Both dark-haired and dark-eyed, with leashed anger simmering deep within. They wanted something. I was already in bed, going through information on my comp-vid while my friendly snake peered over my shoulder when my visitors walked in.
"Get dressed," Gavin commanded. The snake lifted up in bed, spread his hood and hissed— hissed —at Gavin and the Founding Member of the Campiaan Alliance. Both took a step back.
"I only need to borrow her for a few meetings—I'll bring her back safe and in one piece, I promise." Teeg addressed the snake directly.
"It's okay," I ran a hand down the snake's back—he really did have a nice pattern—and slowly he pulled his hood back in. Disdainfully he slid off the bed and left the bedchamber, hissing at Gavin a second time before going through the door.
"The snake has spoken," Teeg sighed. "Get dressed; you have to come with me tonight."
* * *
"You can sleep in here." Stellan Starr showed me to a bedchamber. It wasn't huge, but it had everything I needed. Astralan, Stellan's older brother, had already removed my disguise, so at least I looked like myself
That set off another session of debates. "What do you think, my Queen?" A vampire, who was just as weary as I was with all the verbal pushing and shoving, asked.
"Three percent is too much. Half that would cover the expenses and leave a small amount for emergencies," I replied.
"Then I suggest two percent," Flavio said. "We need a rainy-day fund."
"Then one-and-a-half to support the Crown and half a percent for a rainy-day fund," I said. Shockingly enough, the measure was passed with only a small amount of discussion. Gavin stood by, his face unreadable to everyone except me.
"Congratulations, you just raised taxes in Casino City by two percent," Flavio grinned as we walked toward the Queen's suite.
"Twelve percent is a bargain," I grumbled. "We have the lowest business taxes in the Reth Alliance. I hope all those grumpy vampires realize that."
"Most of them do, but they still want to complain," Flavio grinned. He was the handsomest man I'd ever seen, and loved his mate Kyler very, very much. I was thinking about that when Grant appeared at our side in a blur.
"I already have the messages sent to all the businesses, telling them the new tax rate goes into effect next month," he said. "Heathe and I got it done in record time."
"Good," I nodded at Grant. "Thank you."
"At least we can stop draining Niff's accounts to pay for stuff," he said. He would know about that—he co-owned Niff's Ice Cream Shops with Heathe and the Queen.
"You can stop draining Niff's accounts to pay for stuff," I agreed, smiling at Grant. "I didn't tell them what else I wanted to do, either," I said.
"What's that?"
"To raise the price of the tour tickets. They haven't gone up since they started, and prices certainly haven't stayed still for what those tickets buy for the comesuli."
"I believe we might tackle that next week," Flavio laughed. Gavin didn't say a word.
* * *
"Dad, I need her. For the annual meeting here on Campiaa. If she could give me information on a few people," Teeg, whose given name was Gavril Tybus Montegue, said. "If you'd witnessed what she did with that prisoner—just spouted off his name and everything else about him. We couldn't get past whatever was blocking the information."
"Then I'll have her ready. When?"
"I'd like to take her now. The meetings begin tomorrow. I know it's off-days for her, but I heard she usually works on those distribution accounts for the comesuli anyway."
"I'll have to call the Larentii to change her face back."
"I can get the warlocks to do it."
"I'll get her."
"I'll come with you."
* * *
Breanne's Journal
At least they knocked before barging in. Gavin, followed by Teeg San Gerxon. Father and son. Both dark-haired and dark-eyed, with leashed anger simmering deep within. They wanted something. I was already in bed, going through information on my comp-vid while my friendly snake peered over my shoulder when my visitors walked in.
"Get dressed," Gavin commanded. The snake lifted up in bed, spread his hood and hissed— hissed —at Gavin and the Founding Member of the Campiaan Alliance. Both took a step back.
"I only need to borrow her for a few meetings—I'll bring her back safe and in one piece, I promise." Teeg addressed the snake directly.
"It's okay," I ran a hand down the snake's back—he really did have a nice pattern—and slowly he pulled his hood back in. Disdainfully he slid off the bed and left the bedchamber, hissing at Gavin a second time before going through the door.
"The snake has spoken," Teeg sighed. "Get dressed; you have to come with me tonight."
* * *
"You can sleep in here." Stellan Starr showed me to a bedchamber. It wasn't huge, but it had everything I needed. Astralan, Stellan's older brother, had already removed my disguise, so at least I looked like myself
Similar Books
Part of the Pride
Kevin Richardson
Guardian
Kassandra Kush
The Checkout Girl
Susan Zettell
King Maybe
Timothy Hallinan
Human Remains
Elizabeth Haynes
Suck and Blow: Party Games, Book 1
Lexxie Couper
Full Disclosure
Thirteen
Melinda Hammond
Highclough Lady
Washington's Lady
Nancy Moser