Page 166 of Wicked Heirs

“The sales projections of the Illuminex Shield are…”

Frederick’s voice faded into the background as he delivered his report.

As my top marketing sales associate he was the best of the best with the ability, much like mine, to hold an audience captive with a gravitas borne from a perfect combination of charm and esteemed know-how. I knew our latest product launch was in good hands with him at the helm. But I always oversaw every stage of rolling out a new product from the development stage all the way through to the end stages and beyond when the product was out there in the supernatural world and being consumed by the public, I continued to monitor it.

But for the first time in decades since I’d establishedSabre Tech, I wasn’t focused.

I was missing information as I continued to space out from the immediate and pay attention to the unsettling, aggravating sensations thrumming through my blood and assaulting my psyche alike.

The stabbing pain radiating through my head that had begun ten minutes ago was also growing in prominence and worsening, refusing to be denied.

Something was wrong.

The wrong beings were within range of my protective magic.

Considering how many protective barriers and wards I had erected throughout the supernatural world, it took time and great concentration to determine which was in question here.

“Finish up without me,” I told Frederick, rising to my feet.

My team gathered around the mahogany oval boardroom table all eyed me incredulously.

I didn’t walk out in the middle of a business meeting.

Although I had a responsibility toExemplar, unlike some of the other members, including Abi, my schedule there was strict and set in stone, not flexible, because of my commitment shared betweenExemplarandSabre Tech.

The last time something off schedule had occurred and I’d been forced to break from the well-oiled machine that was my life and schedule, had been three years ago during theCataclysm. So my business associates weren’t used to it now that we’d been in a period of peace from all of that madness for so long.

“Sir?” Frederick, a Light Fae with a platinum blond buzzcut and impeccable style rivaling mine, but with more of a flair, queried as I rapidly gathered my phone and tablet and rounded the table toward the door.

“Personal emergency,” I informed him and the dozen other of my staff gathered around.

“Xavier? Is he all right?”

“It’s not him. My son is fine,” I answered a little tersely, the pounding pain in my head not helping matters, nor the urgency and time sensitive nature of the situation.

“Finish the meeting and send me the minutes. Have Dahlia hold my calls.”

“All right, will do, boss man.”

“Apologies,” I told the room.

With that, I hurried out.

As soon as I was clear, I teleported to a quiet alley a few blocks away from my office building where I wouldn’t be disturbed.

As I rematerialized, a wave of dizziness beset me and I had to slap my hand to the wall to steady myself.

The pain in my head was becoming unmanageable too.

It meant only one thing in this context—someone, or someones, were trying to breach my magic. They were no longer just near, they were attacking.

It took me a moment in my state to manage it, but I succeeded in lessening the pain to a more manageable level with amutingspell.

It wouldn’t last long, but it was enough for me to be able to think and focus so I could deal with the root cause.

I was just about to start doing that when my phone rang.

I was going to ignore it until I realized that it was the ringtone I had specifically reserved for my son.

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