Page 107 of Home to the Hollow

The Mayor didn’t ask me here to observe, that much is obvious. She wanted me to be this person’s guinea pig. Nelia has a plan, and she needed someone with my strength to experiment with. I wouldn’t have been opposed to it if she’d asked, but I’m a tad insulted she felt she had to deceive me.

“She has completed a mate bond, but the fog persists. The others believe it may continue to lift as her other sides emerge and she completes the bonds with them. I’m unsure if that is accurate, but I’d like to find out before our enemies find their way here. She’s not ready.”

Oh, now I understand.

Cornelia Sykes is playing the long game—she’s hoping that she can shake the suppression spell from Jolene by calling upon this ally. I don’t know yet why that’s important nor who these enemies they’re speaking of are, but it’s possible this is all part of the cloudiness in my mind surrounding our lovely art teacher.

“Only one so far.” The laugh is deep from behind the hood. “Times change and misogyny remain the same. In a world where the buffet is limitless, we continue to allow society to put us on a diet. I have not been restricted in centuries and much like you, I’ve found life has only been sweeter.”

“Agreed.” Nelia looks over at me, tilting her head. “Hugo, how do you feel?”

Like a Mack truck hit me and offended, they chose me as a science experiment, but I don’t say that. Before I respond, I take a moment to inventory my body, mind, and power center. “I feel as if something may have freed up inside of me, but I can’t tell you what. I don’t know if what you were attempting was successful yet.”

“You’re upset with your Mayor. Don’t be; she wasn’t a fan of my plan but I insisted. I didn’t believe it would work as well if you prepared yourself. We need to understand this suppression spell placed on your friend—it wasn’t the doing of the Society and we haven’t been able to identify the magick.”

I blink. The Society doctor did not do Jolene’s suppression before she was adopted. Who outside of the snakes even knows that’s how the lost children are managed until adulthood? Why would anyone want to interfere with one specific hybrid?

“She’s not the only one, Hugo. Jolene is the one we have access to. She may also be the only one to inherit multiple sides, but we don’t know that, either. One of our own has to be involved in targeting specific individuals and use our own practices to hide their devious ways.” Our mayor sighs, looking tired under the Ramonda costume. The Queen of Wakanda suits her, but the obvious staring does not.

“Nelia, is she in danger? Is that why we are here tonight… of all nights? The veil is thinnest, and we gathered the entire town in one specific place—while we are across town with a hooded guest with the powers of multiple species running through them?”

The stranger claps in delight. “He is clever! I shall report that to his patron. The females of his kind are quite dim. That’s how the golden boy has always preferred them. But your seer is special, Cornelia. Keep this one close. Oh, I cannot wait to tell Leo about him. He’ll never believe it.”

Who the fuck is Leo?

“Give him and the others my best. It has been so long since we’ve all gotten together. You barely leave your compound anymore, and my mates hate international travel. It makes it so difficult to keep in touch,” Nelia sighs.

“I will. Mypolykoúlasprefer to stay where it’s safe ever since… well, you know. Masaru took the loss the hardest, and he has never reconciled the choice we had to make. Leonidas and Kedar try to draw him out, but it never bears fruit. I occasionally venture out like tonight, but I have Shade, Ariell, and Dax with me. They have the companions back in the castle we rented out for the weekend.”

Castle? Sweet merciful Artemis, who is this person and how does Nelia know them?

Anyone who can rent out the only castle in the entire state for a quick trip is more wealthy than most rock stars. Maybe that’s the reason for all the secrecy—this is a shifter celebrity still in the closet. If so, they’re hiding a cadre of people and a compound overseas.

“I hate to interrupt the catch up session, but is anyone going to answer the question? What is happening tonight that made this meeting necessary?” I ask, feeling irritated that they seem more concerned with gossiping than providing information.

Nelia gives me a sad smile. “We’re not sure, Hugo. Andromeda and the other Guardians have returned with less than fortunate news from Salem. There may be a rogue faction headed here and we are uncertain it doesn’t connect to this situation. The bad guys are multiplying and they have far too much power to ignore.”

Sitting quietly, I absorb their words. I haven’t been able to get as close to Jolene as I’ve wanted to, but she’s been so consumed with her students and the townspeople bothering her. I felt bad for trying. I don’t want her to be harmed, nor do I want anyone to whisk her away to protect her before I get the chance to rectify my error.

“I’ll help Bane search for the witches. I’m not needed at the ball, and your absence will be noticed soon.”

The cloaked one chuckles again. “Ah, the valiance of youth. Come, MacAuley. We will locate Andromeda and assist her. It has been even longer since I have seen her.” The pause is heavy as the stranger sighs. “She may not be as eager to see me. Best be cautious.”

Cannon fodder for a centuries old rivalry—sounds like a Saturday night at home. I’m not sure I want to be the monkey in the middle for that, but since I volunteered, I have little choice. Nelia winks at me, and I roll my eyes. She knew and didn’t warn me. Yet another demerit for her in my book; she’ll be in the negative soon.

“If Andromeda Bane will be displeased to see you, I’d prefer to follow you in rather than lead. I don’t know you well enough to take a shriek from her as my punishment for arriving with you in tow.”

“It will be more than a shriek, I guarantee.”

Marvelous. I can’t wait.

Free their minds. Lift the fog.

Discipline

Despite her brave face in front of Teddy’s parents, our girl is as jumpy as a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Her eyes keep darting around, watching the people as they stare at us. Saoirse’s choice of costume was brilliant, but the dissonance between our getup and everyone else’s only underlines that we are different.

Supes in the Hollow live a very heteronormative existence—probably because of the towns deal to place the kids. No one ever made a big deal about Prez and me, nor did they say anything about the Mayor, but that wasn’t thrust in their face all the time. Even though shifters have multiple mates in other conclaves, the Hollow’s conservative atmosphere makes us seem out of the ordinary. The infamy surrounding Jolene and Teddy’s family connections doesn’t help, either.

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