Page 152 of Home to the Hollow

Hubal knows I don’t even trust the supernatural Society and its Councils—not when the leadership is cloaked as it is.

However, my journey this year is not a philosophical one. Eliot Cantwell and his family may be deeply embedded in the Society and the Council of his quaint little town, but his skill with training and maintaining winning horses is internationally renowned. Bringing my strongest contender to him was a forgone conclusion, and I never allow my prized investments to be cared for by people I have not assessed.

Mehdi is far too special for reckless business practices.

I was on the lookout for another racer to fill a void in my stables when my buyers found the beautifulAkhal-Tekeat an auction. I knew she would be an excellent replacement for the cantankerous mare I lost to a scarlet haired assassin who infiltrated our palace. Luckily for her, I wasnotthe target that day—as my powers far outweighed her fledgling abilities—but I allowed her to relieve me of a beast that I had never tamed in trade. She left me in peace, and I gave her a problem I needed to solve.

It all worked out for the best, though I’m sure the security team who failed my father wouldn’t agree—if they still had their heads.

Now that I’ve settled my future Derby winner with Cantwell and his team, I feel the need to stretch my metaphorical wings. Unlike most of the sultanate, I’m not a savage party animal nor a conservative homebody. I fall outside of the predetermined lines because I am ‘other’, as my grandmother calls it. Grandmother is a misnomer, of course, because I am older than most countries in this world, despite appearing to be in my thirties. I’ve seen many fathers and grandmothers and siblings come into the world and leave over the centuries.

I cannot draw more attention than necessary to myself because our thin cover story of familial resemblance is harder to maintain in this technological age than it was years ago.

But I also yearn to be around people, even if its other supes and shifters, and to use my gifts to help. Servitude is what humans believe we are meant for, but that is not accurate. They made us of smokeless fire and may be good or evil, like any other species. Our powers are immense; so much so that the tale of my birth breaks current laws in the supernatural world. Producing more of us is not illegal, but those with our blood are required to register their intent to procreate. My original father did no such thing when he fell in love with my human mother, and our family guards the true story of my birth closely.

The Society believes we can only procreate with supernaturals or our own kind when we find a mate, and all the djinn prefer them to continue doing so.

No one has ever given me concrete information that proves the ‘mate’ part is true, but I’ve also met no expectant couples who do not be fated mates. It’s a conundrum I’ve long wished to solve, but since I’ve lived thousands of years without finding a mate, I suppose it’s only a curiosity.

Regardless, I have conducted my business and now I am due some pleasure.Howlis one of my favorite supernatural establishments in this part of the country, and I have not visited with the Theopoulos family in over a decade. Their children are delightful scamps—all hybrid demi-gods and goddesses—and if I request a placement in their evening line-up, I’ll have time to catch up with them afterward.

“Isra!” I call, knowing thesilawill always lurk within hearing range. “Please have Fazal call the Theopoulos family in the city. I wish to visit their club and have drinks with whomever is available on this dreadfully short notice.”

“Naeam sumuukum.”

The short, hissed response is normal for Isra. As the captain of my private security detail, she is a fiercely protective sub-species ofdjinn. Despite being my personal attendant for most of our eternal lives, she has never adopted modern ways. She will shape-shift accordingly in public, but prefers to remain in the shadows unless her skills and presence are necessary. Isra is why I have never come as close to an assassin’s blade as I did when the shifter witch showed up in my stables early this year.

I still question how that woman got past all the enchantment and wards our palace has, and Isra has failed to locate her at every turn—an unusual turn of events.

I settle in, opening my tablet to peruse the wardrobe we brought along for this trip. There are a few hours before my entourage needs to leave in order to make it to the club on time, and I’m certain I’ll be given permission to ‘perform’.

Tonight, I will make a few lucky supes’ dreams come true, and it will be the best thing I do all week.

My life truly is blessed, indeed.

* * *

Fazal is verygood at planting rumors to prevent my true identity from being revealed. He has been my assistant since he turned eighteen, and now, at thirty-one, he’s the epitome of poised efficiency. They employ his family in various properties for mine, and their ancestors have been doing so for almost as long as I’ve been alive. Those of us with immortality cultivate trusted families whose profession is to work for us generation after generation. It makes keeping our secrets so much easier, and our security that much tighter.

I will give my name to the crowd when I perform—however, by the end of my set, only the strongest supes will remember who I am. I can influence most shifters and lesser creatures enough to cloud the specific memory of my identity, but older, more powerful supes have had time to build their defense against those of us with mind or reality bending abilities.

“Isra, am I able to enter through the back? I do not wish to find any ‘surprise’ publicity at the front. I trust Miklo Theopoulos, but a few of his children have mischievous streaks.”

The shadows at the other end of the limo shimmer for a moment and Isra appears, looking perfectly coiffed in a black Armani suit. “We are, Amiri.”

I smile to myself. Her voice is stiff and uncomfortable when she replies because I insist on her speaking English and addressing me by my nickname when we are in public. It helps keep my cover intact and offends the hell out of Isra, but it’s necessary. She’s not a fan of the dress code in public, either, but that designer suit is hiding at least a dozen weapons, if not more. I don’t limit her ability to protect me—only to behave like a servant. I don’t think of Isra like that, but she believes herself to be in service to my crown and won’t be swayed.

I suppose everyone needs a loyal ally who cannot be bought or stolen and Isra is mine.

The limo stops and Isra exits before me, clearing the area with a quick sweep of her powers. Fazal joins her, holding his hand out to assist with alighting from the low vehicle. Looking around, I get a feel for the crowd in the club despite standing in the back alley. There are a lot of people here, and I can sense signatures from someverypowerful creatures as well as… an unemerged supe.

How intriguing! Who would dare bring someone with no knowledge of our community to a supe-only venue?

Isra and Fazal stand in front of me as we enter through the back door, their eyes sharp as we make our way backstage. I prefer not to arrive with a large entourage, though I’m certain Isra has guards sprinkled throughout the crowd in the front of the house. She is ever vigilant despite remarkably few attempts on my life in the thousands of years we’ve been together. None of the misguided attacks in the past—outside of the fiery redhead—have come close, so I try to defer to her expertise when possible.

They pause as we pass the curtain on stage left, Fazal holding up his hand as he scents the air. “There are Guardians here. A wyvern, a gorgon, a merman, and a hybrid…” His lips turn down in a frown and he leans in to whisper to Isra. When she nods, he faces me again. “The hybrid is part veela. That is not concerning, but her other half… You should not call her on stage. Her people do not respond well to anything seen as coercion, Your Highness.”

“What if I happen to choose her assigned charge? I am quite interested in the lost one in the crowd. There was a time they slapped that moniker on me, and I would find it very satisfying to assist with releasing them. With that many exotic Guardians present, I can only assume this unemerged supe has the capacity to beverypowerful.”

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