Courts and Cabals 2 G.S. D'Moore (the little red hen read aloud .txt) 📖

the boss’s kids are running departments of the cabal around the globe, and prefer their independence from mommy.”

Peter shot her a sideways glare as he showed off the dining room. It was all red-velvet upholstery, dim, intimate lighting, and Kenny G playing softly in the background. Last but not least, a section of the suites was blocked off by a serious-looking security door and an intimidating guard. After that, we were back at the elevator. I’d seen Caesars Palace from the outside, and after taking the nickel-tour, things weren’t adding up.

“This doesn’t make any sense. How can there be four penthouse floors? The penthouse is, by definition, only the top floor, and I’m pretty sure Caesars just has one.”

“A spell was worked when the hotel was constructed,” Peter sounded like he was a teacher explaining things to a particularly dull student. “The spell gives us more space to work with, and at the same time, hides the structural layout from external eyes.”

“Like the Fae’s ability to create extradimensional space?” I nodded in understanding.

“No,” he shut me down. “The Fae’s ability to create space by pulling from the Shadow Realm is unparalleled, and they alone hold that gift. Human mages are able to make space as well, but they can’t interact with parallel universes like the Fae. Think of it as stretching the bounds of our reality instead of crossing over into somewhere else.”

“Damn,” I looked around, surprised a human mage had done this. “Why don’t we see this everywhere?”

“Because the mage has to give a piece of themselves to accomplish the spell,” Lilith stepped through the security door. “And the price is steep. Peter,” the large man bent down and accepted a kiss on the cheek. His rigid demeanor visibly softened, and it had nothing to do with the succubus vibes she naturally gave off.

He clearly thought I was a useless hunk of meat, but he genuinely cared about Lilith. “I guess he’s not that big of an asshole.”

“Mother is meeting with the board soon, and wanted to introduce Cam if you’re finished,” Lilith slipped her arm into mine, which made me grin like a fool.

“We can go over the subterranean levels after the meet and greet,” Peter noticed the possessive gesture, but his face was unreadable. “All Mr. Dupree will need to know is where the training level is located.”

“I can handle that, big guy,” Dani offered.

“Very well,” his job complete, Peter gave us all a final critique and started back toward the elevator. Nicole, who’d been in his shadow the whole time, had already disappeared. I didn’t even see her leave.

“Nice guy,” I grunted when Peter was thirty feet away. The slight stiffening of his spine told me he’d heard me.

“He is,” Lilith elbowed me in the ribs. “He’s been with my mother since Aristotle.”

We’d started walking toward the security door, and I tripped over nothing. She caught me with a chuckle.

“Aristotle . . . the Aristotle; ancient Greece, student of Plato, taught Alexander the Great, founded the Lyceum,” I could go on and on.

“Yes,” Lilith nodded and rolled her eyes. She’d forgotten I was a history buff.

“But that was two thousand years ago,” I stammered.

“Closer to twenty-four hundred,” Lilith corrected.

“What is he?” I turned around to judge the back of the man who looked like a metrosexual IT manager on steroids.

“Peter’s a unicorn,” Dani deadpanned.

At first, I thought that was some type of slang for calling him gay, but as the First of a female succubus, that didn’t make any sense. Then I figured she was being literal.

“A unicorn,” I put my pointer finger up to my forehead as if that was going to clarify things. Dani laughed at Peter’s expense, but the man had already disappeared inside the elevator.

“He’s an ancient shifter,” Lilith clarified, after giving Dani a reproachful look. “In this day and age, shifters are basically contained to common species, but there was a time when magic was more abundant, wild, and untamed,” she said it wistfully, like she was sad she’d missed it.

“And like dragons, gryphons, basilisks, and manticores; there were unicorns,” Dani stated like she was commenting on the weather.

I couldn’t believe I was finding it hard to believe that there were such things as unicorns, or that a unicorn could be a man. I’d seen some weird shit in the last few months. This didn’t even crack the top ten.

“History also knows him as Pegasus,” Lilith added.

That stopped me in my tracks. “You’re fucking with me.” It was clear they weren’t. “But unicorns don’t fly, and Pegasus doesn’t have a horn,” I argued.

“Some things were lost in translation,” Lilith shrugged.

“I think I need to sit down,” I groaned and found a free spot on the wall to slide down onto my ass.

The succubus kneeled down beside me and rubbed my back, as I put my head between my knees and took a few deep breaths. “I can’t believe I just talked with the Pegasus . . . and he hates me,” I groaned and felt like I was going to be sick. “I don’t even want to think about what training he has in store for me.”

“We need to go,” Lilith gave my armpit a slight tug. She could have thrown me over her shoulder if she wanted, but she was being kind and considerate of my feelings.

“Okay . . . but damn,” I got back to my feet, and suddenly felt like I was walking toward the executioner’s block. “Oh, my gods,” I froze. “Please don’t tell me your mother rides a white horse into battle and ancient Christians mistook her for Death.”

Lilith didn’t say anything, just shrugged.

“Who the hell are these people?” I screamed inside my own head.

I was sure as shit about to find out.

***

The security door was no