The Striogians enter through the docking bay, heavily cloaked and hiding their true appearance. They extend an object. It glows, iridescent, the light pulsing like a heartbeat.
Threat assessment: High
You back up in caution, and the Striogians hiss their displeasure.
Your hand reaches for the photon gun at your side, but you have no idea if it will even do any damage.
Then the stars move.
Space folds inward, light bending around a presence the computer cannot classify. No transponder or warning.
The Striogians retreat instantly, and all that remains is the knowledge that there is something even this mighty race of warriors are afraid of.
And they have left you to face them alone.
44
Mulligan
Ronan
Ipushed the shrimp around on my plate. My appetite had been shit ever since I’d lost Sage, and while I knew I needed to eat to keep up my strength for the fight ahead, these heavy, fancy meals my dad was forcing me to sit through weren’t helping.
“Have you been to the new course in Elmaris yet?”
The Premier chuckled, swirling his wine. “Not yet. I’m planning to go next month. Are the sand traps really as nasty as everyone says?”
“Even worse,” my dad said. “But the greens are perfect.”
“Hm,” the Premier murmured. “I like a little danger with my beauty.”
“Don’t we all?”
It was a struggle to keep my eyes from rolling in the back of my head. Asmodiel Hellmora liked to pretend he was on the same level as my dad, or the heads of the Dragoviches and Carvassis, but he was a replaceable puppet. The second he did anything to actually hurt our revenue stream, he’d be toast.
Just like Nari Veshiro, the Premier who mysteriously stepped down due to “health issues” twelve years ago after arresting one of the Carvassi lieutenants.
Which was too bad, because I’d actually liked her.
“So,” my dad started, all pretense that this was just a normal social event gone. “About those permits…”
Asmodiel wiped his mouth with his napkin, eager to respond. “Yes, your daughter mentioned that when she scheduled this meeting, and they’re already taken care of. You’re free to break ground on the new hotel as soon as you’d like.”
“Thank you, Asmodiel. I knew I could count on you. It’s a shame when needless red tape holds up real progress. We employ so many demons, and it hurts the whole city-state when they can’t start projects on time.”
Ugh, I couldn’t believe this was the sort of thing I’d be expected to take over once my dad retired. Did they actually like the kraken shit? The song and dance? Or could I just call up the Premier and skip the whole pointless charade?
The waitress came by to refill our glasses, my dad’s hand skimming her ass as she passed.
I would bet the entire bounty I’d received from Victor that I’d find her sneaking out of the house tomorrow morning.
“We wanted to ask you about something else while we were here,” my dad started, giving me a pointed look.
I turned my attention towards Asmodiel, as though my dad and I were on the same page, when in reality I hadn’t been given any information about what was on the agenda for the evening.
“What can you tell us about Premier Victor Corvane?”
My heart rate spiked, but I did my best to tamper it down and not appear too excited. I simply leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table.
