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Dante had his hand in every single business in the city. Most were because they were owned or run by someone in the clan. Others Dante had personally approved of because it helped them fit into the human world that surrounded them.

His work was never quite done but this oasis away from the hustle and bustle was sacred to him. This homebase was what Dante had dreamed about having one day. Back when Dante lived without indoor plumbing or even electricity. In the days when he’d had to fight for everything and anything. And look at that. Dante always got what he wanted. Except now someone was trying to ruin what Dante loved the most.

Being over six hundred years old, Dante had learned to trust his instincts. He’d been hunted, chased, stalked, and fought for everything that he had. That belonged to his clan. Dante was curious whose attention he’d gained this time.

The list of adversaries was long. With a werewolf pack getting closer to the city, the demons no longer content with staying in hell, witch covens greedy to reclaim lost magic, and the human government never satisfied with the payout they received for remaining quiet about the supernatural world, the delicate balance that Dante orchestrated was always on the verge of being toppled.

There was even a rumor that human civilians were scheming up a rebellion. It hurt that the humans that Dante had been protecting and supporting with his businesses would turn on him. Just like the old days.

Dante found it harder and harder to trust anyone, regardless of species, that wasn’t clan. He allowed humans, shifters, and other species to work there but the city belonged to him. The clan had created the city that everyone wanted to live in.

Humans were able to live in their little houses or small apartments but shifters and other beings were required to live elsewhere away from Dante’s territory so they didn’t get any ideas of trying to take what belonged to the clan.

His clan.

Gripping the edge of the wrought-iron railing of his balcony, Dante resisted baring his fangs. Was he being watched now?

The small hairs on the back of his neck signaled he was. But how? Dante’s security was top-notch. He only hired the best. Money did buy everything that he needed. And this was his home. His castle.

A croak came from above him.

Dante held out his arm, allowing his raven familiar, Syn, to land. “Hello, friend,” he cooed at his pet. “Did you have a nice flight?”

Syn hopped up Dante’s arm to his shoulder before beginning to rub her black beak against the side of Dante’s head.

“Must you do that?” Dante complained. “I have plans tonight and I don’t need to look like I have a nest in my hair.”

The complaint did nothing to stop his familiar as Syn continued her annoying habit. They’d been together for centuries at this point. Syn knew that she could get away with whatever she wanted. She had free rein of the skies above yet when Syn returned, like she always would, she liked to remind Dante that he belonged to her.

He didn’t bother to turn at the knock on his bedroom door even though he could hear it clearly through the expanse of his private suite and outside. “Come in,” he murmured quietly. His second in command would also have no issues hearing him.

The door opened with only a slight brush from the bottom over the carpet. It took several long moments for Nicholas to reach him although Dante tracked his second’s progress through the suite.

“I see the menace has returned once again,” Nicholas Vesper commented with a snort.

Syn disliked everyone except Dante. Even Dante’s oldest and dearest friend. She was just picky like that.

“That she has.” Syn ignored Nicholas, only caring about Dante. That shouldn’t amuse him as much as it did.

“The car is ready,” Nicholas told him.

Syn stopped rubbing against his hair long enough to gurgle deeply at Nicholas.

“Hey!” Nicholas held up both hands. “Don’t complain to me. It’s your master that makes the schedule. I just follow his orders.”

Syn flew to the railing and hopped a few times while croaking at Dante.

Nicholas chuckled proudly as Dante’s raven basically told him off.

Dante flipped Nicholas off. Childish? Yes. But then he and Nicholas had once, many years ago, been children together. Some things didn’t change. Not between the two of them.

The other vampire was the one that Dante relied on the most. Truthfully the only one that had Dante’s full trust. Nicholas was Dante’s first turned vampire. A gift that Dante had offered his best friend in a time when men didn’t live past the age of thirty. They’d spent centuries together, with Nicolas proving his loyalty time and again.

“I must go,” Dante told his raven. “But keep an eye out. Something is brewing in the air. Trouble is coming.”

“Dante? What is it? What’s happening?” Nicholas asked sharply.

Syn screeched before flying away. Dante trusted his familiar to protect their home in his absence.