Page 43 of Prey It By Ear

“According to the school portal, our first big match is against Cappie. Someone in the Leonidas family must have lost their mind, though.”

Arching a brow, I look at her shrewdly. “And why do you say that?”

“Because it’s the Friday before Samhain weekend. Doesn’t that seem… unfortunate?”

Taka leans in, leering at her. “Are you scared of the ghosts and ghouls, girl?”

I shove him back in annoyance, but my daughter just lets out a very fake laugh. She’s not above being political when it’s the father of her bedmates, it seems. Perhaps I can use that to find out what the fuck she’s doing. “Of course she’s not. She’s a warrior in the collegiate Pred Games, darling. Your sons and that Leonidas slut are coaching her. Perhaps we should attend…”

Waiting for a response to my suggestion, I stay quiet until Delores finally says, “I’m sure the school would be honored to have you. You should certainly look into that.”

Something is off about that reaction, even though it seemed muted and understated.

“Why, Delores, it almost sounds as if you wouldn’t be happy to have us grace l’Academie with our attendance. How could that possibly be?” I pretend to be shocked, removing my sunglasses for a moment so she can see my eyes.

But I taught her better than I thought, because it doesn’t cause her to lose her cool. No, this version of my daughter simply broadens her fake smile as she says, “Oh, Mother! Never think that. I am worried that the business you and the Raj are handling on the continent is much too important for the two of you to take time away from it. However, if you do come together, I’m certain Felix and Fitz will be delighted to see their father after so long.”

“I’m sure they would be ecstatic,” I reply drily as Taka snickers to himself nearby. “However, I will need to review the Council tasks and events we are here to attend before I decide. You will know if we’re coming; that Aung moron wouldn’t dare to forget how much money is poured into that place by our efforts. She’ll make certain the entire campus knows who will watch that match.”

Delores nods, her expression serious. “Very good, Mother. I will make sure that I am trained and ready to represent the family to the best of my ability. Zhenga and the other coaches will work us all hard when they hear the two of you might be in attendance.”

“Excellent. Now, I really must go. I have important things to attend to. Matilda!” I yell for the bird to deal with the screen as I dismiss the girl easily.

After all, she’s merely a pawn in this game anyway.

When the camera shuts off, I lie back in my chair and look up at the nubile young tiger holding my martini. Taka is an interesting distraction, especially with his gaggle of free-use subjects along, but I cannot veer off course. Papa gave me specific tasks to complete with this little tête-à-tête; it’s all part of his plans. Bringing the Raj off his rock, where he can be influenced more easily, is a huge part of fighting the war against those magical misfits.

But the phone call from my wayward daughter is worrisome—she rarely calls unbidden, and she hasn’t been following my edicts without pressure since she met those loser exiles.

“Frowning will cause wrinkles, darling,” the tall man says as he returns from wherever he went while I finished my call. “We will have to fly a technician out, and they are so hard to find when you bear my name.”

I arch a brow as I look at him over my sunglasses. “Perhaps constantly killing or kidnapping them for your own needs is hampering your access to the good things in life. You should work on that.”

One of the bimbettes with fruit trays laughs, and Taka’s eyes glitter with fury. “Take her to the lower level!”

She screams, and for a moment, I think the damn girl is going to jump off the yacht to sacrifice herself to the sea rather than be hauled off. But one of the bigger guards who has been staying in the shadows gets to her before she can do it, and I sigh as the huge feline drags the unfortunate idiot off by her hair.

I had no idea how boring it is to watch someone else exercise their cruelty rather than being the one to do it—no wonder Delores is so dreadfully rebellious.

“That was a prime example of what I meant. You’ve reduced the available bodies by three since we launched from port this morning. If you continue, we’ll have nothing left to play with.”

The eldest Khan clicks his tongue as if I’m a child. “No, no, darling. The pilot can always fly in more and land on the helipad. When I came to the mainland at your request, I made certain to bring enough toys to keep me satisfied for the entire visit. I am nothing if not thorough in my plans.”

“Good to know,” I say as I take the martini from the still-waiting server. “I prefer to associate with those who are intelligent enough to know themselves. It leads to far less stress when we need to create chaos within our world. Besides, I put up with Bruno’s idiocy for almost a decade before I had Delores, and another quarter century after that before I got rid of him. I’ve had enough of stupid, disappointing men.”

His laugh is full of arrogance, and undeserved bravado as the Raj drops onto his lounge again. “You won’t find that here, darling. Khans are never a disappointment and always win the games.”

The ego of this man is astounding—even the small encounters I’ve had with his twin sons and my daughter told me that he is not long for this earth, if they choose to come for him.

“It’s unusual for Delores to contact me,” I murmur as I sip my icy drink. “Even at the beginning of the school year, I have to hunt her down, leaving voice mails until she finally gives in.”

My new target picks up his tablet, and once he puts on sunglasses, he looks over at me. “Is it time for extraction? Maybe your plan should be sped up before it’s too late.”

“Absolutely not,” I reply sharply. “You may not be able to hold your wad, but I certainly will not ruin decades of planning by rushing the climax, Taka.”

The Raj visibly shrinks back a little—not a lot, but enough for me to notice and catalog. My father has long suspected that though the leader of the Khan empire was a vicious, dirty fighter in his youth, he’s grown lazy and complacent in his age. Part of my assignment with him is learning how to manipulate his whims more effectively for the Society. Bloodstone needs to be used more efficiently and to greater effect than it’s being used now. Buttering up this arrogant fool is necessary to that end.

“Lucille, I meant no offense,” he says when he recovers. “You know I am excited to be an integral part of assisting our mutual friends in stuffing those spell-slinging freaks back where they belong for good. If your daughter is the center of that plot, you must do so in whatever way you see fit. That is why I did not object to my useless sons banging her at the school.”