Courts and Cabals by G.S. D'Moore (best e reader for academics txt) 📕

of someone who delivered on unusual requests. Usually, it was test answers, a pack of smokes, a case of beer, a bag of blood for non-vegetarian vamps; but sometimes, people wanted something weird. With a school full of pubescent supernatural creatures, there was bound to be something weird.

“Yes, My Lady,” I kept my back stooped in the bow. “What do you require?” With a snap of her fingers one of the underlings stepped forward. I noticed him from chemistry, and he practically drooled when he looked at Aveena. He was a changeling; a half-Fae.

For the most part, Fae stayed in the Faerie Realm. They kept up diplomatic relations with the US, and a few European nations, where they maintained portals to their realm. That was another ability that made Fae so powerful. They could move from one place to another in seconds, when it usually took hours or days. Most people called it teleportation. Scientist said they made Einstein-Rosen bridges with their power, but those more magically-literate said the Fae moved through some dead-space between our realm and theirs. It took a lot of power, and I mean a lot. The portals were maintained for normal travel and trade because the talent seemed limited to the noble bloodlines; and even there, it wasn’t as sure thing. To me, it was basically teleportation, and I had no idea if the young Fae in front of me could do it.

“Since she’s making me run her errands, probably not,” I filed the tidbit away for future reference. “That, or she considers this whole thing beneath her,” which explained why she was coming to me.

Blood was big with Fae; especially noble blood. The changelings following behind Aveena were more like loyal dogs than people to her. I honestly felt sorry for what’s-his-face. It wasn’t his fault some horny Fae-dude slipped through interdimensional immigration and knocked up his mom before vanishing back to Faeville. Growing up without a dad, not to mention being a different species than mom, must have sucked. To make matters worse, he was now bound by blood to serve the noble family whose bloodline his father served; unless his father was noble himself, then he probably had to serve some king or queen.

“And it’s always the dads,” I gave a mental shake of my head, because it was always male Fae who knocked up human women, not the other way around. My feelings on the subject weren’t entirely unbiased. The changelings and me had dirtbag dads in common.

The chemistry class guy – I couldn’t remember his name for the life of me – served House Foxbelle, and would serve them until he died several centuries from now. Fae were truly immortal unless killed, and it was hard to kill them. Changelings got a reduced version of their Fae parent’s ability, and longevity; but that was a shitty prize compared to a life of literal servitude.

“Sucks to be them,” I accepted the piece of paper.

“Have it ready for me in twenty-four hours . . . or else.”

“And there’s the not-so-subtle threat of the Unseelie,” I averted my eyes. If Fae could read minds, she’d see I was giving her a big mental finger.

“Or else what?” Everything was already silent with Aveena there, so everyone heard the slight hiss the Fae made when she turned to confront the person who’d insulted her.

I couldn’t see who it was because Aveena was blocking me, but my body told me soon enough. I popped a half-chub and suddenly my mouth was very dry. Lilith swung seductively from pylon to pylon like some stripper as she came closer.

“And she’s not even trying,” I bit my cheek to the point of drawing blood as the succubus sauntered to stand in front of Aveena, tossed her raven-black hair over one shoulder, and gave her a cocky smile. The only sign Aveena was affected by Lilith’s ability was a slight reddening of her pale cheeks.

“What do you want, whore?” Aveena spat out, and I could see her start to glow as she prepared to unleash her glamour.

“Nothing,” Lilith shrugged. “I’m here to purchase services from Mr. Dupree just like you.”

I gulped, undid the necktie that was part of our school uniform, and tried to work some air across my chest and back. It wasn’t working.

“He will be handling my business before yours,” Aveena replied, holding her ground.

“Ladies,” I stepped forward because I clearly had a death wish. “I will be able to meet both of your needs . . . I mean orders.”

Aveena’s eyes burned like brimstone as she turned to regard me, while Lilith raised an eyebrow and gave me a playful smile. The half-chub became a raging hard-on that strained against my pants. Without another word, Aveena stomped off. Her eyes did the talking.

“Twenty-four hours,” I reminded myself as I shook my head to clear the confusion Lilith was causing.

The succubus watched Aveena’s retreating back before turning her gaze on me. The power of the gaze made my knees week. Aveena didn’t fuck with Lilith because there was a question mark who would come out on top in a fight. Both were young, headstrong, and without the wisdom or power to really kill each other; but getting your ass kicked by another supernatural in high school was as good as death.

“Cameron Dupree,” the words slipped out of her lips and hit me like a police taser. I felt more alive than ever, and my heart beat out of control. “Can I get the answers to Tuesday’s Biology quiz?” she asked.

As far as I could remember, and my memory was a little foggy as she stood so close to me, this was Lilith’s first time coming to me. She might fuck people for power, but I heard she was a straight A student and did all her homework. This was a first.

“Of course,” I coughed out