Page 83 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 8
Thank you, Chastity and your odd love for Berber dick!I didn’t need to be told twice. I was already running late.Wait, what? No!God I hate being late.I started sprinting around the palace. My greatest fear was coming true. And of all the times to be late... This was really important.
I heard voices up ahead and picked up my pace. I stumbled into a grand throne room. There were huge white pillars. Everything was gold, blue, and white. Even the ceiling had blue tiles. There was a raised platform for the genie council. It consisted of five people all sitting on cushions. There was an ancient looking man in the middle decked out in white robes and a white turban. He had the longest, twirliest beard I’d ever seen. He had to be Hagig the Bumpkin.Fine.I knew his name was Habib the Benevolent. But I hated him.
He was flanked by three other old dudes and a stunning woman in a multicolored belly dancer outfit.
Nigel was sitting at a table facing the council.Wait. Is Nigel Tanner’s lawyer too?How many roles did that little man play?
Tanner was sitting in the witness box. I swallowed hard when I saw him. It felt like we were standing in a modern-day courthouse. Only the stakes were a million times worse. Becausea lifetime sentence for Tanner was a hell of a lot longer than a lifetime sentence for a normal criminal.
A man in a purple fez and purple vest was questioning him. I squinted to get a better look. I’d seen him before.I think.At the time I’d thought it was Nigel dressed funny. But I was pretty sure this was the guy I’d seen at the Emerald Oasis. Was it Ghazi? Tanner’s overseer?
“Do you admit to using magic to interfere in a mortal athletic competition?” Ghazi asked.
Tanner didn’t respond.
I looked back at the witness box and Tanner was staring directly at me. He looked completely shocked to see me.
He cleared his throat. “Sorry, can you repeat the question?”
“Do you admit to using magic to interfere in a mortal athletic competition?”
“It was just a sack race at a summer camp.”
Ghazi shook his head. “Was it an athletic competition?”
Tanner shrugged. “Technically yes.”
“Was it between mortals?”
“Yes. But clearly the rule is meant to apply to big events. Like a cricket test match. Or an ostrich race.”
Say what?The Super Bowl probably would have been a better example. Ghazi must have been into some strange kinky ostrich things. Tanner was probably trying to appease him.
Ghazi nodded. “I rest my case.”
Habib twirled his beard around his finger. “Thank you, Ghazi. I believe we have everything we need to render our verdict.”
No. What?I hadn’t even talked yet! “Wait!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.
Everyone stared at me.
Crap! I hate when people stare at me! And I hate public speaking even more! Gah!Why were all my least favorite things in the world happening today? It was tempting to turn around and run in the opposite direction. But this was important. I cringed.
“And you are?” said Habib from his cushion.
I took a deep breath. “I’m a friend of Tanner’s.”
“And why should be you be allowed to speak on this matter? What does a mortal such as yourself know of magic?”
How did he know that I’m mortal?Oh. It was probably the sweatshirt. I hated that I was so basic that he could tell I wasn’t magical.
“I think we should let her speak,” said the beautiful woman in the belly dancer outfit.
Thank you, gorgeous stranger!
“Very well.” Habib nodded. “What do you have to add to this matter?”
My argument was bulletproof. Any jury would agree. But...there was no jury.Stop thinking about modern-day trials!“Tanner’s punishment as a genie is meant to teach him about true love, yes?”
