King of the Unsightly (Tempting Trickery #1)

Uninvited Guest

H ighway S50 went on and on, but no headlights from either direction. Cool . Why would I hitch a ride from a stranger, especially past midnight in a pink fluffy dress? The fact I couldn’t call for help was what sucked; my phone died when I ran from my apartment.

The sign glaring above me read the nearest gas station was five miles away, but it didn’t help me one bit. I was mentally kicking myself for not memorizing someone else’s number besides Jared’s when I had the time.

Clicking came from behind me, and I whipped my head around and assessed my surroundings.

Sequoias towered over me like skyscrapers as overgrown ferns littered the forest floor; I couldn’t see anything at all.

“It will be back,” a croaky voice called out.

Another one chimed in, “She will be back.”

“Yes, yes.”

I snapped my head up and the murder of crows with black beady eyes stood in the middle of the highway, rubbernecking like I had grown a third arm.

For once in my life, I was happy to see them.

I sighed. “Oh, thank god.”

They all craned their heads and uttered the same words as if functioning like a hive mind. “God has nothing to do with us, Adeline.”

A chill ran down my back. My relief vanished and my anxiety intensified.

If I had imagined this whole shit show of a night then I really belonged in a madhouse. But seeing as I still wore the dress, I couldn’t deny the truth any longer.

“Why are you following me again?” I asked, rubbing my temples, so done with this whole ordeal. Wait. They did say something about a key last time. Were they really after it too?

They all gasped and croaked amongst each other.

“It’s been ages!”

“She finally speaks!” they cried out, jumping up and down.

All their claws scraped against the road as their overzealous chatter filled the air and reverberated off the trees.

I stood there, annoyed. Could they not answer a question in their goddamn life? “Yes, it’s all very lovely.”

It had been years since I last witnessed them, yet I couldn’t place the exact memory. But why would they resurface now? Why stalk me?

They responded with no hesitation like they heard my thoughts. “For protection. The barrier is weakening.”

“Your presence has been revealed,” one-eyed said, clarifying.

The crow hopped forward lifting its beak at me; the apparent scar revealed it as the same bird from earlier, Gren.

I peeked at the rest of them and back at Gren, perplexed and a little aggravated. I could have used their protection earlier. If they couldn’t protect me then, how could they possibly protect me later?

Ah, maybe they could claw someone’s face. That might come in handy. “Why didn’t you help when I needed it, and what are you protecting me from, if it’s not from being literally kidnapped and pushed off a cliff?”

They only perched there silently and shook their beaks.

“You weren’t in immediate danger,” Gren finally responded.

I tossed my head back and laughed. I’d hate to find out what they considered immediate danger. “Fine, but the stalking needs to stop. Only one of you can follow me. I can’t have all of you guys squabbling twenty-four seven. So, only one.” I pointed my finger at Gren. He seemed like the most level-headed, and I would rather deal with one than thirty. “You.”

Gren froze, peeked at the others, and nodded, signaling them to leave.

“We won’t be far.”

“Just in case.”

“We will be waiting.”

They gave each other looks of disapproval but ultimately listened and disappeared into the forest, leaving Gren by my side.

“Care to explain anything?”

Gren’s silence ate away at me as his beak pointed to the ground. He stole a glance in my direction while fidgeting—if crows could do that. Either way, it looked more like twitching his feathers than anything else.

“Your mother’s coven is after you. I’m sorry, I wish I could say more,” he said with a hint of sorrow in his voice.

I scoffed and kicked a few pebbles off the road and continued walking. I really hated how it wasn’t my first time hearing those words.

So my mother really was a witch. Great . Super normal stuff.

I rubbed my temples again out of frustration. I yearned to question Gren further, but he didn’t look like much of a talker and had apparently taken an oath of silence. How convenient.

My legs grew weak and restless. I lost track of how many miles I hiked once we passed the gas station.

The moon mocked me under its lambency. The cruel taunt lit the path to Lucien’s place—making it painstakingly obvious I should have stayed inside for the night with Raagini. Then maybe I wouldn’t be in this never-ending hell-loop.

I tossed aside what little pride I had left and knocked on his door. I waited, fiddling nervously with my hands. Several clicks later and the door swung open.

Lucien stood there, shirtless and in black boxer briefs. His exposed chest reacted to the chill in the air as his muscles flexed from his tight grip on the side of the doorframe. His eyes slit before he fully took me in. They widened and his jaw dropped. Maybe he saw Gren, too, but I doubted it.

“What happened? Wait, what the hell are you wearing? Oh, shit. I forgot. I’m so—”

I held my hand up and waved for him not to finish. “Bad date.”

Lucien didn’t seem to buy a word of it as he looked at the dirt covering my hands and knees, and my palms stained and bloody with deep purple bruises forming around my wrists.

Lucien crinkled his nose, and he removed a spiderweb out of my hair, shaking it off his fingers. I was surprised he didn't say anything about the flower crown.

Lucien wiped his hand on his boxers. “Water or hot chocolate?”

“Hot chocolate,” I whispered.

“Go sit down and relax. I’ll be right back.” Lucien walked into the kitchen and started the water on the stovetop.

I followed behind him and plopped down at his kitchen table, nervously tapping my nails. The tears welled at the corners as he turned his back to me and disappeared into the living room. All my pent-up emotions surged through about to break the gates wide open, but I wiped the few ones that escaped. I took one deep breath and pushed my feelings down.

Gren perched on the top of the chair beside me and stared at me for a long second. “You have nothing to fear,” he stated as if it were a fact and something he had control over.

His voice carried so much conviction I almost chuckled.

I gave Gren a silent nod for his effort. He was an odd contradiction. His menacing exterior was deceptive because he was strangely cordial.

The whistling of the tea kettle startled me, and my whole body tensed under the sound.

Lucien strolled back in, and I relaxed back into the chair. His muscular build was now hidden by a baggy gray hoodie and black joggers, and his light blond hair was shoved into a trucker’s hat with only a few stray strands peeking out.

Lucien fixed up the hot chocolate, even dropping in a few marshmallows like I was five and he was nine again. When I went through hell and back at the Kelleys’ house for having a smart mouth—he was always there, comforting me.

Lucien set the hot chocolate on the table and sat beside me. I smiled weakly and mouthed a small thank you .

Lucien nodded as I clenched the cup in my hand, unable to lift my eyes from the tile. My hands turned clammy, and my pulse spiked.

The pressure returned, enveloping my body tenfold. How could I get out of this crazy cycle? If they kept coming after me, what then?

Lucien grabbed my shoulders, and I flinched; his firm grip startled me, and I flung myself backward. I almost knocked myself over, but he caught the chair before I hit the ground.

Lost in thought, I didn’t realize Lucien moved and now hovered inches from my face. So close his cool minty breath touched my cheek.

Lucien’s eyebrows furrowed. The worry was tangible in his expression.

I averted his gaze like a coward and stared out the bay view window.

Lucien broke the silence first. “You should live with me. You can save money so you can get back on your feet. I’m not saying it’s forever,” Lucien said, attempting to sound persuasive, but it only interrupted my previous thoughts.

The offer seemed tempting, but what if he got caught up in my mess?

I didn’t want to go back to my apartment. It didn’t feel safe, but I also didn’t want to make it dangerous for him here either. Ah, maybe I shouldn’t have come over but ... he was all I had.

I peeked over at Lucien, his face consumed with worry. The tension between us ate away at me and I couldn’t stand it.

Our eyes met, and I grinned like a fool. “Are you going to kiss me or what? I have to warn you, I haven’t brushed my teeth yet,” I teased as I annoyingly poked his cheek.

Lucien took his hat off and slammed it on my head. He tilted the bill down, blocking my vision so I couldn’t see his expression. “You’re so weird. You know that?”

I raised the hat and Lucien seemed more peeved than before.

He turned and fell back onto the chair next to me.

The mood went from serious to playful back to serious in a matter of seconds.

It made me uncomfortable.

I didn’t look away from the cup again. “I’ll think about it, okay?” I lied.

“Good, at least you still have some brains left in there. And you know you can stay as long as you want. The guest room has a change of clothes, and you can get cleaned up after this.” Lucien patted my shoulder.

“Babe, come back to bed,” a sleepy voice called out from his bedroom door.