King of the Unsightly (Tempting Trickery #1)

Moonlight and Stardust

K aschel chanted in a language I never heard before. The fire raged and expanded as if his words agitated it. The shadows bent in chaotic but sylphlike motions across the room—until one broke away from the corner.

The shadow morphed into something else entirely. The deafening cracks of bones pulling and snapping together pierced my eardrums.

A woman emerged from the darkness. Her heels clicked against the floorboards as she glided to my side. Her effortlessly loose white curls bounced with each stride. Her long legs glowed against the fierce flames bursting out of the fireplace and settled back down.

My mouth hung open as a woman literally materialized before my eyes.

“Ryas, take her to the guest suite,” Kaschel said in a low but commanding tone.

My attention snapped to Kaschel. He walked back to his chair, sat down, and crossed his arms without breaking eye contact with me.

If Kaschel’s posture could kill ... I would be dead from the displeasure radiating from him.

My presence alone seemed to irritate him.

I shouldn’t feel intimidated though, but my head could think one thing, and my body would still react differently. God, could I go back to my old life where I only dealt with shitty customers, not power-hungry, supernatural weirdos?

“Of course.” Ryas bowed her head.

All my suppressed emotions erupted out of me as I glowered at Ryas. “What in the actual hell was that?”

I had many, many questions, but the more I wanted to know, the more they kept stacking on top of each other, one after another. I couldn’t keep up.

Ryas grinned, captivating but deadly. I wanted to run away and never look back, but I also wanted to throat-punch every fucker in this room who wouldn’t give me a straight answer.

I knew it wasn’t an option, but a girl could dream. My attempt would be futile—but I really didn’t want to recall my previous stab at it.

So ... Jared meant this woman found me. The one who told Kaschel my whereabouts.

About my necklace.

A thought stirred in my mind and loitered a little longer than I would have liked.

They probably spied on me from the beginning. So Jared only approached me for the key?

Actually, I had no desire to know the last part. That sorry excuse for a man would rue the day he met me if I ever saw him again.

Anger cascaded through me. I felt manipulated and insane . Would Kaschel even keep his promise? How would I escape if he didn’t?

Think, Addy. Damn it, think .

Why couldn’t my brain ever function when I needed it to?

I stole a glance in Kaschel’s direction, and he held my gaze as he spoke. “Enlighten her on proper etiquette. I’m growing rather aggravated by her uncivilized demeanor, and I can’t have her acting out of sorts while accompanying me.” He waved his wrist, gesturing for us to leave, and apparently that’s all it took.

Ryas herded me out of the room, but my rage returned before we stepped out of the doorway, and I couldn’t hold my tongue.

“I can see why Valeria stabbed you in the back. Your shit personality could use some improvement.” I had a mouth, and I knew it. It had gotten me into many dangerous situations before, and this time was no exception.

I needed to learn how to whisper or shut up—like, did I have a death wish or what?

Kaschel stood up and stalked toward me. “On second thought ...” He pointed his chin down and smirked—one that screamed he planned to torture me. I hoped he would have a change of heart as my line of vision stumbled upon his open shirt. His pecs practically burst out of it. “I will escort her, and you can gather some of her things, but be quick. I don’t have all night.”

I would much rather bet my life on Ryas’s temperament than his. I also wanted to live as much as my mouth said otherwise, and she seemed like a safer option.

“I’m good,” I said abruptly, nervously hitting the side of the leather armrest.

Damn it. I really needed to shut the hell up. Why of all times was I having word vomit?

“Don’t worry. I don’t bite.” Kaschel snatched my wrist, and his whole hand devoured mine.

I slanted my eyes in distrust and tried to wiggle out of his grip.

What an ominous thing to say to someone you barely knew. Did I have to worry about him being an absolute creep too?

I crinkled my nose at the thought as another chant left Kaschel’s lips. The shadows balled together and formed a massive gaping black hole in the wall. He dragged me behind him, and I stumbled over my feet. My focus was fixed on the endless void before us. “First time might be uncomfortable. I’d hold my breath if I were you,” he said and pulled me through.

The darkness clung to my clothes like phantom hands grabbing me and pulling me under, but the substance rubbing against my skin felt thicker than water and smelled of stardust and moonlight. I could hardly comprehend anything as we shot through and landed in a massive hallway decorated with gaudy antiques and dreary oil paintings. The decor resembled some thousand-year-old vampire mansion; if this was his taste, I really didn’t want to see the inside of his chamber.

I staggered for a split second as bile threatened to rise, but Kaschel caught my waist. He instantly yanked me and my body squished up against his firm chest, but he quickly shoved me away once I regained my balance.

I patted my clothes down and shot him a murderous glare. How violating, whatever the hell it was, some portal shadow-shit.

Kaschel hauled me behind him again, and my legs struggled to keep up with his pace.

We entered what appeared to be a loft with the same gloomy and unwelcoming aura as the hallway.

My eyes darted to a familiar black curly mess sprawled out on a chair as he sipped a full glass of wine.

Speak of the devil. Did Jared believe he deserved to enjoy a drink after all the bullshit he put me through? Oh, hell no.

Jared spit his drink out and launched up. “Why is she here?”

Kaschel raised one hand and it silenced Jared. “If I snapped her neck right now, she would resurrect. As irritating as it is, she’s bound. I wish I had sensed it sooner. Right now, I need you to gather the others and find the witch.”

Jared nodded. But all I could think about were the words, snap neck and resurrect . Would Kaschel have tried it out if I didn’t agree to the deal? What kept him from testing the theory out?

The conversation ended, and Kaschel tugged me behind him again.

Jared’s dumbstruck face fueled my wrath. If it wasn’t for him, maybe I’d be on my loveseat watching rom-coms and eating ice cream out of the container like a normal girl mourning a bad break up. Not being dragged by some lunatic.

My pettiness won and I flipped him off.

Extremely juvenile, but what the hell? It seemed like a reoccurring theme for me tonight, and Jared deserved it. I also would be lying if I said the look of horror on his face didn’t satisfy me.

Relishing in the idiocy of my actions, my mouth twitched up in delight as Jared disappeared from my view.

I needed that win, no matter how trifling.

I twisted back to face Kaschel and smashed into his back.

His gaze fixed on me screamed that he was baffled, wondering how I could act so pleased at a time like this.

My smile faded as a weathered door caught my attention.

Kaschel turned the knob, opened it, and dropped my hand. “You have a couple of hours before we leave. I suggest you sleep in the meantime.”

He pushed me inside and shut it without giving me a chance to process what he said.

I sighed and brushed my fingers through my hair and inspected the room.

It had a Victorian gothic aesthetic with its midnight blue walls and black spiral bed frame with intricate designs carved onto the pillars. The closer I got, the more it looked like skulls with flowers protruding out of the eye sockets. A mirror on every wall except for the one with the vanity dresser beside the bed.

I sat on the mattress, and the fabric was softer than I imagined. I launched myself backward, and the cool comforter subdued my cluttered mind.

The silver tint of Kaschel’s mark on the back of my hand glowed in the candlelight and I wondered, If this meant our deal was set in stone, what would happen to me if I broke it?

One tear escaped, and I almost let the floodgates open when a knock on the door jolted me upright.

Didn’t Kaschel just tell me to get some sleep? Then again, he didn’t seem like the type to respect someone else’s privacy by knocking.

I groaned and left the comfort of the soft fabric and walked to the door. “What?”