King of the Unsightly (Tempting Trickery #1)

Window of Opportunity

I couldn’t sleep after my encounter with Jared, but I needed to cry. To scream and throw a fit—to feel every bubbling emotion burst out of me, no matter how painful or ugly. I needed it so I could let go of whatever part of our relationship I still clung to.

I embraced the sorrow and bitterness and went through every possible scenario leading me here—but the outcome never changed. My mind circled to the necklace and the last memory I had of my mother before she disappeared.

Her big doe eyes had held so much concern that day as she desperately searched for something and went through the house like a tornado until she found it.

I recalled her snatching my hand and shoving the necklace in my pocket and rushing us out of the kitchen.

I rode shotgun in her cobalt blue Cadillac, looking up at her—hypnotized as she drove us down the freeway. The windows were down, and her long, black, wavy hair whipped behind her as the hot air caressed our faces. Her tanned skin and dark eyes illuminated as the sun fell. The car wobbled each time it glided over a crack and bump in the road as she chanted along to the radio blaring through the speakers. Her signature cigarette in hand was perched slightly out the window.

Her attention never left the road as we both hummed along to our favorite song until we reached a worn-out cabin in the middle of nowhere. She may have acted free, but I still saw the irreversible damage someone had left on her, and the spark of anxiety revealed through her quivering hands as she opened the car door.

My only memory of her was a cloud of confusion. I didn’t remember walking into a cabin. I didn’t remember a goodbye. A hug. Nothing .

I only recalled waking up in the Kelleys’ house, unaware my mother left me.

I had no idea what made the necklace she gave me so special, or why it chose now of all times to put me in constant danger—or why it even came back to me.

I wrestled with the memory over and over again, as if something new would come to mind, but the more I dug, the more it left me empty and confused.

I craved answers, but first, I had to deal with my connection with the necklace. I rolled to my back and stared at the black ceiling.

“You look like shit.”

I launched up and nabbed the candelabra still at my side and waved it around.

Ryas strolled out of the darkest corner of the room with a menacing smile on her face.

I couldn’t believe my heart still worked from all the jump scares these psychos put me through.

I never wanted to witness her crawl out of the darkness like the girl from The Grudge ever again. “What do you want? I’m sure I still have some time before sunrise,” I said, my tone loaded with irritation.

Ryas tossed a bunch of clothes on the bed and crossed her arms. “Get ready. It won’t stay in one place for long.”

I raised my eyebrow. “Stay in one place?”

Ryas shook her head and chuckled. “You really are so na?ve, even with a familiar.”

All I could think of was witches with brooms and black cats, and them making potions in a huge cauldron or some shit like that. Was my mother really part of a coven?

Gren popped into my mind. Wait, was he frantically looking for me after what happened?

I scrambled to my feet and stood in front of her. “Could you possibly get a crow for me? He would be waiting at my place. Possibly by my window. Probably brooding.” I rambled on, ignoring her detached expression.

Why couldn’t I leave Gren? I didn’t owe him anything. But with what happened to his brothers, maybe we could offer each other moral support since we were both alone.

Ryan grinned and I scooted back; her frightening eyes contained nothing but chaos. “Yeah, I grabbed him.” She reached her hand through the thick darkness and tossed him to my side. “Now hurry and get ready.”

She disappeared and left me shell-shocked. I eyed Gren who shook his wings out like he was drenched in something slimy, his feathers all sticking together.

“Hi.” I couldn’t think of anything else.

Gren lifted his beak, angling his one good eye at me. “You are a walking, talking danger magnet. I can’t leave your side for a second.”

“Hey, I didn’t have a choice,” I lied.

Gren sighed. “They’re coming for you, Adeline. Did your mother teach you nothing about magic? I couldn’t fix the barrier without my brothers. I’m-I’m sorry.”

Gren had said similar words before. What barrier?

I settled Gren’s feathers down with a pat hoping to calm his nerves. “Everyone keeps saying the same cryptic words to me. Who’s coming for me? What barrier? I need answers.”

Gren hesitated. “I’m under a sworn oath. It would destroy me ...” He gave me a defeated sigh as he lowered his beak to the bed.

How frustrating . “Okay, I won’t pry any further.”

Who was I kidding? Everyone avoided giving me direct answers like I was the plague. And Gren conveniently couldn’t tell me because of an oath?

I had no idea who I could trust and it scared the hell out of me.

“Thank you.”

My smile waned as I pushed the uncertainty down. “Do you know anything about the person I made a deal with?”

“I’m not sure about the fae. I don’t have much information on the Unseelie. I’m only versed in the dark arts of ours. Not theirs.” Gren raised his wings into a shrug like I should know the last bit of information.

I erupted into a fit of laughter.

This was all so absurd. I wondered if it was more plausible I was locked up in a psych ward right now than knowing I made a deal with an actual faery.

I patted Gren again. “All right, thanks for trying to explain.”

The clothes bundled together beside me were, of course, my graphic T-shirts. At least she brought a pair of black jeans and boots. I wouldn’t look that ridiculous.

I slid the dark green shirt over my head and grumbled, frowning at the bold letters like it would somehow alter them, but they remained the same and read “Life’s too short, so let’s fuck . ”

I had to remind myself my wardrobe didn’t matter. I didn’t need to impress anyone. Who cared if my outfit seemed like a teenager dressed me?

The mirror suspended in front of me revealed my worn-out reflection.

I detangled my hair and wiped the smudged mascara from under my eyes. The hell if I was wearing this outfit and looking like an unhinged raccoon—I had to maintain some form of dignity for myself.

If the sun had risen, I couldn’t tell. The place resembled a dungeon without any source of natural light, but since Ryas showed, it meant Kaschel might come for me soon.

“Try not to disappear from my side so much,” I told Gren as I veered from the mirror and watched how he pecked the bed, circling around the same spot, attempting to get in a comfy position before he plopped himself down.

“Of course.” He blinked and somehow, I doubted he would hold true to his words.

I let out a controlled breath and wiggled my hands. The anticipation sent shivers down my arms.

The door swung open, and Kaschel stood there in odd attire.

Where were we going that required a sword in its sheath strapped to his hip? If I had to choose words to describe his outfit medieval-times chic with juniper trousers seemed to fit.

Yeah, he had questionable taste.

“Ah, so the little flea isn’t going to make me drag her this time.” The side of Kaschel’s mouth tugged into a smirk, but it vanished as he fully took me in. He turned his back to me; his tight black tunic had a deep V, leaving nothing to the imagination as his broad shoulders practically devoured the doorframe. “Let’s go, and make sure you bring the necklace with you. We don’t have time for mistakes,” he said and disappeared into the hallway.

A nagging thought told me I was in for one hell of a ride, and obviously, not the hot kind.