King of the Unsightly (Tempting Trickery #1)

Grigs, Sparks, and Trickery

T he portal shoved and spit us out in a forest overrun by ferns taller than me and ivy wrapped around the trees as the branches coiled in bizarre angles. They were all covered in needle-like thorns about three inches long as a thick fog hung right below my waist. I would be lying if I said it didn’t look like we walked right into a horror movie. This place gave off some serious, serial-killer vibes just like the cabin, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a psycho popped out of a bush.

God, I was so sick of dark and creepy.

Why couldn’t the portal drop us off at an inn or pub? I was famished and in dire need of a drink and sleep.

Kaschel, in his element, as his muscular build complemented his formfitting all-black attire and boots. All he needed? A machete instead of a sword to cut through the overgrowth.

I, on the other hand, was ready for bed, not ready to rummage through a goddamn forest with spiked trees splintering in all directions. With my luck, I was going to get myself impaled.

Kaschel shook my hand off.

Out of habit, I wiped my palm on my shirt—slightly upset at myself for holding on to his for so long.

“Stick close. These woods will warp your sanity if you let them. It’s no place for someone like you.”

I rolled my eyes. “No shit. You’re incredibly good at stating the obvious.”

Kaschel chuckled under his breath and roamed deeper into the eerie forest, leaving me behind. I scurried close enough to his side that if something jumped out to murder us all, I could easily shove him in the way and save Gren and myself. Or at least, stall whatever creature was determined to attack us long enough for me to escape. I was shameless, so what?

I trudged behind Kaschel through the thicket of ferns, and with each step he pulled a branch forward and let go, whacking me with an ungodly amount. My rage bubbled to the surface and almost burst when the forest thinned out, and a dirt path came into view.

Kaschel hurled something in my direction, and darkness shrouded me.

I ripped the thing off, glanced down at it, and back at him.

“It has an enchantment and will disguise your human scent, but you must keep your face covered. We’re in Dearmad a Dhéanamh ; the border between the courts. There are no laws, so don’t wander off or do anything stupid.”

I didn’t hesitate and draped myself with the black cloak. I struggled with the button in the front for a few seconds, and Kaschel’s heated glare bore a hole into my skull.

Didn’t he know the more he stared, the harder it was for me to attach it?

I fiddled with it for a couple more seconds as sweat rolled above my eyebrows and it popped into place.

I cleared my throat and avoided Kaschel’s agitated expression. Only a hint of his emotions flickered across his face, and they screamed, You’re a dumbass.

“How long do we have to be in ... this place?” I asked, choosing to ignore his patronizing look.

A chill crept down my neck, and from the corner of my peripheral, a million eyes blinked and vanished into the ferns.

I gasped and shook the nerves away.

Kaschel didn’t appear worried, or he didn’t notice them. I couldn’t tell which, so I tried not to overreact.

It’s fine. Totally normal stuff when you walk through a portal to another world.

“I need to meet with an old friend. He’ll know how to find the second key and break the spell that has you bound to this one.”

Wow, how detailed. Sounded easy if he said it like that. The sooner we got the second key, the sooner I could save Lucien. So I stayed silent and followed Kaschel down the dirt path.

We reached a stone building with a wooden sign reading Eros’s Saloon.

Creatures filled the streets; it had the same appeal of a farmer’s market, but a grittier one with carts full of oddities. The place stirred with boisterous chatter and clanking noises as the ground rattled from all the heavy foot traffic.

Kaschel shoved us past a group of, well one thing had to be a fae like him, but with jet black hair, pure obsidian eyes, and bat-like wings, but he was one of many creatures we walked by. I caught a glimpse of a centaur. She had the look of the forest with sprouting horns covered in moss and withered flowers. A hundred tiny gray creatures shot past us. Their black beady eyes and translucent wings buzzed like a swarm of horseflies.

Their unified shrieks pierced my ears, and I launched my hands up to cup my ears, but Kaschel snatched my wrist.

No one else even flinched at the god-awful sound but me.

I yanked my wrist away, and Kaschel grunted and proceeded to the doors.

He opened the front entrance, and a hauntingly soft tune captivated me. My attention fell on a willowy creature with ghostly white skin playing a lyre harp.

A smell wafted the room and had the variation of pine needles, wheat, and coriander all muddled together; it reminded me of a shot of gin. It packed a punch but ultimately settled down and enveloped my whole body with its warm embrace. The tempting aroma drifted through the room, stronger than the smell of the sweaty creatures dancing.

My whole body tensed as we barreled through the sea of creatures, making it to the bar top; I tapped my fingers rhythmically as they squished us against it.

An ogre-like creature leaned over the bar, drooling from its tusks. I averted my gaze, and it landed on a fae. Tall and handsome, but unlike the other one I saw earlier. His hair was golden, but not the normal type of gold. A color of gold more rich and dazzling, and his eyes, a deep coral burning with so much intensity for the woman next to him. Although, in comparison to the woman he flirted with, he appeared rather dull. Her beauty overwhelmed the room; her long silver hair and icy blue stare could pierce any heart.

I snapped out of my weird stupor as I forcibly squeezed harder against Kaschel. Gren perched on the edge of the counter tilting his head at me. We were all packed together like sardines, and if I said I was uncomfortable, that would be an understatement.

Yet, I didn’t protest or make a sound as a goblin-like creature walked up to us. His skin was lumpy with a swampy, greenish tone, and he had an exaggerated crooked nose. I tried not to stare and decided to look straight at Gren with wide eyes.

Gren saw right through me and mouthed, You have nothing to fear .

I almost scoffed and spit all over the bar. It had to be his favorite line.

When in fact, I had so much to fear.

But Gren’s words held some weight to them. I felt relatively calm, but I still couldn’t stop drumming my fingers. A bad habit of mine I couldn’t quit.

“An ale and a water,” Kaschel said as he tossed a few silver coins on the counter, and the goblin nodded its head and snatched them.

The goblin grabbed a mug from under the bar, pulled the tap handle, and slid the amber ale toward us. I licked my parched lips as my mouth instantly watered. He slid a wooden cup full of water in my direction, and I hesitated.

A musty smell flooded my senses, and I gagged and pinched my nose.

Could I have gotten something without a suspiciously spoiled smell to it?

I doubted it. Was this why people in the wilderness drink their own piss on the brink of dehydration? Because they were so dehydrated they didn’t care?

Did I say I’d rather drink my own piss?

I pinched my nose harder and chugged it as fast as I could. I inhaled and squirmed as the water oozed down my throat. Kaschel’s chest pressed against my back as he chuckled at my obvious discomfort.

I quivered as it hit my stomach. “Did you poison me?”

“How could I have poisoned you? It’s just water. You should be fine,” Kaschel said in a smug voice, and it sent vibrations against my back. “You should use that brain of yours, even if it is the size of a pea.”

I mumbled some unrefined words as I compelled the water to stay down.

I moved my squeezed elbow and accidentally smacked the creature next to us. I peeked over, and the man glowed yellow and had an impish aura to him. Then the bastard winked at me.

I shuddered and turned back to Gren.

Kaschel’s attention was focused on something in the distance. “Stay right here. I need to handle something.”

“Wait, what do you mean?” I asked, but he didn’t hear me over the music or crowd, or maybe he chose to ignore me, again. Highly possible.

I faced the bar as Kaschel shoved past people and disappeared from my view.

A sharp pang hit me at the nape of my neck, and I tried to rub the intense spasms away.

A blazing inferno stirred inside me as the color of the room turned to a pinkish hue.

If I ever experienced walking on air, this was pretty damn close to what I imagined it would feel like. A myriad of iridescent hues swirling around me shimmering like fireflies. My body was weightless as the light danced around my skin and warmth consumed me.

My pragmatic world turned to brushstrokes of pastels. The crowded bar suffocated me until I wobbled outside, slid down the wall, and tipped my head back.

I smiled with closed eyes as a numbing sensation overtook my arms and legs, but it didn’t feel like pins and needles. It felt warm and fuzzy like someone stood there tormenting me with a silky feather.

Light footballs echoed around me.

I dropped my head down, squinting. “Gren, when did you get so ... small?”

I tilted my chin up wondering if Gren could carry me. I laughed as the sound left my lips. Of course, he could.

I patted what I assumed to be Gren’s head. “You can carry me, but just don’t drop me.” I hummed along to the faint music and tossed my head back and closed my eyes again.

Euphoria swirled through me, but a faint burning sensation itched all over my skin. My feet dangled off the ground, and I whistled at Gren’s strength.

Gren carried me like I said he could. “See, I told you. You just had to believeeee.” I tipped myself farther back and I blinked.

But a million sets of tiny eyes appeared, not Gren.

An audible gasp escaped my lips.

I lifted my hand and pinched the cheek of the closest one in proximity, a crowned forest-green pixie dressed in trousers, flowers, and jewels.

“You’re the little pixie from before,” I murmured, and the vibration of my words tickled my lips and crept up to my ears.

“Grigs,” he said sternly.

“Greg?” I scrunched my face, not sure what the little creature was saying.

“We’re grigs.” He aggressively tapped his chest.

I grinned. “Bless you.”

The little pixie rubbed his temple and shot a glare at the ones loitering behind him, then focused back on me. “You left suddenly. Your prize still awaits you.” He grinned and his needle-like teeth peeked through his light green lips.

My eyes widened at the sparkling wings on the back of the pixie and my impulsiveness won. I traced my hands along the set of iridescent wings, and the only way I could describe the feeling was rice paper. I shook out the tingling feeling and giggled.

They all gasped and whispered, shooting hectic looks at one another.

The crowned pixie, shocked, held on to his wings like I was about to steal them away from him. “Oh, no.” He turned away from me and my world went in and out. “How much did you give her? I said bring her here, not drug and drag her!” The pixie let out a dramatic sigh. “No matter. Lay her here. She can rest while we prepare the ceremonial feast.”

My mouth instantly watered from the word feast , and I almost asked them what they were having and if I could join them when Kaschel caught the corner of my eye, glowing before me.

His existence was otherworldly, more so than usual, and not in the grim reaper type of way where he’d reap my soul if he had the chance and drag me down to the fiery pits of hell. No. He was enchanting .

My fingertips to my toes tickled, and a wave of giddiness washed over me as all the little pixies gasped again and shot a look right to the crowned pixie.

A weird buzzing hit my stomach as Kaschel scooped me up and spoke, his voice in a low growl. “I leave for a second and I find you not only disappeared but have been dragged to this filthy place by a horde of grigs. What am I even looking at?”

So Kaschel was saying the little creature was a grig, not a Greg.

I let out a loud cackle and squinted my eyes at them. His name being Greg made more sense. Grig? What utter nonsense.

“She’s ours!” the crowned grig yelled, blocking Kaschel’s path with me.

“I’m afraid you will have to wait. She’s a little preoccupied with some affairs at the moment,” Kaschel said, clicking his tongue.

“You don’t speak for her.” The tiny grig crossed his arms, and I had the urge to pinch his adorable cheeks again.

Kaschel crouched down low and flicked the grig into a dirt wall. “I forgot how bothersome you little vermin are.” Kaschel snatched my wrist and tilted it downward so they could see the crescent moon. “This means she’s mine . So don’t cross me.”

The tiny grig stood up and pointed at Kaschel. “You will regret this!”

Kaschel chuckled and walked away from them. All I could see now was Kaschel’s face and the tips of the trees passing me by and how the moonlight reflected off his pointed ears. Now more than ever, I could tell he was a faery.

I wondered if I called him that would it piss him off?

Kaschel noticed I was staring, and I erupted into a fit of laughter. His face pinched into a scowl. His choppy alabaster hair framed his square jaw perfectly. A faint pink scar starting at his plump bottom lip went all the way down his neck to under his loose shirt. I hadn’t noticed it before.

And I was dying to know, did he have more like me?

He tilted his head. I mimicked him and watched as his lips moved up and down again. “Trouble seems to find you no matter where you go, doesn’t it?”

I reached out my hand and pressed my finger to his lips. “Shhhhhhh, faery man. Shhhhhhh.” I stopped, brought my hands to his back and moved them downward, feeling every muscle along the way. “Do you have wings too? Where are you hiding them?” I patted his back when I couldn’t find them and squeezed his firm cheeks. “No surprise you’ve got such a great backside.”

Kaschel snatched my hand and pulled it away from him. I followed the sparkles around his face and an uncontrollable urge hit me.

“Boooooop.” I squished Kaschel’s nose with my pointer finger, and his dark eyebrow shot up. “I caught the sparkles for you,” I said, crinkling my nose, suddenly annoyed he didn’t appreciate my generosity. “Not like you would care, you Geralt-looking motherfucker.”

Kaschel’s lips moved again, but a dense fog occupied my mind and thickened until it all went blank—except for a soft melody pulling me to sleep. I let it carry me as my whole world spun to darkness.