King of the Unsightly (Tempting Trickery #1)

Smoke and Spice

T he building resembled a labyrinth with hundreds of multicolored doors. Some painted a deep, passionate red while others a luminous violet. Each one had a different symbol at the top, but I had no desire to find out what they meant.

My gaze focused on the marble floors as a heavy lavender perfume and smoke permeated the place. My nose crinkled, retaliating against the putrid fumes.

I tugged on Kaschel’s shirt, but he acted like I didn’t exist. I muttered under my breath in frustration. I felt like a nuisance when someone ignored me, and it aggravated me to no end. It reminded me of my childhood when no one listened—who only wanted me to keep my mouth sewed shut. I knew all too well how I resembled the boy who cried wolf—but with talking crows. Back then, the Kelleys grew sick of my cries for help and wanted me silent and obedient like a lapdog.

It was an insecurity of mine. I could handle someone pushing once or twice, but Kaschel kept lodging a knife into my wound and twisting it.

I had to get a response. I couldn’t stand it. I wouldn’t let someone treat me like some docile pet. Not anymore.

I whisper-screamed, “Why are we here? Please tell me you have a valid explanation that’s not as perverse as it seems.”

Kaschel didn’t stop walking nor did he entertain me with a reply.

I quickened my pace to match his long strides and lifted my hand to yank Kaschel’s ponytail. Maybe then he would listen, but he unexpectedly stopped. My hand grazed his hair, and I barely pivoted in time so I didn’t collide with his back.

A tall creature stood behind a front desk with grayish skin and webbed fingers and a long and wispy body with black hair, red eyes, and a thin dress.

She purred. “Room for one or ... would you like some company?”

She literally purred like a cat as she leaned over the desk with her cleavage spilling out. I struggled not to make direct eye contact with them as they pointed outward.

I shivered and blinked and willed myself to ignore everything around me. I probably looked stiff and uncomfortable like I didn’t belong here—which I didn’t nor did I want to.

I think I was going to barf. Valeria’s company sounded better than trying to understand what the hell went through Kaschel’s mind.

He still wore an unimpressed frown, but to be honest, I didn’t think anything would excite a pretentious man like him.

Kaschel leaned forward, hovering over the desk, and towered over the lady with an evil glint in his cosmic eyes.

In a deep voice, he said, “No we won’t be staying long but ... if a fae named Levisus happens to pass through asking for me, please escort him to our room.” Kaschel winked.

The woman ate his fake kindness like it was her last supper and metaphorically melted into a puddle before us.

I held back the bile threatening to come up for the third time today and shuddered at the gross display.

The lady only barely noticed me, and her nostrils flared in excitement. “Oh!” She widened them more as she scanned me over. Goose bumps trickled down my arms and legs as I cautiously stepped backward. “You could make a lot of coins here, darling. A lot of our customers loved to be served by your kind. You’d live lavishly,” she said, emphasizing the last syllable with a deadly smile.

I stared at the lady’s frightening set of teeth. If anything, she reminded me of an anglerfish, and it only made her more terrifying.

Slack-jawed, staring at the lady like an idiot, I couldn’t put any words together. The only thing crossing my mind—did she just offer me a job?

I forced out a high-pitched, “Nah, I’m Gucci, girl.”

I had to physically stop myself from facepalming and burying myself into a hole. Honestly, where did that come from? Was I some forty-year-old ex-frat guy rejecting a woman? Why was I always thinking of frat guys?

I massaged my forehead and groaned. To be fair, quick responses in tough, creepy, or awkward situations weren’t my forte. I always ended up saying dumb shit.

The lady tilted her head in confusion and blinked slowly like she wanted me to elaborate, but no meant no. Or in my case, Gucci did.

“How kind. I’m sure she’ll think about it a little more,” Kaschel answered for me with a straight face, and the lady’s response was a little too overjoyed for my taste.

“Wonderful.” The lady clapped her hands together. “Follow me. I’ll show you guys to your room.” She beamed at the both of us and walked out from the back of the desk and toward a hallway I swore wasn’t there two seconds ago.

A scream erupted from a room, and goose bumps rose all over my body again. What the hell did people rent these rooms out for?

A pit formed in my stomach once the lady stopped by a gold and silver door with an intricate pattern on it. All I could think about was Lucien and if he was okay. And how much time did I have left until a blood moon?

And I haven’t seen Gren for a while, where did he go?

Snatching Kaschel’s shirt, I pulled him to eye level. “Where is Gren?”

Kaschel placed his hand over mine and pried my fingers off him.

With an annoyed expression, he asked, “Why would I keep track of your pet ?”

I frowned, shook his hand off mine, and faced the hallway again.

The lady opened the door. Its loud creak ricocheted down the hall as she gently waved us in.

I gulped and took one step forward.