King of the Unsightly (Tempting Trickery #1)

Sweet Nothings

K aschel held my stare with an impassive expression as the room reflected in his light, amethyst eyes.

He heard every thud of my heart pound violently against my chest as the room fell mute around us—except for our shallow breathing and my foolish, backstabbing heart.

When neither one of us backed down, I could have sworn time stopped.

I sucked in one traitorous breath and bit down on my bottom lip, noticing how dangerously close his were to mine.

Kaschel inclined his head as one of his hands moved closer to my hip.

I was already losing this game, and we barely started.

I almost pressed my lips to his when memories of Jared caressing my body flickered through my mind like strobe lights— all his sweet nothings whispered by freshly swollen lips he had stolen from another.

I was bleeding like Jared had manifested behind me and stabbed me in the back all over again—unrelenting and ruthless.

My lungs restricted as I withdrew from Kaschel’s embrace and pushed myself farther away.

I opened my mouth once I caught my breath like I could explain, but the words failed me—like they always did.

It’s not like Kaschel needed an explanation.

We weren’t anything to each other, and I already said we were done here.

This was just a game of cat and mouse, and I was so desperate to not become the prey again.

God, I hated how that gremlin of a man was still taunting me even after our breakup.

I had enough.

Jared needed to vacate my mind immediately.

And I needed to move on, but I knew Kaschel wasn’t the right person.

My eyes fell to his chest; I couldn’t handle the intensity any longer.

Kaschel cleared his throat and ruffled his hair. “I thought it was only the men who stared down women’s shirts, yet here you are, ogling me like I’m some piece of meat.”

I laughed so hard I snorted and threw my hand up to cover my mouth.

I regained my self-control and looked back at Kaschel who had a playful glint as his mouth pulled up, revealing a white canine.

I shook my head. “How full of yourself can you be?”

Kaschel shrugged and each muscle in his shoulders tightened and relaxed with him. “Wouldn’t you like to find out.” He stood up and chanted under his breath. The shadows obeyed his command and created the gaping, black hole in the middle of the room. “We leave at dawn, so do try to rest this time ... even if you can’t get me out of your lecherous mind.” Without looking back at me, he walked through it.

For some reason, his vanishing presence left a chill in the air.

I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed.

It had been a couple days since the breakup.

It was about time I slept with someone and got drunk, or both—but not in that particular order.

I took a mental note to move on once I saved Lucien, but not with some demented fae who I couldn’t even read half of the time. Someone normal—not a walking, talking red flag. I already filled that slot myself.

I was glad he left. I think I would have done something I regretted.

Valeria’s warning came to mind, and I hopped off the bed, grabbed my dirty clothes from the bathroom and pulled out the mirror. My fingers traced the silver thorns protruding out of the skull then slowly moved to the three golden vipers spilling out of its mouth and eye sockets.

This stupid mirror was my only bet at saving Lucien, and it was scary how I knew my odds were slim to none.

Could I save Lucien? Was he okay?

I wasn’t sure, and it petrified me.

“Wipe your mouth and get changed. We’re leaving in five.”

Jolted awake to Ryas beside my bed, clicking a switchblade open, I rubbed my eyes and stifled back a yawn.

My eyes widened and I jerked away from the blade she held inches from my face.

“Were you planning on stabbing me if I didn’t respond?” I dropped a brow.

She looked down at me like some deranged devil as her smile extended across her face, pressing the cold blade against my cheek.

I thought we grew a little closer last night; apparently not.

But it made me feel somewhat sane to know there was someone crazier than me. I mean, I looked tame in comparison to her.

“In my defense, you were sleeping like the dead,” she said with no remorse as she leaned away, sliding the sharp edge of the blade off my skin. Did she get off on tormenting people or something?

I rubbed my eyes again, stretched my legs and arms then rolled away from the center of the bed, and shot up to my feet.

I glared back at her. “I am human. We do tend to need our sleep, unlike all you psychos who thrive off ... what ... three, four hours?” I said mid-yawn.

“Five, and it’s not that weird.”

“Like I said. Psychotic.”

Ryas tilted her head. “Where has my sweet, sobbing Addy gone?” Ryas batted her lashes, taunting me.

I shook my head. “To her senses.”

Ryas sighed dramatically. “Boringgg.” She closed the switchblade and shoved it in her pocket. “I don’t trust you like Kaschel does, despite the mark, and if you so much as cross him ... I will make you wish this was the worst of it.”

The gravity in her tone was unmistakable, and my whole body shuddered in response. She meant each word, and it reminded me again—I needed to be wary of these people.

My eyes caught the all-black outfit and combat boots placed on the dresser, and I slipped them on once she stalked out of the room. Other than the pants being a little long and tight, they fit well enough.

I brushed my hair and it automatically puffed up, so I quickly pulled it into a ponytail.

Gren beamed at me as I stepped through the door. He sported a tight-fitting cream shirt and black pants with boots to match. It was an outfit more suitable for hiking than his previous one.

His wavy ebony hair unwound right above his scar; his sharp features complemented his athletic physique.

Yeah, staring at him now—I didn’t think I’d ever get used to this new form.

Gren’s dark eye dropped to my stitches and narrowed. “Who—I mean. I’m glad you got those taken care of.” He smiled.

Gren didn’t need to know Kaschel was the one who did it. Especially when I asked him to stay in a separate room. It felt like a betrayal if he found out, and I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. Not that it should matter; he didn’t own me, despite having half my soul.

I looked down at my bandaged wrist. “Yeah, it doesn’t hurt too much tod—”

“Move. They’re waiting.” Ryas shoved past us, aggravated by our conversation.

We reluctantly trailed behind her in the endless corridor. The place looked haunted; each portrait we passed was more archaic and eerier than the last.

My sight fixed on one of a nude man underneath a waterfall at dusk with black flowy hair and crimson irises ominously following me as I scurried away from it.

My hands stuck to the sides of my pants, turning hot and sticky as I grew more anxious. I hated not knowing where it ended or what potentially awaited us.

Looking down, I fiddled with my hands when I slammed into Gren’s back.

He eyed me with concern. Then he seized my hand in his and squeezed it. His cool touch calmed my jittery nerves but the feeling waned on and off until my thoughts warped to chaos.

He perked an eyebrow as he straightened himself. “I wonder how many times I have to tell you everything will be fine until you actually believe me.”

My lips pulled into a thin smile. I really wanted to be stupidly optimistic, but it was easier said than done.

I didn’t glance in Gren’s direction and kept myself focused, fixating on how the cracks in the ceiling splintered in all directions. “Until all of this is over,” I muttered, clenching one fist and hoping my restless mind would simmer down soon.

Gren chuckled. “Fair enough.” His husky voice gnawed at my ears; a stark difference from his old one, and it caught me off guard.

He sounded young and charismatic. It was unsettling the more I contemplated it.

I knew nothing about Gren. Not really .

We trekked through another dimly lit corridor to reach a dreary room with velvet furnishing and an antique cherrywood table.

Kaschel leaned against it in all black, every muscle barely concealed by his flimsy fabric choice. His alabaster hair was pulled back in his usual low ponytail with one side tucked behind his ears. It made his fae features even more prominent.

Levisus stood next to him wearing similar attire, and it matched his darker complexion, but his presence couldn’t compare to Kaschel’s.

If Levisus wasn’t such a filthy flirt, I might even admit he was gorgeous. He didn’t seem like the type to ever drop his mask though. And from one person who resorted to sarcastic comments to avoid their issues, I could tell a mile away—he kept his true self hidden. In that regard, Levisus was an open book compared to Kaschel.

With Kaschel, I had no clue what went through his mind, and I loathed not being able to read someone.

Kaschel didn’t glance in my direction once as we stood at opposite ends of the table. And I wondered if he decided to deliberately ignore my presence again.

“We don’t know how long it will take, so here are your supplies,” Ryas said in an intense voice as she threw a backpack at Gren, and my attention went back to her.

Gren managed to catch it with one arm.

I hadn’t noticed I still held his other hand with a death grip until I pinched my nails together.

I dropped Gren’s hand and glanced up at him. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize—”

“It’s okay. Squeeze as hard as you like. It doesn’t hurt.”

My face scrunched in confusion. Why would I do that?

Had Gren always been this nice, or was it because of the ritual?

I took one deep breath as Kaschel’s shadows balled together, and they both stepped through it without a word.

My hands trembled as Ryas shooed us in without letting me subdue my unease and followed from behind.

The dry, chilly air wailed like tormented souls as it lashed at my exposed skin, nipping at my fingertips and nose. My teeth chattered and my body shivered uncontrollably as the harsh wind whipped at my eyes, forcing them to narrow.

A heavy jacket would have been nice right about now.

Kaschel and the rest of them proceeded toward the dead pine trees all bunched together while I gaped at the mountain covered in volcanic rocks and overgrowth.

I turned to face Gren and staggered back from the sharp drop beside him. Only a few feet away from falling to our deaths. How lovely .

My head whipped back to Kaschel, who trudged on ahead, not giving anyone else the time of day. He really only cared about himself.

His gruff voice cut through the air. “The old hag had some powerful friends, so be vigilant of your surroundings.”