Page 9

Chapter 8

Meera

I pushed through the portal, my fingers reaching for the other side. The vile ensured our arrival would be untraceable, sending us to a location other than the public exit. What would normally be a smooth transition was now a chaotic mess. Darkness welcomed us, followed by pain—the first sign that the prince and I were back in the human world. We crashed into the walls of a utility closet, tripping over buckets, mops, and cleaning chemicals.

A groan escaped my lips, frustration building as I knocked my shoulder against a shelf in the dark space. With a quick flick of my wrist, I yanked the chain hanging from the ceiling.

Exhausted didn’t even begin to cover how I felt. My body ached, and I was glad for the brief moment of respite. Damon was sprawled on the floor, covered in dust and debris. A bucket had landed on his head, making me snort in amusement as he lifted it off. The prince didn’t see the humor in it like I did. I suppose I could understand. If I’d been kidnapped, I’d be pissed off too .

“I see I’m working with a real professional,” Damon complained.

I couldn’t help but grin sheepishly and shrug. Yeah, we were both soaked in sweat and clearly out of our element.

“All right, pretty boy,” I sighed, tapping into my persuasion again, a wave of mild vertigo hitting me as I fought to stay focused. I was going to crash for a solid day after this much power usage. Maybe longer. “Follow me.”

Damon kicked aside a bottle of bleach, dusting off his shoulder with a charming smile. “You think I’m pretty?”

I rolled my eyes. “Desperate much? You know you are, otherwise you wouldn’t ask.”

A smirk pulled at his full lips. “Pretty enough to let go?”

“Nope, not happenin’.” His smirk fell away, expression turning to something almost . . . dark? I wondered if this was the real Damon, beneath the charm and seduction.

“Are you going to elaborate on why you fucked up?” His voice was light, but it felt forced.

I sighed. “Because I took a job I shouldn’t have.” I rubbed my shoulder, where I had slammed into the shelf earlier. Definitely going to leave a bruise.

“For?”

“Cash.”

Damon tsked. “I meant for who ?”

“Ah,” I hummed. “No idea.” I steadied myself, focusing on the boom of the bass coming from just outside. I grabbed the door handle, nudging Damon forward.

“You don’t know who you’re working for?”

“I work with the middleman. No idea who wants you. Got any enemies?”

Damon huffed. “I’m the crown fucking prince. What do you think? ”

His sarcasm was unwarranted. As far as kidnappers went, I was a goddamn delight.

Sure, I compelled him to come with me after trapping him in magic-nullifying handcuffs. But it wasn’t like I drugged or assaulted him.

Instead I was quietly conversing with my bounty to keep both of us calm.

“Welcome to The Witching Hour.”

I opened the door, and thick fog poured in, swirling across the cheap linoleum floor. Glitter covered every surface of the bar, glinting like the herpes of the magical world. The flashing lights from center stage lit up the entire space and in the spotlight were a pair of twin pixies, their long green hair curled in ribbons down to their lower backs as they twirled around poles. The only thing covering their delicate bodies were black thongs and thigh-high boots with a stiletto heel that would put me in the emergency room if I attempted to walk in them.

I pushed my way through the busy crowd, making my way to the back bar as one of the pixies pulled off an aerial move that had wolf whistles and dollar bills following.

“Amelia!” A single woman ran the bar. Anyone else on a busy Friday night would need assistance, but not her. Waving her hands like the conductor of a symphony, bottles swooped toward patrons, filling their empty glasses. The witch moved with a flourish, crossing her wrists in the air as sparks of fire erupted from her hands in a small, contained firework show. Cheers erupted around the bar.

“Amelia!” I called again, raising my hand to get her attention. She turned, and her eyes lit up when she recognized me. She bounced over, lifting her long lacy dress and giving me a smile .

“Meera! Figured I’d see you tonight. Loulou’s in the back waiting for you.”

I rolled my eyes at the pet name, sighing. “Lou must’ve charmed you.”

“Who’s your cute friend?” Amelia purred, glancing Damon up and down. When she saw the cuffs, her smirk widened. “Guess it’s all work and no play tonight? Total shame. I’m kind of into the whole handcuff thing.”

She flicked her wrist again, and a curtain appeared on the wall that was previously empty, pulling open to reveal a back hallway to The Black Lounge, an exclusive and well-hidden place for those of us with dark secrets.

“Thanks,” I tossed over my shoulder, guiding Damon forward. He opened his mouth, probably to ask for help, but seemed to think twice. We passed through a few rooms, each one filled with elite guests talking over wine and enjoying their privacy. Some closed the veils, activating the silencing spell cast over each room, courtesy of Amelia. I ignored them all as we made our way through the dim corridor.

A wet suction noise beneath my leather boots made me pause. My nose scrunched in annoyance that I’d stepped in the remnants of someone’s spilled ice wine. The bottle was broken, and the sticky liquid clung to the floor—and now my shoes. “Watch your step,” I muttered.

“Thanks,” Damon huffed sarcastically. “Because some spilled wine is my biggest problem right now.”

“Fair point.”

There was a single door ajar at the very end of the hall. Lou’s way of saying he was waiting for me. My temper flared again at the sight of the leprechaun, and tension built in my chest.

“Ah, Meera the Mighty!” Lou laughed, flexing his arm as he leaned across the table. “I knew you could do it, lass. No problems, I presume?” He offered up his pipe with a grin, smoke curling from his lips.

I glared at him. “You are the worst leprechaun I’ve ever met.”

“Aye! I’m probably the only one you’ve met, love. Makes me the best too.”

“Consider this my resignation. I quit.” My frustration seeped through, but exhaustion was fighting to overtake it. I pushed Damon forward. He stumbled into a chair, sitting down at the table.

“Now, now, lass. Let’s not be hasty?—”

“I’ve had one hell of a night because of you.”

The man next to Lou raised his hand, but Lou waved him off. Damon shifted uncomfortably, looking between the three of us. “You asked if it would involve crawling through a sewer again, and I answered honestly. Besides, it’s not like I coulda told you anything if you didn’t open the envelope.”

“You could have mentioned it was for a person.”

“No, I really couldn't. The terms of the contract bind me as well.”

My lips twisted as I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m still not happy with you.”

Lou raised his hands. “You’re still in one piece. I wouldn’t give you something you couldn’t handle. Now have a little faith and relax, would ya?” Lou pulled an envelope from his pocket, sniffing it before winking at me. It held a magical form of payment. Not cash, but the agreement of it, and it smelled just like money.

“That better be all of it or I?— ”

“Oh, calm your pretty self. You’ve got too sweet of a face to make threats. Take the charm off him, and the money is yours, transferred to your account as agreed upon. That ought to cover your shop’s rent for a while.”

I exhaled slowly, letting my magic fade from Damon. He inhaled sharply.

“This... this was seriously over rent money?” he hissed, the envelope sliding across the table. I caught it before it hit the floor and shrugged. Guilt ate at me, but nothing I could say would make this better. I had a plan to fix it, but Damon didn’t know that. Mostly because if I told him, I ran the risk of him running his mouth to Lou or the client.

“It’s my mortgage. Some of us don’t live in a castle,” I replied. My words were scathing, but my tone was neutral.

Damon stood, looking dangerous, his eyes glowing with an eerie, powerful light. “I am the prince of Faerie. Release me and I can get you whatever you?—”

Before he could finish, Lou slammed a pistol into his head, knocking him out cold.

Lou smiled at me. “Pleasure doing business. I suggest you leave now, lass.”

I held the envelope to my chest, my gaze flicking between Lou and the unconscious prince. The deal was done. It was out of my hands.

For now.

Part of me wanted to compel Lou and the mystery man beside him, then take Damon and run.

There were two problems with that plan. One, Damon probably weighed two hundred pounds and was well over six feet tall. I was stronger than a human woman, but not that strong. Two, I’d burned myself out on my magic. If I used anymore, I risked it seriously affecting my physical health. Fae were magical creatures, but without our magic we suffered.

I backed away slowly, casting one last look at the unconscious prince. Silently, I vowed to get him back, then I hightailed it the fuck out of there.

I tossed a handful of bills down, paying for the use of the secret portal. Before it even hit the counter, a drink slid toward me. Amelia gave me a sly grin, raising her own shot glass. “A ginger orange shot for my favorite ginger.”

With a weak smile, I raised my glass in return. “Next time bring Sadie with you, but leave those brothers of yours at home. They’re still banned after the last fight they caused.”

I downed the alcohol, slamming my glass down on the table. “You got it.”

“Don’t be a stranger,” she called after me as I walked out the door.

After what felt like an eternity dealing with this batshit plan, I began my walk home. It wasn’t too far from The Witching Hour. Most fae and other magical beings that had left Faerie lived in certain areas, clustered together for comfort and familiarity. My family and I were no different.

It was dark and drizzling, the cloudy sky overhead made the city seem smaller. Depressing too. My dress grew heavier, weighed down by the rain. I crossed my arms over my chest, annoyed that I didn’t have my cloak anymore. In a city like this, no one would take a second glance at my unusual attire. They’d likely assume I was a theater actor, or just weird, and that was if they even paid any attention to me.

The streets weren’t too busy, and most people kept their heads down to shield their vision from the oncoming storm, but I kept turning to check behind me. My exit from Faerie hadn’t gone unnoticed. No one had followed yet, but it was only a matter of time. Guards would be pouring into the streets soon, searching for Prince Damon. The magical handcuffs may have covered his scent, but without wind or a true storm my own would still linger. The reminder encouraged me to pick up my pace.

When I approached my building, I did another quick glance. The hairs on the back of my neck lifted. I scanned my surroundings, but nothing was there. The few people on the sidewalks bustled by without a glance in my direction. I shook my head, pushing away the paranoia. They hadn’t caught up yet, but I knew I was on borrowed time, and I needed to split town. That’s all it was. With a shake of my head, I headed inside and ascended the rickety stairs.

I was swaying on my feet by the time I reached the third floor. It took me a couple of tries to get the right key into the lock on my door. When I finally pushed it open and stumbled inside, a sigh of relief escaped me.

I dropped my keys on the counter, my body screaming for rest.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option right now.

Not only did I draw the attention of several attendees who could identify me, but I met the elusive fae king. Only it wasn’t my first time. Or my hundredth. For years I’d been dreaming of him and had no idea.

Then I went and persuaded him so I could escape.

“Fucking leprechaun. Fucking job. Fucking fuckity fuck,” I muttered under my breath as I walked to my bedroom. I cast my bed a single longing glance and then turned for my closet. As much as I wanted to sleep, it would have to wait. I couldn’t imagine it would take them long to find someone that could track me, and I needed to be long gone when they did.

I opened my phone, scrolling through my top contacts until I found my sister’s name and I quickly typed out a message.

Meera [11:39 pm]: I was seen 2night. Packing. Gotta get outta herw.

I hit send, my fingers trembling.

Typos aside, I was sure Sadie would understand and relay the message to our family. They were into enough shady shit that they knew how to go underground when necessary.

Before tonight, they’d never needed to.

Neither had I.

But on the off chance there was someone else with a gift like mine, I had to get the hell out of here before I led them straight to the only people in this world that I loved.

My phone vibrated, and I glanced at the screen without opening the text thread.

Sadie [11:40 pm]: Are you all right? Is someone following you?

I wanted to call her and explain, but I didn’t have the time. I didn’t even have time to change. Leaving as quickly as possible was imperative. Empty duffle bag splayed open, I started throwing clothes inside, not caring whether they matched or not. A couple of pairs of boots. A phone charger. Some protein bars from the kitchen and a pack of Twizzlers. My toiletries, which was simple enough when I opened the little purple bag that Sadie got me for Christmas a few years ago and I swept my arm over the counter until everything was dumped inside. I tossed it in the duffel then took a slow perusal of my room, trying to figure out if there was anything I’d forgotten.

My phone lit up again because I hadn’t responded.

With a sigh, I tugged the zipper on my duffel and threw it over my shoulder. Screw it. If I forgot anything, I could buy a new one with the cash I’d earned tonight.

Ready to go, I paused to text my sister back.

Meera [11:43 pm]: Probably. I need to get out of here. Go into hiding for a little bit. I’ll call you when I get to the safe house, okay? Take care of yourself. Tell mom and dad I’m sorry.

Before I closed the thread, she texted back.

Sadie [11:43 pm]: I’ll meet you there in a few days. Be careful, okay? I love you. 3

A small smile flicked across my lips as I shook my head. It pained me to leave like this, but I couldn’t risk it. While it was unlikely they could track me tonight, I had no doubt they would eventually catch up to me. With how Vareck acted . . . I chewed my thumbnail nervously. Yeah, they’d show up eventually. I let out a long sigh and quickly texted back, my thumbs swiping over the phone screen.

Meera [11:44 pm]: Yeah, yeah. Luv u too. Give me th

Before I could even finish typing, the message was sent early, and my phone slipped from my grasp. Every part of me tensed as a hand clamped over my mouth, strong arms pinning me against a hard body.

My fight instinct kicked in. I moved to stomp on the intruder's foot, then elbowed them in the stomach. Only they didn’t move. On the contrary, the more I struggled, the stronger they gripped.

That was when the masculine scent registered.

Snow covered fir trees. The crisp bite of cold. Winter.

I shuddered. No way. There was no freakin’ way he’d already found me.

My exposed skin from my ripped dress pressed against the ice-cold fabric of his posh clothes. A shiver ran through me. My phone buzzed against the floor with a slew of messages from my sister. I could see them, but I couldn’t respond.

Sadie [11:45 pm]: Meera?

Sadie [11:45 pm]: Give you what?

A deep voice whispered in my ear, his ragged breath sending chills down my spine.

“Hello, Meera, darling.”