Page 10 of Pointy Ears and Purple Glitter (Quirk of Fate #5)

“That’s how I ended up here last night. Mrs. Cooper had hired me, giving me a long story about her missing daughter.

She said she’d pay me handsomely, more than two months’ rent worth.

That was a lot of money to me, or at least I thought it was.

But now, there’re so many things about this case I don’t understand… ”

“You should be using the social medias,” Sparky called out from his position on the kitchen counter. “I keep telling you to use social medias.”

Sighing, Tynan shook his head. “The case isn’t going well, and as you can hear, Sparky believes if I just put a picture of Mrs. Cooper’s daughter on social media, people will find her for me.

I don’t know what this social media thing is.

Sparky would have a better idea than I would, and what does that say about me? ”

“I’d be really careful about social media,” Malik said.

“It’s…it’s really difficult to find out who is telling the truth and who isn’t, because it’s so easy to be anonymous online.

I do understand what Sparky is saying. I have heard of that happening before, missing people being found, but some people also don’t want to be found.

Mrs. Cooper’s daughter might be hiding for a reason, but I will help you take a look on social media later if you’d like.

I assume you know how to use a computer? ”

Tynan nodded. “That’s how I found the address for your workshop, so I could give proper instructions to the taxi driver this time. I found it on Google Maps.”

“I’m so glad you did.” Malik’s smile widened, and for some reason just seeing that made Tynan feel so much better.

“As for your magic, if we end up with different colored walls every day of the week or whatever else, it doesn’t matter.

I’m not going to care if my bed has been turned into a hot tub or something similar.

I’m a rhino, it’s not like a bit of water is going to kill me.

Just think.” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

“If the water’s not that deep, we could have some fun in there. ”

Tynan groaned. He could picture it so clearly. “Please don’t go giving my magic any ideas. I’m not even sure I can swim.”

“You’re doing it again,” Malik said softly.

“Your magic is you, the same as my rhino is me. My rhino and I are one and the same. Your magic and you are one and the same. Honestly, I think your magic has just been trying really hard to make you feel good, or to show that it can do things, and that’s why we had all the glittery accompaniment. ”

“I can’t even change a light bulb with my magic without setting off fireworks.”

Malik burst out laughing. “Is that true? Did that actually happen?”

“Yeah, it did. In my office.” Tynan chuckled. He couldn’t do anything else when Malik was looking at him as if he’d hung the moon. “I was terrified when it happened, but nothing burned or anything else like that. My magic’s not destructive, but I just wish I could taper it down a bit.”

“Or you could use it more,” Malik suggested.

“I know if I don’t get a chance to go out on the weekends and let my rhino out for a bit of a stroll, then he gets downright grumpy with me for the following week.

I can’t go more than two weeks without shifting into my animal side. It’s not fair to either one of us.

“Maybe your magic feels the same. If you just let go, if you just stopped worrying, if you didn’t get so anxious about it every time you thought about using your magic, then maybe things would be easier.

Just accept the magic as part of you. It does work.

You’re full of good intentions. I can tell that just by looking at you. ”

“Are you sure you’re not just saying all those things because we’re mates?”

Malik seemed to think about it for a moment and then he said, “There was a good chance that if you were a typical fae, then you wouldn’t have spoken to me in the first place.

I’m nothing special, just a mechanic in a run-down part of town.

There are very few people who understand that I just wanted a simple, quiet, peaceful, and useful life. I built that for myself.”

Tynan got the impression that there was nothing simple about Malik at all. It wasn’t that he felt Malik was trying to hide anything from him, just that, like Tynan, Malik clearly had history as well.

“I’m not sure what we’re meant to do now,” he said slowly.

“As I said, I only came…” He stopped himself.

Tell the truth. “I really wanted to see you. I was going to say something silly, like I only came to say thank you, but that’s not true at all.

I really wanted to see you. There was just something about you. You are so calm and solid, and…”

“And he’s got a chest worth drooling over,” Sparky called out.

“Oh, my goodness.” Tynan groaned. “Why did I think bringing my raven was a good idea?”

“Because I wouldn’t let you leave me behind,” Sparky said. “Admit it. Our Malik is drool-worthy.”

“That’s okay. It’s time for Sparky to go and stretch his wings.” Malik cupped his face with one gentle hand. “I’m going to kiss you now. Do you think your magic will agree?”

Tynan looked into those deep blue eyes and said, “I don’t care if it doesn’t. I’d really like you to kiss me now.”

He closed his eyes as Malik’s face got closer and he felt the gentle brush of Malik’s lips on his own. He might’ve groaned again, Tynan wasn’t sure, but he leaned in, feeling Malik’s calm strength cover him like a blanket. A very sensual blanket.