Page 23 of Pointy Ears and Purple Glitter (Quirk of Fate #5)

Later that night, Tynan leaned back against the pillows, watching as Malik checked the window catches and the cameras one final time.

His mate’s protective instincts, already high, had been in overdrive since their confrontation with Mrs. Cooper, leading to triple-checking of locks and several perimeter walks around the building.

“I think we’re secure,” Malik finally announced, his broad shoulders relaxing slightly as he padded toward the bedroom.

“You said that the last three times you checked,” Tynan said with a fond smile. “Come to bed. Even paranormal threats need to sleep sometimes.”

Malik grunted but complied, sliding under the covers. His warm body immediately curled protectively around the fae, one arm draped across Tynan’s waist. The familiar weight grounded Tynan, helping quiet the anxiety that had been churning since their meeting.

“Do you think she knows?” Tynan whispered into the darkness. “About me being fae? About you being a shifter?”

Malik’s thumb traced slow circles on Tynan’s hip. “I can’t think how she could know anything.”

“You saw me that first time. I didn’t even know how to glamor.

What if she caught sight of my ears? I tried to be careful but…

When she said I was trying to fit in where I don’t belong, all I could think of was how badly I fit in on the fae realm.

I’ve never fit in. I’ve never…” Tynan’s voice caught.

“Hey.” Malik propped himself up on one elbow, his blue eyes intense even in the dim light.

“Don’t let her get in your head. You belong exactly where you are.

You belong with me. She’s just projecting because she’s got secrets to hide.

The easiest way for her to divert your attention was to take a dig at you. Honestly, don’t let it get to you.”

Tynan nodded, but he felt exposed. His whole life he’d been made to feel like an outsider, a misfit. Mrs. Cooper’s words had sliced through old scars leaving them raw and hurting.

As if reading his thoughts, Malik leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Tynan’s lips. It was like flicking a switch, Tynan’s body coming alive as their bond flared between them.

Tynan’s body instantly responded to his mate. He wrapped his fingers around the back of Malik’s neck, his fingers reaching up and stroking the skin, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. Their tongues met in a slow, familiar dance that still managed to send shivers down Tynan’s spine.

“Better?” Malik murmured against his lips.

“Getting there,” Tynan replied with a small smile. “Though I might need more convincing.”

Malik chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest and vibrating against Tynan’s. “Happy to oblige.”

His large hand slid under Tynan’s T-shirt, callused fingertips tracing patterns across sensitive skin. Tynan arched into the touch, his own hands exploring the familiar landscape of Malik’s broad back, feeling the powerful muscles shift beneath his palms.

“I love how responsive you are,” Malik said, pressing kisses along Tynan’s jaw. “How you just light up under my touch.”

“Only yours,” Tynan gasped as Malik’s teeth grazed the sensitive spot where his neck met his shoulder. The scar left by Malik’s teeth sent shivers down his spine every time it was touched.

Malik continued his tender exploration, pushing Tynan’s shirt up to expose his chest. When his mouth closed around a nipple, Tynan couldn’t suppress a moan, his head falling back against the pillows.

“Shhh,” Malik teased, glancing toward the bedroom door. “Sparky’s finally asleep in the kitchen.”

“If he comes in now, I’ll turn him into a potted plant,” Tynan threatened, though his breathless voice lacked conviction.

Malik laughed softly, shifting to straddle Tynan’s hips. The weight felt perfect, secure but not overwhelming. He gazed down at Tynan with such open adoration that it made Tynan’s chest ache.

“You’re so beautiful,” Malik whispered, running his thumbs along Tynan’s cheekbones. “Every part of you.”

The words penetrated deeper than any physical touch.

For most of his life, Tynan had been mocked for his differences - his erratic magic, his unusual coloring, his too-large wings.

But in Malik’s eyes, those differences weren’t flaws.

They were treasured elements of a whole that Malik found beautiful.

Tynan reached up, cupping Malik’s face in his hands. “No one has ever seen me the way you do.”

“Then everyone else is blind,” Malik said simply.

Their lips met again, more urgently this time. Clothes were discarded, tossed carelessly aside as their need to connect skin-to-skin grew overwhelming. Tynan’s wings broke free, shimmering iridescent in the small beams of moonlight that filtered through the tiny windows.

Malik ran reverent hands along the edges of those wings, sending waves of pleasure through Tynan’s body. The touch was so intimate, so accepting, that Tynan felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes.

“I need you,” Tynan whispered, wrapping his legs around Malik’s waist. “Please.”

Malik nodded, reaching for the drawer where he kept lube.

While they’d used Tynan’s magic at times when the need to be joined was so urgent they couldn’t wait, Malik had confessed he liked the preparation side of their sex – it was another way he could make Tynan feel special.

Malik’s movements were measured, tender, as he prepared Tynan with careful fingers.

There was no rush, the urgency was still there, but they both knew where their actions were going.

Every touch was a reinforcement of their bond.

In that moment Tynan reveled in the fact that they had not only all night – but the rest of their long lives to be together.

When Malik finally pushed inside him, Tynan felt complete. In that moment, he had no doubts he was exactly where he was supposed to be. Their bond sang between them, magical energy swirling around their joined bodies in a dance of purple sparkles that illuminated the dimly lit room.

Tynan met every thrust with one of his own, urging Malik to go harder and faster. His wings fluttered with each wave of pleasure, occasionally brushing against Malik’s shoulders and causing him to groan at the feather-light touch.

“My beautiful mate,” Malik murmured, his rhythm never faltering. “My perfect, magical mate.”

The words pushed Tynan closer to the edge. He clung to Malik’s shoulders, marveling at the controlled power in his mate’s movements. Always gentle, always mindful of his strength, but never holding back the intensity of his passion.

As his climax approached, Tynan felt his magic surge, responding to his heightened emotions. Instead of fighting it or fearing it, he let it flow freely, trusting that Malik would embrace whatever manifestation his power took.

The room filled with shimmering purple light as they reached their peak together, Tynan crying out Malik’s name as waves of pleasure crashed through him. His magic spun around them in a cocoon of sparkling energy, enhancing every sensation.

Malik collapsed beside him, breathing heavily, one arm still draped possessively across Tynan’s waist. The magical light slowly faded, leaving them in the gentle glow of moonlight.

“That was...” Malik paused, searching for words.

“Magic?” Tynan suggested with a small smile.

“Exactly.” Malik kissed his shoulder. “Literal magic.”

They lay together in comfortable silence for a while, their breathing synchronizing naturally. Tynan’s wings draped over them both like a blanket, shimmering faintly.

“Feel better now?” Malik asked eventually, his voice a low rumble against Tynan’s ear.

“Much.” Tynan nestled closer, savoring the solid warmth of his mate. “It’s hard to worry about anything when you’re holding me like this.”

“Good.” Malik’s arms tightened around him. “Because whatever comes next - Garrison, Mrs. Cooper, Grok, whatever - we face it together.”

“Together,” Tynan echoed, feeling the rightness of the word settle into his bones.

“Of course, if you need more convincing,” Malik suggested with a leer and a raised eyebrow. Then he groaned as his phone started ringing.

“Who’s calling at this hour?” Tynan whispered.

Malik squinted at the screen. “It’s Ian.” His expression immediately shifted from irritation to concern as he answered. “Ian? Is everything okay?”

Tynan leaned closer, straining to hear the young man’s voice. The bond between them thrummed with Malik’s sudden alertness.

“Boss, sorry to call so late,” Ian’s excited voice came through clearly. “But I’ve got news about Hayley Cooper!”

Tynan’s eyes widened, all thoughts of sleep vanishing instantly. “Put it on speaker,” he whispered, and Malik complied.

“What happened?” Malik asked, sitting up fully now.

“She’s been in touch! Well, sort of.” Ian’s words tumbled out in a rush. “I set up notification alerts on her Instagram like we talked about, in case there was any activity. Ten minutes ago, she responded to a comment on her last post!”

Tynan’s heart raced. “What did she say? Is she alright?”

“She wrote that she’s fine and people should stop looking for her. Said she’s ‘living her best life’ and doesn’t want to be found.” Ian paused. “But Boss, Tynan, something feels off about it.”

“Off how?” Malik’s hand found Tynan’s, squeezing gently.

“The wording doesn’t sound like her other posts.

It’s… I don’t know how to explain it, but it sounds stilted?

Plus, it’s the middle of the night. All her other posts were daytime or evening.

” Ian’s voice dropped slightly. “And there’s something else.

The account location shows she’s posting from right here in town. ”

A chill ran down Tynan’s spine. “If she’s still in town after supposedly running away…”

“Either she never left,” Malik finished, “or someone else is using her account.”

“Exactly what I was thinking,” Ian said. “I took screenshots before anything gets deleted. Should I try to respond?”

Tynan exchanged a look with Malik. “No,” he decided. “Let’s not alert whoever’s posting that we’re monitoring. Send those screenshots to my phone if you don’t mind, Ian. You’ve done brilliantly.”

“Will do. Sorry again for interrupting your…uh, evening.”

Malik’s lips twitched despite the serious situation. “Get some sleep, Ian. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

After ending the call, Tynan sat in stunned silence for a moment, his wings folding unconsciously closer to his body. “If Hayley’s still in town and someone else is controlling her social media…”

“Then she might be in real danger,” Malik said grimly. “And Mrs. Cooper’s desperation to stop our investigation makes more sense.”

“She knows something.” Tynan’s mind raced through possibilities. “The way she reacted when we mentioned ‘G’…”

“And now an account supposedly belonging to Hayley posts in the middle of the night, telling everyone to stop looking.” Malik shook his head. “This just got a lot more complicated.”

Tynan’s phone chimed with Ian’s message. The screenshots showed Hayley’s response exactly as Ian had described - formal language that felt nothing like her previous casual posts.

“Tomorrow we need to trace where this was posted from,” Tynan said, determination replacing his earlier contentment. “If Hayley’s in trouble, we need to find her.”