Page 3 of Pointy Ears and Purple Glitter (Quirk of Fate #5)

“Oh, my gods.” Malik’s laughter bounced off his walls as he slapped his knee before pointing at the television.

“That is so funny.” The cute little minions marching across the screen, a different expression on each individual face, tickled his funny bone every time he saw it.

Malik sighed happily as the credits started to roll across the screen, glancing down at his phone screen.

“Eleven. Ian will be banging on the door before the sun’s had their first coffee. ”

He clicked his remote in the direction of the screen, the lively tunes from the television being swallowed by the sudden silence.

Malik was used to it. He’d lived alone for most of his life.

Standing, he stretched his arms out as he yawned, before twisting his neck one way and then the other.

The couch was comfortable, but it was also getting older and not supporting his weight as well as it used to.

There was also the little fact that Malik had been lifting an engine only hours earlier.

Clapping his hands, Malik let his eyes adjust as the overhead lights went out.

His rhino stirred unexpectedly as Malik made his way to his bedroom.

He halted in the hallway, tilting his head.

What the heck is that noise? He could hear persistent tapping, and it sounded like it was coming from the workshop.

I’m certain I didn’t leave anything on that shouldn’t be.

But Malik still headed for the door leading through to his workshop.

The tapping was ongoing. It wasn’t deliberate knocking – a person sort of knocking.

No one living locally was silly enough to disturb Malik after dark.

A few tough-guy wannabes had tried their shakedown tactics when Malik first bought the buildings and set up his business.

They seemed to think Malik should pay protection money so that his business would stay safe.

Malik soon showed them why he didn’t need anyone protecting him or his business.

The result was a respect of sorts – both sides leaving each other alone.

The tapping Malik was hearing was more like a woodpecker intent on giving himself a headache which was a worry because he hadn’t seen a woodpecker in decades.

Moving into the workshop, it was clear that the noise was coming from outside.

Everything in the garage was switched off, the way it was meant to be, and the only light shining was the one he’d left on in the front office.

Tilting his head again, the tapping was coming from the metal roller door at the front of the building, but now that he was closer, he could also pick out noises coming from the back. Noises Malik was familiar with.

Opening the front door would be too loud and take too long. Malik crept quietly to his back door. It was rarely used, but Malik kept the hinges and locks well-oiled. He had the door open before the two thugs, or their victim were aware that anything was happening.

“Look at those ears. They must be stuck on. Hey, freak. Did you forget to take your ear tips off after Halloween? I’ve got a knife. Let’s help you get them off.”

“Yeah, we’d be doing you a favor.”

Ears? Malik thought they were after the man’s coat, but as he quickly checked out the victim, he mentally groaned and his rhino started to stomp – severely agitated and wanting to break free. That is one clueless paranormal.

Moving quickly, Malik grabbed both men by the backs of their necks – the one with the knife and the other one with the big mouth, slamming them up against the wall.

Malik had seen them both before although he didn’t know their names.

The insignia on their jackets was recognizable, though.

Scowling, he showed his teeth as he said, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing in my alley?

Didn’t your boss tell you anything about keeping your shit away from here? ”

“M-M-M-M-Malik.” The one with the knife dropped it with a clatter, his face white. “It was him…him…” he tried pointing around Malik’s bulk. “He’s the one intruding. We’re just doing you a favor. That freak had no right to be walking around here.”

“That’s what he was doing? The sum total of his crimes?

He was walking?” Malik made a show of looking around then quickly let go of the man’s collar, slapped him around the ears, and then grabbed his shoulder again.

“Did you buy this street? Is the local council selling off roads, pavements, and walkways now, and I didn’t hear about it?

When did this happen? I paid my taxes last week, and I know for a fucking fact your name wasn’t on the letterhead of the bills I paid. ”

“It’s the way things are done around here, right? Tell him, Arty. We own these streets, and anyone who walks around at night has to pay the toll, right? It’s the way things are.” The other man had found his voice. Malik was still waiting to be impressed.

“You run with Grok’s crew, right?” Malik flicked a finger at the men’s patches.

Two hurried nods were the only response.

“You’re going to go and see Grok. You’re going to tell him you met me.

More specifically, you’re going to give him a message from me.

You two disturbed my sleep. He now owes me restitution.

What do you think he’s going to say about that? ”

Malik could hear the paranormal behind him was starting to stir, and knew he had to be quick.

“What’s restitution?” Big Mouth asked.

“Ask Grok. Now get the hell out and don’t let me see you within four blocks of this alley again. And before you think of tucking your tails between your legs, disappearing into those damn shadows, and not telling Grok about this?”

Malik pointed up to the top of his workshop roof, where a red light was blinking.

“I’ve recorded everything you two did. Me and Grok have a deal.

You two just broke it. If I don’t get my restitution by lunchtime, I’m taking the afternoon off, and I’ll go tell Grok about this myself.

You just messed with the wrong guy.” He gave them both a shake for good measure. “Now piss off.”

“Be fair, Malik,” Knife Guy said as Malik let them go. “You have to admit those ears make that guy weird.”

“I don’t care if he has two dicks and horns. You had no right mugging fucking innocents in my alley. Piss off and make sure you go straight to Grok’s.”

Malik watched, arms folded across his chest, until the two men ran away. Taking a deep breath, Malik let it out slowly. His rhino was still pacing and wanting to break out and run after them. Images of the two men skewed on his horns weren’t helpful in retaining his zen.

Once he was sure his rhino wouldn’t do anything stupid, like scare a man who’d already had a rough night, Malik turned around.

The innocent was sitting upright, leaning against the alley wall.

He looked so otherworldly that it took Malik’s breath away.

Perfectly sculpted eyebrows, brilliant green eyes, just enough scruff to edge pretty into sexy, and waves of bright silver hair tumbling over his shoulders – he was Malik’s dream man if Malik had ever imagined a man like that could exist.

“Are you badly hurt? Did something happen to your glamor?”

“Glamor?” The man reached up, patting his face, looking confused. “What do you mean glamor? I don’t feel any different. I always look like this.”

WTF? Malik moved forward. “You’re a fae, aren’t you?

” He kept his voice low, although his rhino let him know there were no humans around.

He resisted getting too close. He didn’t want the beautiful fae to feel overwhelmed.

He was suddenly conscious of his bare chest and low-slung sweats which were all he was wearing.

Thank the Fates I changed out of that towel.

“I can tell what you are from your ears.” He hurried to explain. “Most fae glamor their appearance when they’re on Earth, so they don’t walk into situations like you did tonight.”

“I didn’t walk into this situation. It crept up on me and caught me unawares.” The fae looked around. “Where’s Sparky. What happened to Sparky?”

“Sparky?” Malik looked around automatically, although he already knew there wasn’t anyone else around. “There’s no one else here. Who’s Sparky?”

“Not a who exactly, more of a what.” The fae scrambled to his feet, looking up into the sky. “Sparky. Sparky? Where are you? Are you all right? Did you get hit?”

“Er…” Malik glanced at the sky, but he couldn’t see anything. “Did you get hit, around the head perhaps?”

“Yes, but it’s fine. Sparky!”

“There’s no need to yell.” Malik’s eyes widened as a flutter of feathers suddenly erupted from his workshop roof. “I was trying to work out if a raven could drool seeing your handsome hero flex his chest muscles. One of us had to be looking, and it wasn’t you.”

A raven landed on the fae’s shoulder. “Hi, hunky man. I’m Sparky, and this is Tynan, a clueless fae who keeps dragging me into unsafe situations.

I hate to say this, but apparently ravens can’t drool.

Believe me, if I could, I would. You deserve to have someone drooling over you. What’s your name, big guy?”

“Er…Malik. You’re a talking raven?” Malik felt silly just saying it, but he hadn’t come across a Sparky before. “Are you a shifter?”

“Like you, you mean.” Sparky shook his head. Malik noticed Tynan was looking particularly uncomfortable. “No, alas, I don’t suddenly turn into a tall streak of cluelessness like our Tynan here. My speech ability is more a question of magical misadventure. You see…”

“Sparky, that’s enough,” Tynan said sharply. “I’m sure Mr. Malik has better things to do than stand around, getting chilly, listening to the next fabrication you come up with. Mr. Malik…”

“It’s just Malik,” he said gruffly. “No Mister required.”

“Malik then.” Tynan’s Adam’s apple bobbled up and down as if he had to swallow down whatever it was he actually wanted to say.

“I hate to presume on your generosity, but you’re clearly local here.

Could you possibly point me in the right direction so I could get a cab?

The most direct route. I feel like I’ve been wandering around this place with no lights for hours and while I know there were some glimmers of light on the horizon that way” - he waved in the direction of town – “I’d really prefer no more detours. ”

“What brought you down here anyway?” Malik indicated Tynan should follow him out of the alley.

As much as he wanted to touch the fae…take his arm…

wrap his arm around his waist…take him inside his own place - his rhino thought that was the best idea ever - Malik knew Tynan had been traumatized and wanting to go home was perfectly logical.

“I’m a private investigator. I thought I was meeting an informant to help on a case I’m working on.

” As they rounded the corner, Tynan pulled a piece of torn paper from his coat pocket.

“Cloister Way, I think it says,” he added, holding the paper out for Malik to see.

“It’s not easy to see with the scribble. ”

“Can I…?” Malik held out his hand, taking the paper and peering at it, aided by the light from his office window.

“Fucking Grok.” He stabbed at the paper that was signed with a G.

“This is a scam. You were scammed. It was Grok’s men who attacked you tonight.

How did you even end up on this side of town in the first place?

Cloister Way is a street on the other side of town. ”

“This is where the taxi driver dropped us off.” Tynan looked down at his feet. “Well, not here exactly. He wouldn’t come into the area where the lights go out. But when he dropped me off, he said it was only about three blocks down the road.”

“This road?” Malik could still see the lights from the business district on the horizon.

“No.” Tynan shook his head, his silver hair sparkling in the lights. “Six blocks over that way…I think. I’m not sure. We came from that way.”

“Cluster Way.” Malik checked the piece of paper again. “It’s not Cloister, it’s Cluster. That must’ve been what the taxi driver assumed. And yes, there is a street called that down this way, but it’s full of warehouses, not houses, and most of those warehouses are abandoned and boarded up.”

“A bit like this place.” Tynan shivered, and as much as Malik wanted to keep talking to the intriguing man a bit longer, he knew that wasn’t fair.

“There are more businesses here than you might think in the light of day,” he said gently.

“But look, town is just down that way. Five blocks. I can…” He glanced down at his bare chest and feet.

“I was going to offer to escort you, but I’ll stand here and watch until you get to a better lit area – make sure you’re not followed again.

You should find a cab once you hit the business district. Have you still got your wallet?”

Tynan tapped over his coat and eventually pulled out a coin purse.

“Yes. Phew.” He reached into his other pocket and pulled out a phone.

“That’s good. Right then.” He stuffed the items back into his pockets and then held out his hand.

“Thank you. Honestly. I truly appreciate it, thank you for saving me.”

Paranormals rarely shook hands, but Malik knew it would be rude to refuse.

Stepping closer, he slid his palm against Tynan’s, his breath hitching as their skin touched.

His cock filled, and his rhino rumbled in pleasure.

“You… You are…” he murmured when suddenly the air between them was filled with purple glitter. “What the…?”

“Oh, my goodness, I’m so sorry. Now you can see why my ears are still showing.

I can’t even thank you without messing things up.

” Before Malik had a chance to react, Tynan had dropped his hand, whirled around, and was running toward the lights of town.

The raven, Sparky, clearly didn’t expect Tynan to move that quickly and took to the air, circling for a moment before flying alongside him.

Go after him!

But Malik stood his ground and shook his head. We can’t. Not yet. He’s…struggling. We…we have to trust he’ll hunt us out once he realizes what’s going on.

What if he doesn’t? We can’t lose him!

We won’t. If he truly doesn’t understand the connection, then I’ll… Then I’ll be doing a search for private investigators online. We’ll find him.

In the meantime, Malik kept his promise. Horny, chilly, his bare chest covered in specks of purple glitter, he stood and watched as his mate ran five blocks, finally disappearing into the relative safety of the business district lights.