Page 7 of The Wolf's (Un)Lucky Fae

Seven

When I woke up,all nice and toasty, I couldn’t help but smile and snuggle in for an extra few minutes. I never lingered like this, but the blanket was so nice and warm, and I really, really, really didn’t want to pull it off and have to walk around in the freezin’ cold again today.

But… that was life, and I’d have to get up eventually. I certainly couldn’t just live here inside this blanket forever.

So I pulled the blanket off myself and went about my mornin’ routine before I packed my stuff up and headed out of the alley.

When I reached the end, I stopped and debated which way to go.

Turn to the right and head for my busking corner.

Or go to the left and head to… Remi’s office.

It was nearly eight o’clock, so I probably had time before he’d be there. I didn’t want to show up too early, and I had no idea what time his office opened, but assuming nine o’clock was probably a good bet.

So maybe I should head to the store and pick up some breakfast this morning since I still had leftover money from Remi. Or head to the bookstore.

I wrinkled my nose at that because Anton wouldn’t be there at this hour, so that option lost its appeal. Breakfast it was then.

It didn’t take long to get myself situated and to find an empty bench at a nearby park to eat my food. I ate slowly and hung around the park, people-watching for a little while before I figured enough time had passed.

With a deep breath, I headed for Remi’s office.

I’d already memorized the address for Remi’s security firm, funnily called Magicurity. The tagline implied that they mixed magic and the mundane to provide security, so I supposed the name made sense.

Knowin’ this entire city like the back of my hand, it wasn’t hard to find the place. I’d seen the for-sale sign on the outside of the building a few months ago and figured someone had bought the place after the sign disappeared. The building had been empty for a long time so the old owners were probably thrilled at finally having it taken off their hands.

I walked through the front door and hesitated because I had no idea which floor or office Remi would be in. I looked at the walls, trying to find a guide, but it was bare. Which… made sense if he was only now setting the place up. So I closed my eyes and called on my magic, hoping I could find the big shifter that way.

My magic spread out from my body, and it sort of hummed and felt alive whenever I used it. It didn’t really hum, at least not out loud, but it sounded like it did to me. As my magic spread out, I felt the second it came up against a barrier, and I sucked in a breath. It was a strong barrier that felt like… witch, shifter, fae and… something else I couldn’t identify.

I pulled my magic back, not wanting to alarm anyone or set anything off. It pulled right back inside of me with a soft sigh—inside my head, not out loud—and I took a breath as it settled.

If there was a barrier like that on the fourth floor, then that was probably where Remi was, right?

Since I didn’t have any better ideas, I started up the stairs. There was an elevator, but I didn’t really want to take it since I didn’t know the condition this building was in, and I wouldn’t be able to see what was on the other side of the doors before they opened. That sounded like ambush central to me, and not somethin’ I was keen on experiencing.

When I reached the warded floor, I was surprised to see that it consisted of only one office space. I’d expected it to be a long hallway with a bunch of doors. But there was a very small hallway where the stairs and elevators opened up and exactly one door. So I suppose Remi’s business had the whole floor. Or… the entire building? Who knew?

I felt the wards, but they allowed me to walk far enough to reach the door and knock. It only took a few seconds for someone to open, and for some reason, I wasn’t expecting anyone other than Remi.

But that was stupid because Remi obviously had employees.

The man who answered had brown hair, silver eyes, and a cat… on top of his head. The cat stared at me with way-too-intelligent-eyes for a pet, so I could only assume she was a Bonded One. Between the cat and the guy’s silver eyes, he was obviously a witch. That didn’t bode well for me. Most witches hated the fae.

He smiled pleasantly at me, and all I could do was blink as he asked, “Can I help you?”

I took a breath. A witch who was… kind and treated me like a person? Unheard of.

The man raised his eyebrows, and I realized I was supposed to respond. After clearing my throat, I finally asked, “Is Remi here?”

He stared at me for a beat before a huge smile spread across his face. “Tell me you’re Belryn.”

I jerked back in shock. He… knew my name? How the fuckin’ hell did he—wait. Had Remi told him about me? What the hell was happening right now?

Remi’s voice called out, “Stop pestering him, Tan! I’m coming!”

A moment later, the witch was replaced with a breathless Remi, and my heart leapt in my chest as butterflies danced in my belly. Remi was gorgeous. And right now, he was in sweatpants and a t-shirt, looking flustered with pink cheeks, and his very muscular arms on display. And he was sweaty. He’d obviously been doing some heavy lifting in there.

Even his smile was gorgeous. It lit up his whole face, and I didn’t think it was my imagination that his smile was… for me. But why the hell he—or anyone—would ever smile at me like that, I’d never understand.

With that grin, he said, “Belryn! You’re here. Hi. Um, do you want to come in?”

I was so overwhelmed with, well, everything that I just froze and didn’t say anything.

Remi stared at me for a beat before his head disappeared inside for a moment, and I heard him say, “I’m going out for a bit. Be back later.”

“Have fun!” a voice called out, and a few people laughed.

Remi’s face was even redder when he came back to focus on me, but he slipped through the door and shut it behind him. “Um, hi. Are you okay? I mean, not that you wouldn’t be, but, uh, how are you?” His hands were flying everywhere as he spoke, and he started bouncing from foot to foot.

It took me a second to realize he was nervous.

Okay, that was hella cute.

His nervousness jolted me out of my own weird nerves, and I sent him a small smile and said, “I’m fine. I wanted to, uh, thank you for the blanket. And for all the other blankets too. Everyone loved them.” The fact that I was even thankin’ him should’ve told me just how, uh, into him I was—but I did my best to ignore all the little red flags because Remi was… I didn’t even know. But he felt different.

His shoulders lost some of their tension. “Oh. I’m glad to hear it. Did I buy enough? Did everyone get one?”

“You bought plenty, hun.”

“Good. I’m glad Olnor gave you the one I left for you.”

I blinked in surprise at the fact that he knew—and remembered—her name. People so often brushed us aside that I truly wasn’t used to that. At all. That was a bigger kindness than I’d come to expect from anyone, let alone someone as well-off and posh as Remi.

I cleared my throat again. “Yeah, she gave it to me as soon as I got back. Thank you again.”

He nodded, and I took in his handsome face. His features alone were sort of hard and cut, and if it wasn’t for those soulful brown eyes, I probably would’ve thought he was an asshat. But his eyes held a kindness I wasn’t used to seeing. It almost made him seem… vulnerable. Which was ridiculous because the guy was big and muscular enough to snap me in two. But I had the feeling he wouldn’t.

And I really did love the way he wore his shoulder-length black and silver hair—braided back on one side. That wasn’t a style I’d seen in our city before, but maybe it was popular in his home country.

We both stood there awkwardly for a full minute before he asked, “Um… would you maybe want to go to dinner with me?”

I jerked back again in absolute shock. What? Did he… I mean, no, he couldn’t have meant it as a date… right? “You wanna have dinner with me?”

He nodded. “Very much, yes.”

I licked my lips, and I watched his gaze track the movement. His eyes flared, filling with heat and what was easily recognizable as lust, and my heart sank.

Oh. He… he wanted payment for the blanket.

I wasn’t sure why that made me so sad. I’d thought… damn. For a second there, I’d thought he was askin’ me on a real date. Not that he wanted me to get on my knees for him. Not that I would mind exactly, it was just… I hadn’t thought this man was the type to want to use me. I thought that maybe he?—

“Hey.” Remi’s voice was gentle as he grabbed my elbow, the touch sending sparks flying under my skin.

I sucked in a breath and turned my face up to his.

“What’s wrong? Why do you feel—I mean smell… er, look so sad?”

I sucked in a breath, unwilling to explain myself to this man who wanted me to pay for the blankets. I wish I would’ve realized that was what he wanted. I would’ve traded him easily because the blankets were worth it, but it would’ve been nice if I hadn’t gotten my hopes up, thinking I’d met a kind man.

“Hey, may’ezza,” he said in a gentle voice, capturing my attention. Hearing him speak that word—may’ezza—made me suck in a breath. He’d said it yesterday in the alley, and hearing it again, I still didn’t know what it meant.

I was born here, in Gauhala, and I’d never traveled to Faela where my people were from. My mother and father had barely spoken the language of our people—Fae’lee—because they were trying to assimilate to Gauhala. And since I’d lost them at a young age, I didn’t speak it either.

But that didn’t stop me from recognizing the words when others spoke them.

It made me wonder what he was calling me.

Was it something kind? Or was he calling me a whore like he obviously thought I was… not that I didn’t turn tricks on occasion, but that wasn’t all I was.

That pain in my chest blipped again, and I sucked in a breath.

Remi whispered, “You have nothing to worry about from me, may’ezza. You’re safe here, I promise.”

“Don’t make promises to the fae, asshat,” I managed to hiss out in a broken whisper.

He smiled sadly at me, and with a tenderness that almost broke my heart, Remi took one of my hands in both of his, rubbing the skin there with his thumb. The touch was warm and oddly soothing. “It’s okay if you don’t want to go on a date with me. I don’t expect you to if you’re uncomfortable. I just… I don’t know if you feel it too, but I sort of feel… drawn to you.”

That made me suck in a breath, and words popped out of my mouth before I could stop them. “You mean you wanna go on a real date with me?”

His brow furrowed. “What other kind of date would I possibly mean?”

Oh, this sweet, naive man. It made me smile, and the worry and hurt I’d harbored for the last few minutes melted away. “Never mind that. I… I would love to. Thank you.”

Shit. Had I really just agreed to go out with him? What the hell was I thinkin’? Why did my mouth keep opening up and spillin’ stupid all over the place? I wasn’t like this—ever. But Remi felt like… like what I imagined the comfort of a home felt like. Not that I even remembered that feeling.

And… the pain in my chest had eased the second Remi said it was a real date, and that space seemed to be fillin’ with a strange warmth. A warmth that was pushing me forward, pushing me toward this shifter.

I wasn’t sure if I liked this warmth or not, but I’d learned a long time ago to trust my gut and follow my instincts. It’d kept me alive this long, so I wasn’t about to change my motto.

He smiled, and a small chuckle escaped. “You don’t need to thank me, may’ezza. I’m just glad you’re willing. Would it be too forward of me to ask if we can go tonight?”

I stared at him for a moment before hesitantly nodding. “Um… where are we going? I don’t have much to wear.”

That was one of the most embarrassing things I’d ever had to say out loud, but I didn’t want to look like a fool at some fancy restaurant. And it was better if Remi understood what it meant to date the likes of me. Not that I thought this would last. I was probably just some… weird fetish or somethin’ to him. Like a date-the-homeless-fae kind of… goal. Or a bet. Did his friends bet him about this? They’d obviously talked about me.

I pushed those negative thoughts away because I really wanted to enjoy this date-thing while I could. This was a one-time deal, and since my heart had agreed before my brain could catch up, I was committed to it now and wanted to see it through. There was no place for negativity right now.

He waved me off. “We can go somewhere you’re comfortable. I’m sure you know the city better than I do. I’ve only been here a few days.”

I nodded and thought for a moment. “There’s a small restaurant over on Lunar Street. They don’t have a dress code.” I bit my lip, worried it wouldn’t be fancy enough for this posh man.

But all he did was smile. “That sounds great.”

He gave my hand a squeeze, and I realized with a jolt that he was still holdin’ my hand in between his. And I really didn’t want to take it away.

To my surprise, he pulled his top hand away, then used the other to lift my hand to his lips where he pressed a kiss to my skin. A jolt of somethin’—pleasure and happiness and I didn’t even know what else—shot through me, and a small gasp fell from my lips.

Remi kissed my hand again, but this time, he left his lips there for a long moment, lettin’ them linger, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he was taking deep breaths. Perhaps sniffin’ me? I suppose he was a shifter, so he probably wanted to get to know my scent? Or somethin’.

I hadn’t spent a lot of time around shifters, so I wasn’t quite sure.

But I was happy for him to leave his lips on me for as long as he liked.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last nearly as long as I wanted. Remi straightened and met my gaze. “Should I pick you up at six?”

I blinked at him. Pick me up? From where? The alley? Um, no. That wouldn’t go over well with the others, and honestly, it was embarrassin’ to have him meet me there. No. I couldn’t bring him to the alley for this. No fuckin’ way.

So I shook my head. “I’ll meet you there.”

His brow furrowed. “Isn’t it on the other side of town? I don’t mind picking you up.”

He was tryin’ to be nice, I knew that, but it definitely bruised my pride a little. “I’ve gotta work over on that side of town anyway, so it isn’t too far for me.”

He searched my gaze before nodding. “Alright. I’ll see you at six then?”

“Yeah.” I reluctantly pulled my hand away. “See you then.”

I had only turned around and walked two steps before he said, “Belryn?”

I looked over my shoulder. “You can call me Bel.”

A soft smile played on his lips at that. “Bel, I was wondering if you have a phone?”

I automatically pulled my cell from my pocket, holdin’ it up.

“Great. Can I have your number?”

The snort that came out of me was as surprising as it was embarrassing. “Smooth.”

He shrugged. “I gave you mine. It’s only fair I have yours.”

With a shake of my head and a smile on my face, I rattled off my number as he typed it in. A moment later, I received a text.

See you at six.

I saved his number in my phone since I hadn’t done it already, then shot the man himself a small smile. “See you then, wolf boy.” I honestly had no idea how I knew he was a wolf instead of any other animal, but since all he did was snort at the nickname, I figured I’d guessed right.

Maybe my magic subconsciously knew what animal a shifter was? They had fae blood in them after all, so maybe that was it. Who knew?

As I went to turn away, Remi said, “Oh, wait.” I faced him, and he dug something out of his pocket and held it out to me. “I found this in my pocket about an hour ago.”

I sucked in a breath as I stared at that damn gold coin again. The one that kept disappearing.

When I didn’t take it from him, Remi stepped closer to me. “It belongs to you.”

Reluctantly, I let him hand it over, and I stuffed it in my pocket. Maybe if I went straight to the pawn shop, I’d be able to get rid of it once and for all. “I’m beginnin’ to think it doesn’t belong to anybody.”

Remi shrugged with a grin. “You might be right, but hopefully, you can use it before it disappears again.”

I snorted. “I had the same thought.” I offered him a nod. “Thanks. I’ll head to the pawn shop now.”

“Good luck.”

I hesitated for a moment before offering a small smile. “I’ll see you in a few hours, wolf boy.”

“Can’t wait.”

I turned on my heel and headed down the stairs, my chest aching more and more the farther I went.