Page 22 of Kisses at the Crossroads

“Those are very sensitive,” Pike says as he nips at my ear, then my jaw. When he connects with my lips, I melt against him. I seek more, pressing closer. I need more. But the kiss is over too soon and I have no idea if Pike realizes I gave him my first. Realizes how gigantic the moment is for me. Slowly, his tail releases me. He nips at my lips softly before taking a step back, as if he’s dazed. Frankie looks from Pike to me and back, confused. My hand hovers over my lips, feeling the heat he left.

“Come on, Trick. Back to your hole.” Drake grabs my arm, but Pike slaps his tail over Drake’s hand.

“Do not hurt him.” Pike growls out the words as he hands me my box of new clothes.

“I’m okay,” I say, though my arm hurts where Drake squeezes.

“Meet me in my office, Pike.” Drake lets me walk on my own back to the basement.

“Please let me stay out. I’ll be good. I can help Ava,” I say hopefully.

“No. Get down there and shut up.” Drake smacks the bottom of my box, making my gifts fly down the stairs. Beautiful silk Fae shirts drift to the floor as Drake shuts the door behind me.

I push back the anger and gather the shirts back into the box and place them in my nest. I haven’t talked to the Fae luck coin in the last day, but when I search for it, it’s missing. “Oh, no.”

Chapter 12

Pike

After going over everything Drake wanted to talk about, I’m mentally exhausted. Who knew business was so demanding? I grab Frankie’s harness and something brushes my fingertips. As soon as we’re home, something metal falls to the floor.

“A coin? Where’d you pick this up at?” One side has a raven, the other a dragon.

Frankie’s already on the couch, curling into her favorite spot with her tail wagging. I shove the coin in my pocket, not giving it another thought. Frankie always finds weird treasures. I never know how or where she picks them up.

“We can’t sit around too long. You need a proper walk after a day of us being so lazy.”

Her ears perk up. Not that I found being with Trick all day lazy. I got a lot of good information from him, even if I’m no closer to figuring out how to free him of the soul tether.

I grab Frankie’s leash from the hook by the door and clip it to her harness. If I were a smaller demon, she’d drag me in her enthusiasm to get outside. The demon realm isn’t all that different from the others. Not to the naked eye. The grass is still green, the sky still blue.

The one major difference is the threads of magic throughout. This is what gives us demons our power. We feed the magic with our bargains, otherwise the magic would have run out eons ago with how much we use it. I get to live by one of the most prominent threads of magic because I snatched a soul and that soul will fuel the magic thread for eternity.

As Frankie sniffs at the rosebush by our front door, the magic thread shimmers milky white in the field across from us like it has since that fateful day. My house isn’t the biggest on the block, but it’s impressive. Two stories with lovely gothic revival architecture. Sue me, I was into the look as a kid and still am, if I’m being honest. Every house on the block is different, right down to a modern day mansion.

Frankie always likes to walk right up to the magic. It smells a little like steak the closer you get, so I can understand the appeal.

I let Frankie do her thing as we stroll along. I’ve always loved home, even if I am lonely. Even if no one waves when I try to be friendly.

Frankie licks at my hand and whines. My next step, someone drops on my back. Their arm wraps around my neck with a dagger pressed to my throat.

“Where is my brother?”

Chapter 13

Pike

I’m rusty in Fae languages, but it’s undeniably a dialect from the Winter Court.

“Darling, how about you face me so we can have a conversation?”

The assumed Fae perched on my back tightens their grip around my neck. “Where is he? I haven’t been able to sense his life force in a decade and when I do, it’s here. Where. Is. He?”

With a sigh, I release Frankie’s leash and spin the Fae around to make them face me and set them on their feet. I can’t help the gasp, and apparently neither can Frankie. This Fae looks so much like Trick, though, this Fae is more muscular. The other noticeable differences are the hair, where Trick’s is pretty bubblegum pink, this Fae has stark white. Then the eyes. Trick’s are blue gray, this one has deep jeweled green. They flutter their wings indignantly.

“Who are you, little Fae, and why are you bothering me?”

Their lips twitch and their cheeks go pink, just like Trick’s do. “I think I’ve been clear about why I’m bothering you. Where is my brother?” They stab their dagger at my throat again and I smack it away. “For a decade I’ve been searching, and he’s never shown up in my scrying. I learned how to cut the veils and nothing. But a few days ago I sensed him again. Now his scent and life force are all over you. Did you eat him?” The Fae staggers back and looks at Frankie. “Did your Hellhound eat him?”

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