Page 3 of Kisses at the Crossroads

“Please. I need the sun.” My voice warbles and I swallow, hoping it helps keep me strong.

“Fine, I’ll see if I can get someone to let you out on your leash in the morning.” He waves me in front of him. I’m not ready to be sent to bed yet, but I can’t risk his wrath when he agreed to get me sun tomorrow.

Tonight I follow without a fuss. Tonight I plan.

My nest of blankets and pillows suffocates me. Of course I can’t sleep. Because why sleep when I can scheme? I push to sit against the wall and knuckle roll the luck coin as I think.

The biggest problem is I can’t run alone. I have to take Ava with me or come back for her. Both are risky, but I can not leave her with Drake. I know she’s been with him longer than I have, but he treats her like dirt. Just because she doesn’t have the body of a model, he forces her to be a maid. I’ve tried helping her with her duties, but then we both get in trouble, so she insists I just watch and let her work. We’re the only two bound to Drake, so I don’t feel the need to help free the dancers or servers from their contracts with him. They’re allowed to come and go of their own free will.

“A Tuesday will be the easiest. Drake is never here on Tuesdays. Thursday is another good bet. He’s out in the mornings.”

I continue rolling the coin between my fingers, faster and faster. “But how will I get out?” I sigh and drop my head back on the wall. My hand falls to my lap and I look at the coin. “Any suggestions?” A laugh rumbles from me because now I’m talking to a coin.

The raven face shimmers and I squeeze my eyes shut. I have to be making this up. When I open my eyes, the raven’s gone and etched in its spot are words.

Tuesday, be ready.

“Ready? When? How?”

Trust me. You’ll know when.

Just because it’s a luck coin doesn’t mean it’s good luck. The coin could be leading me into a trap. It is Fae, after all, and we’re notorious for being tricksy.

TRUST ME!

“Okay, okay. I’ll trust you.”

The coin face turns to a smile.

I don’t know that I should trust the coin, but right now, a little bit of luck and hope is all I have.

Chapter 2

Pike

Being a crossroads demon has perks. But the cons far outweigh the pros. It’s not like I chose to be a crossroads demon. If I could have picked my demon type, it’d be incubus, because can you imagine fucking for sustenance? Yes, please. But no, I was born and cursed to be bound to a crossroads my entire life and I’m not a fan. Okay, that’s not entirely true, but I still hate it.

Cold water hits my chest as I turn on the shower. Luckily, it doesn’t take too long to get hot as hellfire.

“This is what I get for helping Van with a bargain.” I scrub the blood and guts from my body the best I can. Of course, I enjoyed the bloodbath, but perhaps next time I won’t rip people apart and go for a good old-fashioned stabbing instead. Who am I kidding? I love watching a murderer realize I’m going to pull their head off. Mmmmm. Sweet justice.

Dorris, the mother that bargained for the death of her daughter’s murderers, offered two dozen homemade cookies every month for the rest of her life as long as she’s able. It’s outside of the sacrifice requirements, but what crossroads demon can resist that divinity? Not Van and certainly not me. He said I can have five cookies a month and I’ll make sure he keeps his word.

The stench of death washes off relatively easily and I stand under the shower spray, savoring the heat. What can it hurt to rub one out while I’m here? It’s only been a few hours.

I slide a hand down my stomach. My tail shivers as I do, adding to the experience. My eyes shut and I moan as my cock hardens in my grip.

I’m several strokes in when a shrill whistle I haven’t heard in decades echos in my ears. It takes me too long to realize what it is before I open my eyes to find my skin shimmer.

In a blink, I’m not in my shower anymore. No, I’m naked, cock in hand, inside a summoning circle at my crossroads. The crossroads I haven’t seen in twenty years, but it’s all too familiar. The crisp autumn air hints at burning leaves not too far away. Wind blows dust and I’m already ready to get the hell out of Hex.

“It worked!” A Fae with the prettiest pink hair dances in front of me as if they’re playing in a meadow. The flittering of their wings under their shirt and their body language is pure happiness. I hate to be the one to squash it, but no one disturbs my happy shower fun time and gets a welcoming reaction.

“What do you want?” I’m gruffer than I probably should be, but we need to get this bargain done so I can get back to my shower. And if I’m honest with myself, I’m a bit hangry and planned to cook up a steak real soon.

The Fae turns to me and I suck in a breath. Beautiful blue-gray eyes stare up at me before giving me a once over. I follow suit and do the same, taking in their lithe form. The jeans are too big, and the shirt is almost too small and full of holes. And there’s magic wrapped around them that’s concerning.

The Fae squeaks as their gaze falls to my still hard cock. “I… I didn’t think you’d be ready so soon. I thought we’d set a date.” They wrap their arms around themselves and hunch over. “I don’t know that I’m ready.”

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