Page 21 of King of the Unsightly

I retreated inward, but he had me pinned, and physics made it impossible for me to dissolve into the chair and disappear, no matter how much I wished to.

My breathing turned shallow, and I couldn’t tear myself away from his bright purple eyes. The edges stirred with darker specks as if they were floating amethysts—both terrifying and mesmerizing.

Kaschel bent his head to the side, so close his cool breath caressed my cheek. “Like I said before, you help me find the other key and I help you sever your connection to it, freeing you from all this unwanted attention.Deal?” He leaned back, but his arms still gripped the sides of the chair.

I wanted my life to go back to normal more than anything, and as crummy as it sounded, I think he was my best bet. I didn’t givetwo shits about the necklace if it kept thrusting me into crap like this.

I shooed him away. “Fine, but why do you even want my mother’s antique necklace so badly? It’s just a piece of trash.”

“That piece of trash is mine,and I will have them both back. There’s nothing else you need to know,” Kaschel growled as the flames crackled and hissed, making the light dance across his face.

Someone was a little too possessive. Note taken. “Ookay then. Make sure you keep your word.” I glared and pointed my finger at him.

Kaschel smiled and it was strikingly handsome. One that would sweep any woman off their feet, but not me. No—all it did was make my stomach wrench into a massive knot like I made the biggest mistake of my life.

“I always do.” Kaschel bent down and kissed the back of my hand. His lips zapped through me like an electrical current, searing into my flesh. I yanked my hand away and bit back the scream bubbling in my throat. I watched in shock as a silver crescent moon etched onto my skin like a tattoo. “A little insurance.” He gave me a slimy businesslike grin, let go of my hand, and walked toward the opposite corner of the room. “We leave at sunrise. Ryas will show you to your room.”

Moonlight and Stardust

Kaschel chanted in a language I never heard before. The fire raged and expanded as if his words agitated it. The shadows bent in chaotic but sylphlike motions across the room—until one broke away from the corner.

The shadow morphed into something else entirely. The deafening cracks of bones pulling and snapping together pierced my eardrums.

A woman emerged from the darkness. Her heels clicked against the floorboards as she glided to my side. Her effortlessly loose white curls bounced with each stride. Her long legs glowed against the fierce flames bursting out of the fireplace and settled back down.

My mouth hung open as a woman literally materialized before my eyes.

“Ryas, take her to the guest suite,” Kaschel said in a low but commanding tone.

My attention snapped to Kaschel. He walked back to his chair, sat down, and crossed his arms without breaking eye contact with me.

If Kaschel’s posture could kill ... I would be dead from the displeasure radiating from him.

My presence alone seemed to irritate him.

I shouldn’t feel intimidated though, but my head could think one thing, and my body would still react differently. God, could I go back to my old life where I only dealt with shitty customers, not power-hungry, supernatural weirdos?

“Of course.” Ryas bowed her head.

All my suppressed emotions erupted out of me as I glowered at Ryas. “What in the actual hell was that?”

I had many, many questions, but the more I wanted to know, the more they kept stacking on top of each other, one after another. I couldn’t keep up.

Ryas grinned, captivating but deadly. I wanted to run away and never look back, but I also wanted to throat-punch every fucker in this room who wouldn’t give me a straight answer.

I knew it wasn’t an option, but a girl could dream. My attempt would be futile—but I really didn’t want to recall my previous stab at it.

So ... Jared meant this woman found me. The one who told Kaschel my whereabouts.

About my necklace.

A thought stirred in my mind and loitered a little longer than I would have liked.

They probably spied on me from the beginning. So Jared only approached me for the key?

Actually, I had no desire to know the last part. That sorry excuse for a man would rue the day he met me if I ever saw him again.

Anger cascaded through me. I felt manipulated andinsane. Would Kaschel even keep his promise? How would I escape if he didn’t?

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