Page 44 of King of the Unsightly

“Good.” Kaschel turned away.

Levisus interjected. “Love, I wouldn’t mind carrying you if it becomes too much.” He winked at me, and I couldn’t tell if he was joking or not.

My frown worsened, and I couldn’t hide the aggravation in my voice. “Worry about each other, and if Kaschel gets tired, you can princess-carry him. I’ll manage.”

Levisus’s smirk turned into a pout as he sided-eyed Kaschel. “I would offer, but I think he’d slit my throat if I did. Royals.” Levisus tsked. “So quick to resort to violence.”

Kaschel’s eye twitched as he stiffened up.

Now they teased each other like childhood friends. It piqued my interest, but not enough to ask them directly.

I poked Kaschel’s chest, nearly breaking my finger in half. “If you’re so concerned with me slowing you down, why don’t you do that shadow thing and transport us? It would save us the trouble and save us from your complaining.”

Kaschel rubbed his temple and leaned closer to me. A few strands of his alabaster hair tickled my cheek.

His cool breath caressed my ear as he asked, “My shadow thing?”

The hairs on my arms raised, and I wished to retreat inward, but I was so sick of being intimidated. So sick of people pushing me around.

I hated not having control.

I stood my ground and faced Kaschel, lifting my chin to lock eyes with him, my finger still pressed to his chest. “You heard me. Unless it’s too much for you to handle?”

I had always been ballsy, but I hoped my luck hadn’t run out before Kaschel’s patience for me grew too thin.

Kaschel sneered and turned slightly away as he brushed his loose strands behind his pointed ear.

The veins in his neck tensed up as he bit down and looked back at me. “That’s not how it works.”

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate. “He can only go where a fae’s soul is haunting and hasn’t crossed over to our lands yet,” Levisus said, plainly.

“Don’t make me laugh.” I imitated a fake laugh. “What are you, the Grim Reaper? No wait. The Lord of Death?” Wow, it sounded even more laughable out loud.

Any hint of anger or amusement from earlier had drained from Kaschel’s face as he said, “No, and it’s not important. We need to leave.”

Kaschel stalked over to the door as Levisus stood next to me and leaned down.

Levisus brought his hand to his mouth and whispered, “He gets testy when people call him that. Try king of the unsightly or shadow daddy. He absolutely loathes the last one. I use it all the time if I want to push his buttons.”

“Pfft.” I choked on my own spit and threw my hand to cover my mouth, stifling the laughter back down.

I inclined my head to meet Levisus’s mischievous grin as he held his pointer finger to his lips, hushing me when Kaschel snapped his sharp eyes in our direction.

I didn’t know how to respond. Levisus was a loose cannon. I mean, did he really sayshadow daddy? No. I slapped my cheeks to snap out of it.

It had nothing to do with me. I didn’t need to be curious, and I definitely didn’t need to call himthat; I needed to bury it. I cleared my throat and stayed silent as I trailed behind the two guys walking a little too fast through the endless corridor. The noisy chatter penetrated through the walls and muffled everything around me.

I tried to focus on how I would find Gren and talk to him alone without the pointy-eared bastards overhearing us. Kaschel had to have super-hearing, which only made it hard to sneak around.

We stepped outside of the building, and I took a deep breath. The suffocating smell of lavender-infused perfume affected me more than I thought.

The streets thinned out. Not a soul in sight as the rain had ceased. The two moons were spellbinding as their glow lit a path to the impenetrable forest.

I skimmed the area, but I couldn’t see Gren anywhere.

My jaw was taut as my heart palpitated roughly against my chest. An intrusive thought forced its way into my mind.If Gren left me, I truly would be alone.

The flapping of wings came from behind me, and all the built-up tension left my body as I twisted around to the building’s entrance, seeing Gren perched at the top.

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