Page 27 of King of the Unsightly

Kaschel didn’t glance in my direction again. He just kept walking, and it was pretty goddamn infuriating. He was a total dick.

“Listen, here, faery man. My life has been turned upside down because of your shady-ass shit. Tell me what I’m supposed to do for you so I can fulfill our deal. I would love to hike my happy ass home sooner rather than later where we never have to cross paths again.”

Did I have a death wish? Probably. Did I care? Absolutely not. I had no more fucks to give.

Kaschel’s silence felt endless as we walked down the hallway. His long hair was pulled back neatly and flowed gently behind him. I craved yanking his stupid ponytail to the ground and seeing what kind of face he would make, but then he might justify using the sword at his hip to impale me. Yet, the small amount of patience I had left dwindled to nothing, and I felt more reckless by the second.

Had I always been this self-destructive?

Kaschel halted and my face smashed into his upper back, nearly knocking me over. He didn’t lose his balance while I practically had to clench every muscle from my butt to my toes to stop from falling. I might have also snatched a fistful of his shirt to assist myself. Though Ireallywished I had caught his hair instead.

I released Kaschel’s shirt and patted my hands on my jeans. I disregarded his maddened disposition and glanced at the two women with azure-blue hair in matching all-black outfits. They both had two short, silver, pointed objects around their belts. Most likely daggers of some sort. The red-eyed man, the same creep from the nightclub, loomed over them. He sported similarattire as he stood brooding in the corner, leaning against the wall.

Kaschel creased his eyebrows and hardened his face into a scowl and resumed ignoring my existence. “Are the others there yet?”

“Yes. They’re waiting for your command, and if we leave now, we’ll make it there before nightfall,” the red-eyed man said calmly as he fiddled with a switchblade.

Apparently, everyone had a thing for sharp objects here. I bet they had nicknames for them too. Maeve, Striker or Blade. Or something truly laughable likeStabby.

Jared walked through the opposite door—his hair messy, a loosened tie around his neck, and a wild look in his eyes. “Therion knows we have one of the keys.”

Kaschel rubbed his temples and grunted. “Who did he send after us?”

Jared hesitated. “Everyone.”

Kaschel side-eyed Jared. “You’re with me. Zyair and the twins go see what Oberon’s up to. Ryas go to my study, find the relic, and then help the other two.” Kaschel growled the last part and snatched my hand and chanted the same words as before. The shadows materialized as he turned to face me. “This might be more uncomfortable than the last time.”

I couldn’t protest as Kaschel pulled me behind him and the darkness engulfed us and clung to me like tar. I inhaled but couldn’t breathe. My time there felt stagnant until a hint of light appeared. We fell through and I smacked ass-first on the floor. I flipped to my side, on my hands and knees as I puked my guts out. I wiped my mouth, rolled onto my back, and groaned. Gren shot through after me and patted my back with his wing.

I lifted my chin and gave him a weak smile.

Jared walked through, unaffected, and approached me. Concern furrowed in his brows, but Kaschel placed a hand up and prevented Jared from getting any closer. “Worry about yourself. Now go assess our surroundings. It’s been a minute since I’ve been on this side.”

Jared nodded and phased through the wall, leaving me alone with Kaschel in some spooky cabin. Dust clung to a crimson and gold tapestry like someone had neglected the place for years. A brick fireplace, one cherry-colored wooden table, and only two chairs occupied this room. It reeked of mold and decay. I could hardly keep it together. It didn’t help I puked all over the floor and curtains. Now, it stunk of both death and vomit.

“Do you mind never doing that again?” I coughed out as I lifted myself off the ground, legs wobbling as I compelled the bile back down.

“Not gonna happen,” Kaschel snipped as he stalked over to the table, crouched down, and thumped the wall with his knuckles.

“Please then, enlighten this little flea on what’s going on so I’m not an aimless parasite.”

Kaschel shifted and glared at me, but it seemed to have worked and he bit back. “The necklace you have is a key someone stole from me, and I need to find the other one ...” He stopped tapping the wall and skimmed me over. “You’re rather annoying. Has anyone ever told you?” He raised a brow.

Kaschel didn’t want an answer, I knew that; he was just being a rhetorical asshole. Well, two could be rhetorical assholes.

“And you’re rather arrogant. Has anyone ever mentioned that to you?”

Kaschel scoffed and didn’t spare me another word as he concentrated on the wall again. I kept my eyes fixated on hisalabaster hair as his ponytail rested in between his muscular shoulder blades.

It’s like Gren read my mind and shook his beak.

I didn’t really plan on pulling his ponytail. It was only a passing thought. I liked to believe I had more maturity than that.

“What are you looking for?” I probed, and Kaschel exhaled in response. “All right.”Not in the talking mood.

I swung around and left him there to tap the wall like a lunatic and went to explore the rest of the place.

Nothing appeared out of the ordinary—just an old cabin requiring some serious TLC. I peeked down the dark hallway and proceeded to walk in the opposite direction of Kaschel. Spending the time scouring was a better pastime than forcing myself to stay in the same room as him, suffocating under his overwhelmingly dreadful company.

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