Page 47 of King of the Unsightly

A gray-colored cottage with an enormous tree in the center of it materialized in front of us. It stretched out for miles in the sky, like a skyscraper with a reddish-brown bark weathered by the elements, chipped and discolored. It matched the oddly shaped door curling outward with a ram’s horn as a door handle.

Gren shook out his feathers and glanced around the area. “I’ll keep watch.”

I looked back at Gren with some urgency in my voice. “I’d rather you stay inside with us.”

I waited for him to say okay, but that answer never came.

“I’m not comfortable when someone I know isn’t keeping a look out.”

Levisus laughed as if half-entertained by Gren’s remark. “I will sense if something or someone tries to break in, so don’t worry a cute little feather on your head.”

Without hesitation, Gren said, “I don’t trust your intuition.”

Levisus shrugged and walked inside.

I crouched down to Gren. “Just come inside.”

Gren shook his beak. “I will be fine.”

He patted my back with his wing, and it was the most ridiculously wholesome thing that’s ever happened to me since—ever.

Damn, when did my life get so sad?

I sighed and ran my hands through my hair but nodded my head.

My sight fell back on Kaschel, who looked bored to tears by our conversation but stayed close behind me.

So it appeared Kaschel wasn’t going to let me leave his side.Great.

I stood up and stepped through the doorway.

The decor was as sleazy as Levisus’s personality. It had two matching white leather couches with a fox’s fur draped on the top of one and a coffee table with a marbled, topless mermaid as the centerpiece shimmering from the black-bricked fireplace.

A wooden bar was positioned in the corner of the room and a golden light illuminated it, only making the rest of the place dark in comparison.

Levisus yawned and strolled over to the bar and poured himself a stiff drink. “Want one?” He looked at me with a lopsided grin.

Kaschel didn’t pay any mind to Levisus as he stalked over to the couch and sat down. He leaned back and draped his arms over the top and rested one leg over the other.

Kaschel tilted his chin up; his eyes sharper than daggers as his voice lowered. “How long do we have until your barriers fail?”

Levisus took a sip of his drink. “Maybe ten or twelve hours.”

Kaschel glowered at Levisus as if contemplating his next move before he spoke. “Is that enough time for you to make a tracking spell for the second key?”

“And a separation spell,” I added.

Levisus raised an eyebrow, seemingly insulted by Kaschel’s question. “Your faith in me has dwindled to nothing. I assure you, my lord. I can manage both.”

“It has been a couple of centuries. Who knows if you have lost your touch or not?” Kaschel asked with indifference.

“Testy. Then I will be in my lab.” Levisus bowed sarcastically with his drink in his hand. His gaze wandered over to me. “I know what you’re thinking. You’re surprised I’m more than just a pretty face.” He bent over the bar and swirled his drink. “We could have some fun before I have to work tirelessly for that big, brooding oaf.”

I attempted to keep my mouth shut, but the words flowed effortlessly off my tongue. “Dude, read the room.”

Levisus mused, “I have, and you look like you need to relieve some stress, and I’ll happily oblige.”

Kaschel uncrossed his legs and leaned forward with a murderous air to him. “Do I have to remind you of your brother? My patience with you is growing thinner by the second.”

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