Page 73 of King of the Unsightly

A pack of shadow-like creatures materialized by the man’s side—morphing into short and round beings, baring their twisted, sharp fangs as their deep red eyes swallowed the darkness around them.

My vision landed on Kaschel who stood behind a glass-like barrier, smashing his fists against it.

My attention darted back to the creatures before me.

“Call me Fell,” the man quipped, stroking the fox fur draped over him as his red eyes shone brighter than the creatures behind him.

Kaschel’s hands and ankles were cuffed and chained, but I couldn’t see where they trailed off to.

And the man had dodged my question—not that I could force him to answer and tell me what he was—when he held all the cards.

The man, Fell, craned his head at an unnatural angle as he pouted at me. “I blame it on that pesky Unseelie. Ruining a perfectly good show for himself. It would have been so entertaining to see his reaction. Don’t you think so?” he huffed and rested one hand on his cheek. “I wanted to fool around a little more.” He stalked over to a throne made of bones and jewels and plopped himself down. “So, what do you think you can offer me? You don’t look like you have much except for the key in your pocket but I’m assuming you came all this way for the other one.”

How did he know it was in my pocket?

I shuddered at the thought of the man coming any closer to me.

And what could I possibly offer him in exchange for the other key? I had nothing except for the clothes on my back and they weren’t even mine!

Faes loved to bargain ... Right? “A favor.”

Fell slammed his hands down on his throne and his laughter filled the cave.

Fell’s face twisted as his grin stretched all the way to his sharp cheekbones. His pearly white teeth were just as luminous as his bestial features. “Now why would I want afavor?People have come here offering me immeasurable treasures and entertainment, yet you come here with nothing and expect me to hand over what you desire? A foolish little witch.” He nodded at the horde of creatures behind him, and they screeched in unison.

My ears couldn’t handle the sheer volume, and I threw my hands up to cover my ears.

But silence fell as if I half imagined the noise.

The creatures didn’t flinch or move. Not even another screech or snarl.

I cautiously uncuffed my ears and glared back at Fell.

This fae was delusional, and that meant he was even more dangerous.

“How about the Unseelie? I have a bone to pick with him, or should I be asking him what he has tooffer?”

“No!”

God, Kaschel was right about me. I never thought about the repercussions of my actions.

“No?” Fell’s playful tone turned venomous. “How about a wager? If you win, you get the key.Simple.”

“And if I lose?”

Fell smiled, and it curled up to his feral eyes. “You become a part of my collection.” He waved his hand toward his mountedtrophieson the walls.

Murk and Ripples

“Okay,” I agreed, mid-panic.

I mean, what other options did we have?

“It’s a deal.” Fell clapped his hands, and it resounded off the walls.

With one blink, he launched me into an arena.

The rusted walls shot up for miles, dyed with gruesome scars of past battles. A crowd magically materialized—their cheers and chants made the bloodstained walls convulse.

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