Page 43 of Pointy Ears and Purple Glitter
“I’ll help. And we can use my truck to move your furniture.” Malik paused, considering. “Unless there’s nothing you want to keep. Your magic seems to be doing a pretty good job of decorating these days.”
That earned him a smile, the tension in Tynan’s shoulders easing slightly. “I’ve never really felt attached to my apartment. It was just a place to sleep. The office, though, that’s a bit different. It represented something to me. Independence. Proving I could make it on my own.”
Malik understood the symbolism. “You did make it on your own. You built a business from nothing in a realm you barely understood. That takes courage. But now you’re not alone anymore.”
“No, I’m not.” Tynan’s smile widened, the bond between them humming with warmth. “And I like the idea of working out of your shop. Our shop.”
“Our shop,” Malik repeated, liking the sound of it. “We could put up a sign. ‘Malik’s Motors and Tynan Investigations.’ Has a nice ring to it.”
“It does.” Tynan’s fingers intertwined with Malik’s. “What about you, Sparky? You’ve been unusually quiet about this plan.”
“I’m processing.” Sparky hopped from a stool onto the kitchen counter. “Calculating the increase in fruitcake accessibility if we’re permanently stationed near at least two bakeries I’m currently aware of in this area.”
Malik chuckled. “I’m sure we can keep the fruitcake cabinet well-stocked.”
“Then I approve,” Sparky declared. “Plus, the workshop has more interesting hiding spots for when I need to eavesdrop on your romantic moments.”
“You do that, and I’ll pluck your tail feathers,” Tynan warned, though there was no heat in his voice.
Malik stood, pulling Tynan up with him and into his arms. The fae fit perfectly against him, a fact that never ceased to amaze Malik. “It’s settled then. This weekend, we consolidate. One home, one business location, one united front.”
“One family,” Tynan added softly, resting his head against Malik’s chest.
Malik pressed a kiss to Tynan’s silver hair, his inner rhino settling with the knowledge that his mate would be permanently under his protection. Whatever challenges they faced - Garrison, Mrs. Cooper, the mystery of Hayley’s whereabouts - they would face themtogether. He loved how that sounded.
However… “There’s one more thing we need to discuss,” Malik said after a moment. “We should tell Ian something about what’s happening. Not everything, but enough that he understands the danger.”
Tynan pulled back slightly to meet Malik’s eyes. “Are you sure? Humans aren’t supposed to know about paranormals.”
“I’m not saying we tell him what we are,” Malik clarified. “But he deserves to know why he’s being targeted. That these people are dangerous, and it’s not just about Hayley Cooper.”
“That’s fair.” Tynan nodded. “He’s already involved, whether we like it or not. Some context might help keep him safe.”
“Exactly. We’ll talk to him tomorrow.” Malik ran his hands up and down Tynan’s back, feeling the hidden space where his wings connected. “But for tonight, I just want to hold you and forget about everything else for a few hours.”
“I think that can be arranged,” Tynan murmured, rising on his toes to press his lips to Malik’s.
“Gods, again?” Sparky’s shriek pulled them apart. “We haven’t had dinner yet. Get your priorities right, people.”
Chapter Twenty
The following week passed in a blur of activity. Tynan had completely moved into Malik’s space, his few cherished possessions now nestled among Malik’s belongings as if they’d always belonged there.
The workshop office had been transformed into a dual-purpose space - one side for Malik’s automotive paperwork, the other for Tynan’s investigation files.
Sparky had claimed a new perch near the window where he could observe both the workshop floor and the street outside. Malik had even put in a new door onto the street, next to the window, so that Tynan’s clients didn’t have to go through the workshop to speak to him.
“Can you pass me that folder?” Tynan asked Ian, who was helping him organize the last of his case files. The young man had thrown himself enthusiastically into setting up the new investigative headquarters, insisting that a proper detective’s office needed “ambiance.”
“Here you go.” Ian handed over the manila folder. “I still think we should get one of those corkboards for pinning up clues and connecting them with red string. All the best TV detectives have one.”
Tynan laughed, the sound coming easier these days. “Maybe next week. For now, I’m just happy to have everything in one place.”
Tynan’s computer - a sleek new model Malik had insisted on purchasing to replace his outdated machine - sat on the corner of the desk, already connected to the workshop’s Wi-Fi. Sparky had spent hours watching YouTube tutorials on the new system,insisting he needed to “understand the equipment” despite never actually using it himself.
The bell on Tynan’s door chimed, and Tynan glanced up, expecting to see one of Malik’s regular clients using the wrong door. It had happened a few times. Instead, a tall figure with pale-blond hair and pointed ears stepped inside, wearing an impeccable suit that seemed to shimmer slightly in the office’s fluorescent lighting.
Tynan froze, his heart stuttering in his chest. “Finley?”
