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Sparks of panic detonated in my head, firing off scenarios of Reed’s psycho ex prying into all of my thoughts. The time I’d stolen a treasure box from a group of pirates after I’d gotten drunk. Not my brightest moment, but I’d been sixteen. Or the time I’d dated two witches at the same time and sworn if they ever found out, they’d hex me into a frog. Then I remembered Reed’s words about clearing my mind.Fuck.Okay, birds. Freaking big-ass vultures circling the skies, looking for carcasses to devour, like me. No, not me.Shit.Doves, yes they were sweet until they pooed on your head. Eagles were more like it. Gliding through the heavens, diving for prey. Now they were regal creatures.
At once, the frozen sensation melted off my body, and I stumbled backward, coughing to catch my breath. “What the fuck?”
“He’s interesting.” She licked her lips, flipping her hair over one shoulder. “But he has a strange obsession with birds.” Her voice squeezed, as if she were a chipmunk. Now that tone alone would have me running for the hills because while I was a patient man, pitched voices were my no-go zone. They drilled into my eardrums.
“Ally,” Reed began, guiding her behind her desk to an area clear of crowds. They were chatting out of earshot, and I stood there, unsure if I ought to follow. Or would she read my mind up close? Unless only the kiss of doom gave her insight?
So I pushed those thoughts aside and contemplated why chickens couldn’t fly when they were in the avian family. With my mind distracted, I strolled toward Reed. In that exact moment, Ally slapped Reed, and I burst out laughing. Okay, call me a sadistic son of a bitch, but I couldn’t help it. How many times could a man get hit by females in a night? Counting, we were at four for Reed. Never met someone who’d upset so many women in the same area.
Ally shoved past me, her bony elbow connecting with my ribs, and I winced, holding my side.
“What are your bones made of? Iron?” I called out.
Reed turned to me, his cheek bright red, and a growl rolling though his chest. His eyes shifted ever-so-slightly to his amber lion pupils, then back. “Don’t say a thing. Let’s leave. We have a lead on Vanore. She hangs at the Moss Pit, a tavern on the water’s edge in the cove.”
While interest burned through me, I kept my trap shut and we made haste to leave behind the market before any more of Reed’s past showed their faces and beat him up. I smirked to myself.
By the time we’d taken flight, me gripping on to Reed tightly in my arms, curiosity killed me. “Okay, spill. What did you do to make her hit you?”
Reed sighed. “She promised to tell me where Vanore was seen last if I told her why I split up with her.”
“And? What’d you say?” This drama was damn addictive.
“That I found her needy and didn’t enjoy our kisses, knowing she pried into my thoughts.”
“Ouch,” I said, thrashing my wings as we glided downward. “You’re lucky she didn’t knee you in the balls.”
“But it’s the truth.”
“For someone who’s dated a lot, you’re clueless. Have you heard of tact?”
He grumbled under his breath. “It’s done, and I have zero intention of ever returning to see her again. So let’s pretend that never happened.”
Oh, I’d never forget that. I grinned widely as we glided onward. A light breeze buffeted under my wings, sending us into a turbulent ride.
“Keep going.” Reed pointed ahead. “See the ocean bay? There should be a tavern close to the beach.”
I rushed us forward, my breaths quickening and sweat dripping down my spine. The shore came out of nowhere fast, and I backpedaled, only to hit the sand in a crash landing. Reed tumbled from my arms and dropped to his knees. Barely catching myself, I gripped my hips and filled my lungs.
“That was a shit landing.” Reed unleashed a snarl, and the night must have been taking its toll on his preciousness.
“Hey.” I gasped for air. “You’re lucky you didn’t end up in the water.”
Nearby, foamy waves crashing against the coast, pulling at everything like greedy fingers, then dragging it back into its grasp. The briny smell wafted through on the breeze, and for those few moments, I had the urge to sit out here and dunk my feet in the sea. It wasn’t often I visited the beach. When I was a child and went swimming, a damn jellyfish had stung me on the ass.
“You know mermaids live out here.” I stared out, searching for a splash or tail, but the ocean lay tranquil tonight, the moon sitting high above the horizon and glistening across the surface of the water.
“As do mersoldiers who’ll stab you in the throat for laying eyes on their maidens.” Reed strode up the beach and vanished into the forest, so I chased after him until we reached a wooden shack in the middle of nowhere.
The building stood wide with a sharp, pointy roof, encased by enormous pines. The veranda out front circled the house and the four windows glowed alight. A couple spilled out, arm in arm, stumbling down the steps, chuckling. They tripped, both crashing into a shrub. Reed hurried toward them until it was clear the pair had wasted no time and locked lips. My thoughts wandered to Elliana… What was she doing now? Was she still safe? Reed insisted Kahlo would check on her, which eased my worries slightly.
We climbed the steps to the porch and entered. A young, beautiful female sang a harrowing ballad on a small stage at the rear of the room, and I drifted toward her, drawn by the tune. She wore a tight dress hugging her slender figure, her pearly white hair draped over her shoulders, and she poured her heart out into her song. Her fae ears poked out, one side pierced with several gold hoops. Their race was common in Tritonia and Darkwoods, but they kept to themselves. Their voice was angelic and hypnotized even the angriest beast. I swayed on the spot, my toe tapping the wooden floor. She met my eyes and winked.
So much mystery surrounded their race, but the juiciest rumor surrounded the death of one of the most powerful royal fae families. Apparently, the surviving princess was blamed for killing her parents and siblings. But before they could capture her and uncover the truth, she’d vanished, and many believed her to be hiding amid the normal folk. Whether she had committed the murder or not was up for speculation. Gossip insisted the other royal families in Haven Realm had put out a warrant on the princess. The person who brought her back alive for judgment would claim a portion of riches that had once belonged to the fae royal family. Tempting, if I didn’t feel pity for the princess—if she were alive.
Now if she had been framed, which had always been my thoughts, then I hoped the poor princess remained hidden. She’d have every one chasing her down to capture her and then her relatives would murder her to claim the throne. Luckily for her, no one knew what she looked like. Fae princesses were forbidden to leave the kingdom and from showing their faces before wedlock.
I took a last glance at the woman on the stage with a thin waistline, decent boobs, and pale blue eyes. The sadness in her words mirrored in her gaze. I turned away.
