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Chapter Twenty-One

“Ugh. How am I going to cover all this up?” I muttered to myself, taking in the damage Tsukiyo had done the previous night. I had scratches and bite marks quite literally everywhere from my neck down. Obviously a turtleneck of some sort was in order, but it was looking like I’d have to pair it with leggings or pants too because even my legs had marks all over them. I shivered and bit my lower lip, my nipples perking as my thoughts drifted to the previous night.

I’d never imagine that such utter satisfaction would lead to even stronger lust.

After shrugging on a turtleneck dress and black leggings, I finished getting ready and darted out of the house. I was running late for work, and that just wouldn't do. As I trotted to my car, Mayar came bounding over and hopped into the back seat.

“I will keep myself hidden,” Mayar stated. “My master doesn’t believe that the Nightingale matriarch is ready to give up on you just yet.”

“I have to agree there…” I murmured quietly. “She’s been shoving things at me for years. Now that she’s done…something…to make everyone capable of seeing inhuman beings, she’s not going to readily accept the idea that I wasn’t ‘fixed.’”

“I will continue protecting you while my master looks into other matters,” Mayar added. “Should anyone turn against you with violence, I am to transport you to my master’s home.”

“Other matters…like the ‘Sun’ that man mentioned?” I grimaced, slowing for a yellow light.

“Indeed.” Mayar nodded. “I must advise you stop talking to me until home for the day. There is no telling how many of the Nightingale’s spies will be at your work, and if the city’s security cameras will be looking for odd behavior from you.”

I let out a heavy sigh. That hadn’t occurred to me, but Mayar was right. Quinn had so many connections, and much of our city seemed to be on her side when it came to how to deal with the “demons” flooding it. Their behavior made me sick.

When I arrived at work, I strode through the front door to find David grimacing at something on his laptop screen.

“Bad news?” I asked, placing a hand on one hip.

“Hmmm? Oh.” David looked up, then tilted his head at me. “Huh. Guess I missed my chance to sleep.

“No, no, nothing bad. A private client wants me to find them a book. Problem is, it’s rare. Just found fakes so far.”

“Want me to get you some coffee?” I offered.

“Nah, I need to stretch my legs anyway!” David grinned and stood up, several of his joints popping audibly. “Got the first shipment of crystals from Tsukiyo last night. Can I get you to organize them in the displays for me?”

“Sure.” I nodded, watching David hobble off to the cafe. After a moment of hesitation, I made my way to the back room in search of the crystals in question. Hmmm, last night? Did he have someone deliver them, or…

I tilted my head, frowning. Well, Tsukiyo had taken his leave not long after we were both satisfied. He’d stayed long enough to bathe with me…but he’d returned to the Underrealm after. Now I had to wonder if he’d gotten any rest. Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair and let my gaze fall. That was one thing that could have gone better. If he had stayed the night…

No, no. His reasoning for going was good. I shook my head before busying myself with searching through the storeroom. There were too many risks attached to letting him stay the night, especially if my house was being watched by my family and their pawns—willing ones or otherwise.

“Mmm…” I frowned, lifting the lid off the umpteenth box.

“Nothing?” David’s voice from nearby startled a squeak out of me. I whirled around to find him leaning against the doorframe, his head tilted to the side. “Sorry ‘bout that.”

“Ugh…” I shook my head and let out a heavy sigh. “The boxes all look empty to me, but I can tell from the weight they aren’t. But, the crystals Tsukiyo showed me were all ones I could see…”

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“These ones are special.” David strolled over and reached into the box nearest to me. He pulled something out, about the size of a softball of the spread of his fingers were any indication. “Here, put out your hand.”

I hesitated briefly before doing as I was told. David placed the surprisingly warm object in my hand, but I still couldn't see it. Warmth spread from my hand and to my wrist before spiraling up my arm.

“Huh…” David frowned at me. “Right. Going to have to keep you away from these so the Nightingale folk don’t grow more suspicious.”

“Huh?” I shot him a questioning look as he took the crystal back.

“Your family would have a better idea of your…usefulness, shall we say, if they saw what that crystal did when you touched it.” David narrowed his eyes at me. “Go work in the cafe for now. I’m going to go make a call.”

“Uh…okay?” I threw my hands into the air, agitated, and made my way to the cafe as I was told.

Mayar nudged my leg with his shoulder briefly as we walked. “The crystals hold power and react differently based on species, gender, and the amount of power someone has—ah, and the type.”

I opened my mouth to ask more questions, then sighed. If I was supposed to act like Mayar didn’t exist, then I’d need to wait until later.

“Your family would either bind you or kill you if they saw what the crystal’s reaction to you was,” Mayar continued simply. “The Nightingale Family will bind anyone useful to them. Not just ‘demons’ and ‘angels’ as you have seen. They’ve bound extraordinary humans in the past as well.”

That certainly wasn’t a word I’d used to describe myself, but I got the point. Caution was necessary.

After chatting briefly with the handful of people already working in the cafe, I set about the task of keeping the tables clean for customers. Dreadfully boring as it was, there were few other things I could do to keep out of trouble.

When I turned away from a table a while later, I came face-to-chest with a caramel, muscular torso covered in glowing gold tattoos. Startled, I glanced upward to find a man with short white hair and yellow eyes staring down at me. He had pointed ears, slit pupils, and claws much like Tsukiyo did.

“Um… Can I help you?” I asked, watching as the strange man tilted his head slightly. The motion brought my attention to the torque around his neck that appeared to be solid metal, and far too tight.

His lips parted as if he intended to speak, but the torque visibly tightened around his throat to cut him off. His gaze flicked to the side with a feral glare that would put a caged animal to shame.

“Celia, darling, is Tsukiyo not in?” Grandmother’s voice made me bristle. The tanned man grit his teeth and stepped aside, revealing Quinn and several more of her ‘Skydweller’ guards.

“Why would I know where he is?” I sighed at her.

“A Nightingale woman always keeps her men on a tight leash!” Quinn scoffed before smiling. “I’ve reconsidered my stance and have a business proposal for the boy. A union between our families would benefit us both! You may not have use in a more magical sense, but you still caught the eye of such a powerful family!”

“Can’t you just let us be?” I sighed heavily. “I know everyone, and everything, is a pawn to you, but forcing a union—”

“You should be grateful I discovered a way for you to repent for disgracing my family!” Quinn glowered at me.

My fingers twitched as an unfamiliar feeling ran through me. If I had power, killing her and ending the suffering of so many would be in my grasp…

I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly, pushing the uncomfortable thought away, even as the image of strangling her myself lingered in my mind’s eye. 

The skydweller nearest to me narrowed his eyes but did nothing.

“You lost your right to use me when you cast me out of the family. I have no interest in making up anything to you.” I let my words hang in the air for a moment before shooting her a smug smirk. “If anything, you should be groveling before me to make up for all of the pain you’ve put me through.”

“You…” Quinn’s face twisted with rage. “Kill her!”

None of the skydwellers moved. Finally, the one closest to me turned to look at Quinn and simply said, “No.”

“You dare defy me?” Quinn snarled.

“Our contract states we cannot kill anyone with Nightingale blood flowing through their veins.” The skydweller crossed his arms, his gaze frigid. “Do you truly intend to kill your own flesh and blood over such remarks? Remarks that, if I recall, are entirely truthful.”

Quinn fumed in silence, her eyes ticking back and forth. The skydwellers looked unconcerned about what might happen. Confident, even. Mayar leaned up against my legs, his body tense. It took most of my willpower to refrain from glancing down.

“You will be useful to the family,” Quinn stated, turning on her heel. Without another word, she stormed off.

I shifted to thank the strange skydweller, but they all vanished before I could even open my mouth.

“You should inform David of what happened.” Mayar nudged my leg. “I will inform my master when I can. For now, I will remain by your side. I don’t trust that wretch not to return.”

Sighing heavily. I wandered off in search of David. Mayar was right, my grandmother wasn’t one to give up so easily. If she tried something again, I fully expected Mayar to take me to the Underrealm as he was told…and I wasn’t sure if I was okay with that. I doubted the people there would take kindly to the presence of a human, and there was no telling if Tsukiyo would be there to calm his subjects down immediately. A small frown flitted across my lips. ‘His subjects.’ I’d almost forgotten he was a king. That would definitely complicate things even more.

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