Neela

Neela

The magical barrier stretched across the ocean, shimmering in the thickening gloom.

The little fishing boat I’d stowed away on continued to motor straight for the barrier, closing the distance between me and the fae realm.

I should be ecstatic. Delighted. My lifelong goal was to be the first dirtbag street orphan from Hebes to conquer the fae lands.

So why did dread coil through my belly, constricting my lungs and squeezing my breath?

The bracelet tattoo on my wrist hummed contentedly, making this whole shitshow creepier.

With every passing second, my horror grew until I was filled with certainty—this was a terrible mistake. No human could pass through the fae barrier and survive. That truth rang through my bones.

I gripped the cargo netting that smelled of fish and pulled myself to standing, shouting at the captain to stop, yelling at the top of my lungs, but my voice was nothing compared to the roaring motor.

“Calm down, bitch,” I told myself. This was probably a defense mechanism constructed by the magicals to prevent humans from entering the realm. They must have spelled the barrier to make people fear for their lives.

It was working. I couldn’t cross that boundary. I darted to the side of the boat and gripped the edge, intent on diving into the water and swimming back to the Docklands, but agony seared through my wrist, and I fell to the deck, clutching my hand to my chest.

The world turned white, and all the oxygen was sucked from my lungs. We were inside the barrier, and I was about to die.

Then we were through. It took several long moments and several deep breaths before my adrenaline subsided, and I realized I was okay. I had passed what ever fucked-up fae test that was and been admitted to their world.

I stood up and looked around, drinking everything in. The night was a clear, penetrating blue the twinkled with more stars and swirling galaxies than I’d ever seen. Even the ocean was a richer, absorbing blue-black.

The land we approached was wild and beautiful. The little fishing boat pulled up at the base of a cliff that soared to untold heights. I slipped over the boat’s edge, slid soundlessly into the water, and swam along the coast before approaching the shore.

This was as far from the grimy Docklands as possible. One long elegant pier curved into the ocean, and flowering bushes with large golden and purple blooms lined the cliff’s base, with no single man-made building in sight. Perhaps fae homes were invisible to the human eye? That would make living here tricky.

I stepped closer to smell one of the big golden blooms. It appeared to be made of fine metal, though it swayed in a gentle breeze. I touched the flower, and a powerful updraft swept my body upward like a leaf, rushing up the cliff like I was in a freaking invisible elevator.

If this was fae magic, I was here for it.

I laughed, squealed, and had zero poise when I stepped foot on the clifftop, hundreds of feet above the water. Beside me, tree roots intertwined and formed a small nook with a living desk that sprouted tiny white blossoms.

A tall fae wearing a fluttering jade gown that exactly matched her hair and eyes smiled. “Welcome to the Realm of Indulgence, citizen of Hebes.” She looked at my rounded ears, and I glanced at hers, realizing they were slightly pointed. “We do not see many of your kind here.”

So she could tell I was human from my rounded ears. Probably also from my lack of elegance and intense beauty. If this stunning creature was anything to go by, I would be the pig in the peacock pen.

“You’re wet,” she smiled. “You may wear this.” She handed me a pile of gold fabric that turned out to be a stunning dress.

“I don’t need your help.” I’d made my own way in life and didn’t need anything from anybody.

She faltered as though nobody had ever refused a gown before, then placed the dress on the woven root desk.

I opened my mouth to tell her to piss off, that my own pants were just fine, thank you very much. But I was here to make a life for myself. The damn tattoo had gotten me here, but it was up to me to stay, and the best start would be blending in as much as possible.

You didn’t steal from the Capitol wearing sweatpants, after all—you put on your finest gown.

“Actually, I’ll take it.” I snatched up the dress. “Where can I change?”

The fae studied me and tilted her head, trying to work me out. I figured that folks wouldn’t be too bothered by nudity in someplace called the Realm of Indulgence, so I just turned my back and slipped out of my sodden rags and into the dress.

It hit above my knees and was cut in a superlow V, and I imagined that with my spiky blond hair, I looked a little bit like Marilyn Monroe, minus the curves.

Not my usual get-up, but I didn’t hate it.

I wandered into the streets and saw an outrageous number of buildings constructed from marble and gold. You could peel some paint off a house and buy a damn car with it…although I supposed gold might not work as a currency here. I sighed. I had a lot to learn.

My tattoo was happy for now, but it seemed to be herding me uphill away from the coast.

“You’ve had your fun, evil tatt,” I hissed at my wrist and took a deliberate turning away from where it wanted me to go.

I entered a tavern called the Slippery Silkworm, with a picture of a drunken worm trailing a wobbly line of thread. It was too high-end for its name. Globes of lights hovered above head height, and the cream and bronze decor reminded me of the Avalon Club up on Capitol Hill.

I almost spun on my heel and walked out, knowing I didn’t belong, but my Marilyn Monroe dress swished around my thighs, so I stood tall and walked right up to the bar.

“Give me a shot of the strongest thing you’ve got,” I told a tall female with vibrant orange hair and intense orange eyes that made me jump.

Did every fae’s eyes match their hair? Maybe I could dye my locks blue to fit in.

The fae poured something pink and frothy into a shot glass and slid it across the marble counter.

I arched an eyebrow at her. “I asked for something strong. This looks like something an eight-year-old would drink at a Disney Princess party.”

The fae nodded slightly as though every movement was perfectly planned and walked away, not bothering to reply.

I scanned the room, looking for a discreet exit because I sure as hell didn’t have anything to pay with, and I had to get out of here before my tattoo seared my hand off. A couple of doorways off the back probably led to bathrooms, but if they didn’t have windows, my only escape was out the door I entered through.

I knocked back the drink, and the pain in my arm instantly lessened.

A smile landed on my face. “Three more of these,” I yelled at the bartender, holding up three fingers and hooking a thumb over my shoulder to show her where to bring them.

A broad brown armchair in the corner of the room had my name written all over it. It was half in shadow and a great spot to survey the crowd, looking for a mark. I had to figure out a way to get money quick smart if I wanted to survive, and observing a bunch of rich drunk assholes in their natural habitat was a perfect start.

After I knocked back a second pink concoction, my head started to swim. My wrist was almost numb, and I grinned to myself. I’d already figured out how to outsmart this tattoo, now I just had to spend the rest of my life drunk, and I’d be sweet. “Fine by me,” I giggled to myself. Man, this was strong stuff.

A pair of muscular legs appeared in my field of view as I studied the floor. They seemed intent on staying right where they were, so I trailed my gaze upward. The legs were highly muscled, wearing a light gray suit of the finest quality, so thin the fabric hugged the muscles’ contours. My gaze hovered at his crotch, and I couldn’t help but notice that fine material also outlined the nice bulge in his pants.

His hands were in his pockets, sweeping his jacket back and showing off his chest, which was just as delicious as his legs. A fine white shirt pulled across his pecs and showed an ocean of muscle, almost like he wanted me to notice his impressive package and pert nipples.

The scowl on his face wasn’t quite as inviting, and his black hair and raven eyes were flat-out intimidating. “You’re in my seat,” he growled.

I made a show of patting the soft leather cushion under my butt, then I squeezed my own ass. “Oh, is this yours?”

I quirked a smile, but his scowl didn’t disappear, so I stood up and stepped aside, gratified when he sat on the still-warm cushion. I knocked back a third pink frothy concoction, then sat my ass onto his lap and slung an arm around his neck. “Now I’m in your seat,” I smiled wickedly.

A deep rumble of laughter shook his body, and his grin transformed his face. He was by far the most handsome man I’d ever laid eyes on. He outstripped my imagination, my sexiest dreams, and when his body shook beneath me, I wiggled in delight.

I placed my leg strategically and felt him harden beneath me. I batted my eyelashes and lifted one shoulder. “Do you mind sharing?”

He grinned like a man emerging from a mountain of sadness into daylight for the first time in years.

His mood was contagious. An answering joy welled within me and intensified when he leaned forward and enveloped me in a strawberry scent.

His breath warmed my lips as he murmured, “I’m going to kiss you now.”

I leaned in and nipped his lower lip. “I fucking hope so.”