Hi, Nice to Meet You

DEON

Ihooked up with the florist, who was apparently intrigued as to why I kept buying her flowers. When hearing about my 'Fayra/Glow' ordeal, she bloomed at once, branches for hair bursting out lilies, almost poking my eye.

What a drayd... Not only did she possess good ability in bed—her roots, heck, I can still feel them inside me—but she also had a good branch of a shoulder to lean on, listening to my heart's woes as it bled out the name Fayra. And after having a very plant-centric dinner, we woke up the following day, her recommending I buy everything. So I did.

I cleaned out her entire shop, leaving my bank account in tears. Everything went: flowers, chocolate, even a giant teddy bear holding a heart-shaped helium balloon...

It was never enough. No calls, no texts, nothing. Just sit back and watch me twist in agony, Fayra... Yeah, just relax.

Anyway, the whole thing makes sense now. This bad weed waited a week before definitive closure, that is, before I bought her very last bouquet, minutes ago, no less. She could've been a real trooper and given it for free, but no, she saw me coming and took me for a patsy till the very end...

And now?

Well, I'm dragging mykicksacross Fifth and Fourth Avenue, squinting from headlights flashing into a headache, looking for this narrow street corner building called Helbenixon. The witch district... ritzy, I'd say. Well, that was before the city began killing itself.

I halt.

There's a weighing presence behind us. Maybe it's confirmed, as Cerberios growls as he looks back. I drag my head toward the aim of his concerns but see nothing but dumpsters on fire, crepitating against tin. "Come on, boys. It's just hell leeching out on the streets," I tell him, tugging on the leash. Yep. Sirens, manholes on fire, screams from time to time, and a beautiful foggy, smoke-filled sky. It's been like this for weeks, though this time, it's pretty dystopian.

A wringing pain still lingers around and above my throat. My hand circles it uneasily, the last altercation with Tyke still playing in my tumefied brain.

It might have been two weeks ago, but it doesn't change the fact that he didn't go easy on me. My neck hurts, and it doesn't matter how much ice I've put on it; it's strained like a kink.

I nearly lost my head to this orc. Even now, I can still feel the splitting pain of my horns when Tyke fractured them.

I blow very hard, and I'm sure it came out like a moan because Cerberios growls back at me. This dog... dogs won't take any shortcomings, not even a breath of it!

Cerberios is shifting gears for a trotting gait, the leash finally loosening for the first time. Tykefailed to mentionthe pull and haul! "All good, Cerberios."

All good...

I should've known better. Tyke's peace offering was typical of an orc.

My attempt to make things enjoyable for us—well, for me—was the poorest in all monsterkind. In the heat of survival, I did what was best for a life extension. As a reminder: a bottle of purevodkaria andsix shot glasses, lying in wait on my freshly purchased table. It might have been four in the afternoon, but hell, I had to make it work.

What was I thinking?! That some brotimelike in the old dayscould suppress his desire to strike me dead?

Let's just say it went according to Tyke's plan, not mine.

And now, I need to purchase a whole new living room set.

I kick a can off the sidewalk and release a peal of groans, my bruised shin sending painful waves up my hip. Eleventh time me coming here... just walking the pup around Fay's block, just slaving about her building like a night security guard, ensuring her flat's lights are on and that her winged silhouette glides between two windows... The maximum distance I closed between us was in the lobby, fingers hardly glazing at a bank of letter boxes. Never got the guts to ring the doorbell until now, but I'm crippled with insomnia, and I need that closure, people.

There's some growling at my feet, and my eyes slant down to this beast I've become another slave to.

Heavy pawing on the asphalt, Cerberios growls like he's about to snap at me. The dog is the perfect reflection of his owner. Anyone who exhibits weakness is as good as dog food... "Getting big, buddy, aren't ya?" I say, my angsty words stuttering like a little girl. I'm talking to this dog as if it could understand me, or maybe I don't want him to chew on my leg. He, or rather, they ignore me, suddenly preferring some stink hovering over the tarmac. I don't know much about this beast. Does it think as one? Or as three? It's confusing my brain cells.

My eyes slant to one side as I talk to my not-so-lonely self. "Ain't got time for this shit." Five trolls have been following me for the past five minutes. I'm wondering if it's plain paranoia, but as I take a left corner, I briefly halt, pretending to look at my phone, and I notice them slowing down, confirming what I feared. Well, feared... everything is relative, right?

So far, I've kept it quiet. Played along with a dog that can't stand me.

The thing is, now I'm encircled... And aside from these giant, gray round-shaped breathing rocks wrapped in leather jackets and black hoodies, there's no pin for these bowlers to roll into... aside from me.

Lifting my sleeves for a rune or two to show, they flare up at once, and I snark at them, "Need some light?"

"No, man... It's all good. No messing around. Couldn't really see... Your kind usually comes with horns..."

The damage Tyke did to my dignity is beyond repair!

"Glad I scored a 'you get to live peacefully because you're a gargoyle' card." I push my hands into my sweatpants pockets. "Ya, know... I'm running late for a surprise visit. If we ever cross paths again, I might teach you that civility your mama failed to."

Oops... triggered a grunt or five.

"Easy girls... I've got fire in my veins!"

"What if you hadn't," one says, the rest of his well-mannered friends turning back before he does, too.

I watch the distance grow between us and can't help but think as I scratch my chin what would've become of me if I had been a magicless fae...

I sigh and lift my head at the metallic street sign plastered on a building's corner.

17th Helbenixon Street. I sling a hand beneath my hoodie and scratch my neck, a rash of nervousness rushing down my back.

Ring the doorbell. Say hi. Leave.

A familiar scent invades my nostrils as we walk down the corridor and the question is, why is it here?

Vampire...

Is Tyke aware of this scent overstaying at Fay's doorstep?

I stop in my tracks and rotate to the smell. My chin lifts, and the whiff I take is one of excitement. My wings unfold in one lash, their span lining both sides of the passage, the shrug that comes with them a thrill of purpose. This scent is triggering a holy feeling within me. I may be a creature of light, but anything dark sets off my inner fire. I get warmed up just by the fragrance of dead blood.

And who doesn't like a good fight, right?

Right...

I chew a corner of my lip.

Sure, there's nothing better than going head-to-head with darkened creatures, but a fairy in the middle is like scorching smoke blown in the face. It sabotages my instincts. The last thing I want is for this precious flying thing to get hurt...

Before losing face with my blood test results and being heavily roasted by our boss, Tyke and I were on a lead—Los Demones crime organization, mobs that call themselves Blood Wringers. As of then, vampires have been at the top of our suspect list. Not gonna lie; we've been making a census of every New Orc vampire, thisclutterfuck too important for an overlook...

Never in my waking life have I witnessed such crime scenes. One is enough to put you off Bolognese for the rest of your life.

I shut my eyes. The last murder spot was verymuchlurid in details. The victim, defying description—shattered bones tearing through the skin, abused inside and out, bite marks on every inch of every limb.

And then there were her wings...

Destroyed, ground, and frizzled, as if they had gone through a paper shredder. Just the thought of it makes my stomach twinge, especially when I'm about to confront one. The brutal murders of fairies may be one thing, but having your partner head over heels for one is a different ball game altogether...Let's just saythat neither Tyke nor I want Fayra entangled in this.

I've reached her door.Deep breath, man.

I hope her roommate isn't here. Not that I don't like her—I actually never met the wolf—but I've heard a lot about her. Enough to know she must not hold me close to her heart right now...

Suck it up, Deon, light that charming smile, and be courteous.I remove my hoodie, flaunt the disgrace that is my horns like the half-gargoyle I've become, and bring my hand to the doorbell.

Ding dong!

Cerberios bounces at the sound of the bell, his hind legs springing crazy, thick paws scraping at the door. Claws at handle level, this smarty pants is trying to yank it down. "Down, idiot." He's wagging like never before. Guess he knows the girl—of course, he does. I smirk as I watch this beast beg for a door to open.

Fay gets everyone wagging...

The door flies wide, and my face drops.

The most gorgeous brunette steps forward, a cascade of wavy threads falling to her hips. I've got a thing for long hair. But observing those damn strands is called sinning if you want a share of my mind.

"Hello," she says.

I think I'm saying, "Hi..." but I really can't be sure.

"And you are?"

I drool at the authority shrouding her smoky voice. It's not the hoarse one born from soot and fire; no, it's smoother than that, like hot chocolate steam, wisps of it twirling wonderfully in my ear. She's a true Elatina wolf babe, the type hotter than the region from which she takes her collar. Gods, I love the south...

"I'm Deon." Those sexy generous hips, her breast just as much, ay... she's making me hard, my cock thinking up a storm... I glaze over her petrified face and?—

Petrified?

Why is this corridor so suffocating all a sudden?

I gulp, stiffening as thisbonita'sthroat bulges. She's got those honey-rich, very... very widened eyes, it's?—

Mate!

Bang!

The door slams and I blink... and blink... and blink.

Fuck, I'm blinking.