Chapter 4

Four

With a sigh,I shoved my hand in my pocket as I headed toward the door. Inside my pocket, my fingers brushed against warm metal, and I froze mid-step. What in the world? I knew I hadn't put anything in my front pocket before I left the apartment.

Frowning, I pulled out the small object, and I could only stare in disbelief.

It was a coin.

And not just any coin. It was the strange one I watched fall out of that fae's bag. The same one I'd handed over to him.

How… how in the hell had it ended up inside my pocket?

My frown deepened as I brushed my thumb across the unique dragon design. I flipped it over and brushed across the bird. What in the world?

Had the fae put it in my pocket, and I somehow hadn't noticed? Could he possibly have moved that close to me without my wolf senses pinging? Even if he'd used glamor, my wolf should've noticed.

Or… had I not actually handed it over to him?

No. I definitely did. I remembered the way his sleek fingers flicked the coin back and forth and made it disappear from sight.

So then… how?

I blew out a breath, thinking. And maybe I was an asshole for thinking it, but I was pretty sure the guy needed the money. Maybe I could track him down and hand it back over to him.

Yeah, that was what I'd do. I'd walk the same path tomorrow and see if I couldn't find the pretty fae.

With a nod to myself at my half-formed plan, I slipped the coin back into my pocket and prepared to enter my new workspace.

For some reason, thoughts of seeing the fae again suddenly made me feel a little less lonely. It was ridiculous, but I couldn't help the way I felt.

I'd find him tomorrow morning, and this time, I'd make sure I got his name.

I pushed into my office and took a deep breath as I got my first real look.

I'd bought the whole building, but my friends and I would be using the top floor for our offices. The rest of the floors would be used for other parts of the business.

The top floor was open and large with offices lined up on either side of the open space. At the end of the right side, there was a large office where I'd set myself up while I was here. Once I moved back to Brinnswick, I'd hand the office space over to the local branch director. But that was months away, so this was my space for now.

At the very end of the space was what had really sold me on this place. Instead of a regular wall like you'd expect, the entire wall was floor-to-ceiling windows. It was incredible. Not only did it have a nice view of downtown, it let so much natural light in that I hoped it would be pleasant for my workers.

I'd already had steel shutters installed that would shut with the push of a button if we had any vampire staff or customers, so at least that was taken care of.

Each office also had a window or two—all with steel shutters—so hopefully the place wouldn't feel so stuffy.

I knew that one of the alcoves was actually a small kitchenette space for the employees to take a break. I was looking forward to enhancing that space and putting in a bunch of comfortable seating and a few tables for eating. I might have to knock down a wall and use one of the offices as part of the space to make it comfortable enough.

But that was fine because I owned the building, so I could knock down walls and do whatever I wanted to it. Well, as long as I could get the permits, which honestly seemed like the most difficult and time-consuming part of every construction job I'd ever been a part of.

But that was a worry for later.

For now, I could simply enjoy being in this space, this home away from home, for a little while before the chaos came tomorrow morning.

Slowly, I walked around, frowning at all the white walls. Maybe I could see if Savelle wanted to paint anything. I was sure they, along with Isa, would want to bring in some live plants and things to liven things up a bit. I'd leave it to them since they enjoyed that part. I'd focus on getting the break area nice and cozy—plus ensuring all the other floors were arranged to meet my needs.

After inspecting each office and getting a look at the city at night through the windows, I yawned and figured it was time to head back.

Maybe I could keep an eye out for the pretty purple-haired fae, but I doubted I'd see him again tonight. He was probably hunkered down for the night.

Hopefully tomorrow would bring me some luck.

When I'd plannedon finding Purple this morning, I hadn't taken into account that I'd have my three friends with me. I loved them, I really did, but I absolutely didn't want them meddling. They'd think I was flirting with the fae or something if they saw me with him.

So when we were about halfway there, I stopped in my tracks and said, "Oh no. I left my notebook in my apartment."

Savelle grimaced. "Can you go without it for today?"

I shook my head. "No. Everything's inside it. Notes, lists, ideas for livening up the place, everything. I need to run home and get it."

Tan said, "I can go with you."

I waved him off even though I was touched by the offer. "It's okay. I don't mind walking by myself. My mind is going a million miles a minute, so it might be good for me."

He eyed me for a moment. "You sure?"

I nodded, and Isa sighed and grabbed Tan, saying, "He's a big boy, Tan. Remi can walk by himself. He already went for a nightly stroll last night."

I winced. "You guys know about that?"

Isa rolled her eyes. "Of course we do. What is it you think we do for a living, Rem? Of course we heard you leave."

"Oh… right."

She snorted and gestured for me to go back. "Go on. Get outta here."

I shot her a grateful smile, then turned on my heel and headed back. I only walked for about five minutes before stopping. I didn't actually need to go back to the apartment. I just needed to walk by myself, and now that they were far enough away, I could turn back around and look for the pretty fae.

Since I was about ninety percent sure he was living on the street, I figured I'd have to search down all the alleys and corridors to make sure I didn't pass him. It was very early in the morning, so he might still be sleeping.

My fingers seemed to have a mind of their own because I couldn't stop playing with the coin in my pocket, rubbing it and spinning it. I could admit to myself that I kept touching it because it was my only connection to the beautiful fae man, and the longer I walked, the more convinced I was that I'd never be able to find him.

I walked around for probably fifteen minutes, not finding anyone before I sighed and took my hand out of my pocket. The very coin I was trying to give back flew from my pocket and started rolling down the sidewalk.

Great. Now I was going to lose it and never be able to give it back.

The little sucker was fast, and I had to dodge someone coming from the opposite direction. I grunted in annoyance when the coin curved to the side and headed for an alley. I rushed forward, turned down the alley, and finally swiped it from the ground.

"Little sucker," I murmured as I stood and started putting it back in my pocket.

As I straightened, my gaze ran around the alleyway, and I jerked to a stop when I saw a few tents set up. Gingerly, I moved closer, excitement building in my chest as I realized that if my suspicions about Purple were right, he could be here in this area.

I didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable, so I tried to keep my head down as I walked through, using my peripheral vision to search for him. The conditions these people were in made my heart hurt. It was freezing out already, and we weren't even in the thick of winter here yet, and these poor people had barely enough sleeping bags and blankets to keep warm on an Autumn day, let alone in the dead of winter. I had no idea how they were even surviving out here.

To my surprise, nearly every single one of them were fae.

That seemed so… odd and out of character for the fae. Most of the fae I knew were elaborate in everything they did, including the homes they lived in and the work they did. I never would've suspected that so many fae would be in this situation. My fae family members would be beside themselves.

When I reached the end of the alley, a small gasp fell from my lips.

There, curled up and lightly shivering, was a man with purple hair.

I stepped closer.

It was him. It was Purple.

He was lying on a bedroll with a thin blanket covering him, hugging his backpack to his chest. He was sleeping, and he looked so serene and peaceful, even as shivers wracked his body every now and then.

A strand of his purple hair was across his forehead, and I wanted so badly to reach out and tuck it back behind his ear. But I refrained because I didn't even know the poor fae's name, and the last thing I wanted to do was scare him or come off as creepy.

Standing here, staring at him was probably creepy enough.

I cleared my throat, but that didn't make him budge, so I stood there for at least a full minute, just staring and trying to figure out what the hell to do. I wanted to talk to him, but I also didn't want to wake him if he was able to get some sleep.

I frowned at the thin blanket he used.

How was he even sleeping with that?

After I finished up at the office today, I was heading straight for the store and buying as many blankets as I could. I wasn't sure if any of the fae here would take them, but I'd offer and keep my fingers crossed. It was the least I could do.

After another minute passed, I sighed in resignation. I wasn't going to get to talk to him today. Which sucked, but now that I knew where he stayed, I could come back.

But… I still wanted to give him the coin back in case he needed it today.

So as quietly as I could, I stepped closer and leaned down to place the coin right by his face.

Before I could drop it, a hand whipped out and grabbed my wrist as the fae growled out, "Grab my bag, and you won't like what happens next."

I cleared my throat. "I wasn't going to grab your bag. I'm trying to give you back this coin."

His eyes opened, blinked, and widened before he released my hand, sat up, backed away from me, and lifted his arm in front of his head. "I'm so sorry. I thought you were a fellow…"

He trailed off, and I took in his position. His arm was still over his head, but I could tell he was building up magic around himself, likely a shield or something along those lines. Oh my Mother of All, he thought I was going to retaliate or something. He was expecting violence.

Did he really run into so many assholes that he thought I'd yell at him or hurt him just for defending his property?

"Nothing to be sorry for, may'ezza." The endearment fell naturally from my lips, and I sent him a smile. "I found this coin in my pocket last night, so I thought I'd search for you so I can return it."

He eyed me and the coin suspiciously. "Where are you gettin' these coins? I don't recognize the pattern. And you don't have to keep pretending that the coins are mine. I'm not too proud to take money from a stranger, hun."

I blinked at that. "Um… did you not slip this into my pocket last night?"

His brow furrowed. "No. I took the coin you gave me, but when I checked my pockets last night, it was gone." His head tilted to the side, making his hair fall in front of his face.

I so wanted to brush his hair back. My fingers twitched with the need.

He swiped his hair behind his ear, staring.

I cleared my throat. "You couldn't find the coin last night?"

"Nope. It disappeared. And then you found one last night?"

"Yeah."

We stared at each other, and after a few beats, he asked, "You know where it came from?"

"No. I… I mean, I've never seen anything like it before, so I figured it was local currency or?—"

"It's not."

Oh. Well, that was really odd. "This isn't mine. It came out of your bag."

He shook his head. "It's not mine either."

We both eyed the coin with suspicion this time. If what he said was true, then this coin had some magical properties.

"Are you tellin' me you think that's the same coin?" he asked.

I met his gaze. "If it is, then it must have magical properties. You can probably sell it for a good amount."

He eyed it again for a moment before sighing and holding his hand out. I dropped it into his palm, and he said, "Thank you." When I didn't walk away, he lifted that brow. "Do you need somethin' else, doll?"

"Yes, actually. Your name."

He jerked his head back like he hadn't been expecting that at all. "No mark asks my name."

My brows rose. "I'm not your mark, little fae. I'm just a guy who sees another interesting guy in front of him, wondering what his name is."

He didn't answer for so long I was afraid he wouldn't. But finally, he said, "Belryn."

I smiled. "Nice to meet you, Belryn. I'm Remi." I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet.

Belryn jumped to his feet and shoved my wallet down, looking around us with concern. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Flash your wallet around like that. Do you know who's around you?"

"Um… fae?" I shrugged. "So…?"

"So? So, he says." He rubbed his brow. "Well, Remi, there are about ten people in this alley who wouldn't think twice about trickin' you into handin' that wallet over."

"Are you one of those ten people?"

He grinned, sharp and vicious. "I very well may be."

I stared into his purple eyes that were so keen and filled with speculation, yet I could see a kindness underneath all that tough exterior. Once he captured me in his gaze, there was nothing I could do but stare. There was just so much emotion in them, so much hurt, so much loneliness. It felt like the lonely part of my soul was reaching out to his through this small connection.

And he didn't look away either.

After what felt like an eternity but was probably only a minute, something in his gaze started to soften. Like he suddenly decided to let me in just a tiny little bit. If I hadn't been staring so intently into his eyes, I didn't think I'd notice.

But then something like fear flashed across his gaze, and I sucked in a breath because it was almost like I could feel the echo of it in my own chest.

I whispered, "Hey, may'ezza. I'm not going to hurt you, I promise." I hadn't meant to say it, but I didn't want him to be afraid of me, and it came out before my brain could figure out what my mouth was doing.

Belryn sucked in a huge breath, then blew it out in a big huff that I could feel across the skin of my neck and chin. When had we gotten so close?

He said, "Never make promises to the fae, Remi. Never."

He sounded so intense—and… concerned?—that I took a moment to ponder his words. "I don't usually make promises to anyone, let alone a stranger on the street, but in this case, I was making a promise to you, not to some random fae."

"You don't know me."

"No, but I'd like to."

He looked like he was holding his breath, but then he shook his head and pushed away from me, stepping back and making me want to reach out to pull him close again, to pull him against my chest. But I didn't, despite how badly my gut was telling me to. Even my wolf side felt like it wanted to reach out, pull him close, and lick him so he smelled like me.

Belryn held my wallet in his hands with a sardonic grin that didn't meet his eyes. "See? Told you anyone could take it." He threw it back to me without taking anything out.

I caught it easily, opened it, and pulled out one of my business cards. I closed my wallet, then paused and opened it again, pulling out all of the money I had on me. It wasn't a lot, but it should be enough for a decent meal or two.

I held it out to him, and Bel shook his head and took another step back.

"Here." I waved it at him. When he shook his head again, I sighed. "This is my business card, but I gave you one with my personal cell on it. Please call me if you need anything at all, okay? If you need a place to sleep, if you need food, if you're hurt, or… if you just want to talk, or you know, see me." I flashed him a grin.

He was shocked, that much was clear, and he didn't reach out to take the card or cash.

With a sigh, I bent down and tucked everything into an outer pocket of his backpack. I stood, held his gaze, and said, "I hope to see you again soon, Belryn. Bye, may'ezza."

He didn't move a muscle, just kept staring at me like I was some strange animal he'd never seen before.

I offered one last smile and a salute before I turned on my heel and headed back the way I came. Walking away from him caused a physical reaction I wasn't expecting, and I rubbed my hand over my chest with a grimace.

Fuck, my chest hurt.

What the hell was that? Why did I feel like this?