Chapter 5

Five

Holy shit,what in the hell just happened?

Who in the fuck was that guy?

I watched Remi's back retreat down the alley, and an ache in my chest developed. I grunted, rubbed the spot with my hand, and tried to get one last look at the man.

When he reached the end of the alley, he turned back around and caught me looking. I almost winced, but then the pretty man smiled, and I was helpless but to smile back.

He was just so… pretty.

But not just on the outside. While he'd been standing there, I'd gotten a glimpse of his aura, and I honestly wasn't sure I'd ever seen an aura so… pure before.

He was all sweet and kind and a little bit on the innocent side, and normally I wouldn't be drawn to that. Normally I went for the men with some muck in their auras, but Remi was so, so, so good that I couldn't help but respond to him. Like a moth to a flame.

And I had absolutely no idea what a man like that was doing even talking to the likes of me. Let alone giving me money and his phone number. What in the world had that been about?

And the man had come specifically for me, otherwise he wouldn't have seen through my glamor. So… what the hell was this guy doing?

I was a poor, homeless fae. No one, let alone someone like that, ever gave me the time of day.

I realized I was just standing there and that, thanks to Remi talking to me, my glamor was down and people could see me.

And the bag that had cash hanging out of it.

Quickly, I sat on my bedroll, grabbed the cash, and used my fae glamor to hide the money in the space surrounding me. I didn't usually put my pack in, but with so many people lookin' at me, I figured it might be a good idea to put it in there for the time being too.

I quickly rolled up my bedroll, folded my blanket, and added those as well. I'd worry about putting them in my backpack later. Right now, I needed to get out of here before I was cornered.

Not liking how it felt with nothin' in my hands or on my back, I pulled my guitar out of the air pocket, strapped it on my back, and headed out of the alley as quickly as I could. I needed to find a secluded spot where I could put a glamor up and organize my things.

And maybe look at that card Remi had given me.

Fifteen minutes later,I was still starin' at the card. I couldn't help myself.

Remi really had given me his private cell number. At least, that was what I assumed the handwritten phone number was on the back of the card.

Why in the hell had he done that?

I rubbed at my chest, the ache from earlier returning.

"Mother, I hope I'm not getting sick," I muttered to myself.

Usually an ache like this came with a cough, and I wasn't coughing—yet—so I was hoping it was just some weird… thing. I hadn't fallen and bruised myself or anything—at least, not that I remembered. And I hadn't been beaten up recently. So I had no idea what it was from.

For now, all I could do was ignore it and go on with my day.

So I packed my stuff back up and headed to Anton's bookstore. He had a full bathroom in the back because the building used to be a house—more like a mansion—so I sometimes used the shower. I had a few other places around the city I went to get clean, but this was by far my favorite and the most private. I tried to switch it up so no one felt like I was taking advantage of them.

Anton wasn't here, obviously, since the sun was up, but all of his employees knew me, allowed me to use the bathroom, and let me hang out in there anytime I wanted. It was definitely a great benefit in the middle of winter, which was coming up faster than I wanted. I'd likely be spending a lot of time in here over the next few months.

After showering, washing my dirty clothes in the sink, and conjuring enough magic to help them dry, I headed back out and straight to the bakery and coffee shop next door. I never spent my money in here, but Remi had given me more than I thought I'd ever have on my person, so I decided to splurge for a muffin. I'd use the rest over the next few days on groceries and other cheap food. But just this once, I'd like to try a muffin. I hadn't had one since I was a kid.

"Good mornin', hun. Can I have your biggest blueberry muffin, please?" I asked the human behind the counter, offering the sweetest smile I could muster up.

She eyed me, taking note of my pointy ears, and she sneered. For a moment, I thought she was going to deny me service—which she was allowed to do because I was fae—but then she sighed, pulled a muffin out, and told me the price. It was over a buck more than what it said on the board behind her, but I really wanted that fuckin' muffin. So I handed over the cash, grabbed my muffin, and snagged a chair at an empty table.

Then I sat there, ignoring all the looks of disdain for my mere existence, and enjoyed the hell out of the sweet, sugary goodness. But the people in here were assholes, so I didn't linger.

I went to my usual spot on the corner of Blizzard Street and Ice Desert Boulevard—I know, the names were ridiculous, but it was the busiest street corner in the city and the place to busk. It took me years to get this prime location, but I fought the other buskers until I was on top and able to claim my territory.

Luckily, busking was allowed in this city. I knew over in the Cantamad Territory, they weren't even allowed to busk, so people living on the streets had a hell of a time. We usually ended up getting a few people who traveled here for that reason. At least here, there was a chance to put food in your belly.

I pulled out my guitar, put on the strap, closed my eyes, and let the music claim me. I loved to play and sing. I always had, and my magic seemed to help snag people's attention.

There wasn't really a haze around me, but I could feel my music emanating out of my body and surrounding the entire area. Every time someone—especially a human—walked into my magic, a smile spread over their face, and they turned to watch me for a few moments. Which definitely helped my open guitar case get filled throughout the day.

I knew I had a good voice, I knew I played well, and I knew I was good-looking. Those three things were the only reason I was able to make enough money to eat—usually at least once a day—but typically, I ate two meals every day, which was a lot more than many of the other fae who lived on the streets.

Things weren't perfect, but at least I had my music to rely on.

At the endof the day, I found myself playing with the card Remi had given me again. I hadn't even realized I'd put it in my pants pocket until I'd found it there when I'd stuck my hand in it to warm it up on a guitar break. When had I even done that?

My chest still felt heavy, but I'd grown used to the pain throughout the day.

Since the sun was starting to go down, I figured it was time to wrap up and head over to the pawn shop to finally get rid of that gold coin.

I got a late start this morning, thanks to my muffin break, so I hadn't wanted to waste any more good buskin' time earlier, and the pawn shop was open late, so it was no big deal.

I collected my money from my guitar case, tucked it safely into one of my air pockets for the moment, put my guitar away, and slipped on my gloves. My fingers were so cold they ached from playin' in the cold weather for so long. But I could warm them up in the pawn shop.

Once I was ready, I strapped on my pack and my guitar and headed to the pawn shop. As I walked, I reached into the air pocket where I'd put the gold coin and froze.

It didn't come back to me.

I tried again.

Nothing.

I reached with my magic, trying to be more forceful, and… nothing happened.

What the hell?

This had never happened to me before. Ever.

I focused on the warmth of my magic that I could feel inside of myself and aimed it at the air pocket. My hand slipped into that space, looking like it disappeared from view, and… nothing.

No coin.

I tried again and again and again.

Nothing.

What. The. Fuck.

I tried for the other items I had in the air pockets, and they all came to me with the same ease things always did.

Okay. Then it was just the damn coin.

I tried again, nothin'.

Blowing out a breath, I found a corner to stand, threw up a glamor, and started rifling through my backpack.

Nothing.

The damn coin was missing.

Again.

"What the fuck?" I muttered to myself.

Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back against the brick building for a moment. What in the world was this magic? Had Remi… done something to it? To me? Was he pulling some elaborate prank?

I glanced around, examining every single person still out on the street and didn't see him anywhere.

But he had to be doing somethin' to me, right?

I grimaced. Remi smelled like a shifter, and they didn't have magic in that sense. At least not that I knew of.

Well, whatever. It wasn't like I was ever going to see the shifter again.

That pain in my chest from earlier came back suddenly and with a vengeance, and I groaned as I rubbed at the spot.

What in the world was going on with me?

I scrubbed my eyes with one hand, continuing to rub the spot, and grunted.

Had the coin caused this weird pain? Or was I getting sick? I couldn't afford to get sick. Not out in the cold like this.

After a few seconds, I figured nothing I did was going to ease it up, so I forced myself to my feet, ignoring the ache. I strapped everything back on, swiped away my glamor, and headed for my spot in the alley since I obviously couldn't go to the pawn shop empty-handed.

Before I made it to my alley, a man stepped in front of my path. I jerked to a stop and turned a glare to him. My glare intensified when I realized who it was. "What do you want?"

"Boss wants to see ya."

My nostrils flared, but since I really didn't have a choice, all I did was nod.

The big man—a gargoyle named Terrell—turned on his heel and started walking at a quick pace with me trudging right behind him. He led me to a shitty side of town that no one liked to travel to because everyone knew the local gang hung out there. I wasn't technically a part of the gang, but I unfortunately had… associations with them. Or at least with the boss.

It couldn't be helped in the beginning. I hadn't had any other choice. And now I really had no other choice. Once you go to them for help, they own your soul for life. I'd known this going in, but I'd done it anyway.

The guy led me into a building, onto the elevator, up to the second floor, and straight into the boss's office. I'd been here more times than I cared to remember.

"Belryn Bixidor," the boss, Purtham Luynore, said. "Always a pleasure to see you."

I didn't say anything because the only thing I wanted to say was It's never a pleasure to see your ugly mug, and I knew that'd get me in trouble. So all I did was give a nod of greeting.

As if understanding why I wasn't speaking aloud, he laughed. "I know, I know. You hate coming here, but I have a job for you. And before you complain, just know that I'm willing to pay you." He leaned in with a smirk and fake-whispered, "Even though I don't have to."

My nostrils flared, but I managed to ask, "What job?"

He straightened and smiled. "Glad you asked. It's the perfect job for a guy like you."

By that, he meant a guy who was good at sleight of hand and glamor. A guy who could get in and out of places without being detected. A guy who was so desperate for Purtham Luynore to keep his end of the deal that he'd do anything asked of him.

I hated that guy.

I hated who I became for this horrible sleazeball. But I didn't have any choice.

"What job, Luynore?"

"Now, is that any way to speak to me?" When I kept my mouth shut, he grunted. "I need you to break into the vault at the Emblem Credit Union and bring me a precious item."

I blanched. "A bank? Luynore, have you lost your marbles? I can't break into a fuckin' bank."

"The item is in safe deposit box number three-seventeen. You sneak in, grab the item out of the safe deposit box, take nothing else, put the box back, and sneak out. No one will even need to know you were there."

"Seriously, Luynore. I can't break into a bank. Do you even understand how much security there is in those places? How the hell do you expect me to?—"

My words were cut off when a pain in my gut hit me quick and sharp, and I fell to my knees. I groaned as the stabbing sensation spread over my whole torso. My chest pain had nothing on this.

Fuckin' hell.

Another wave of pain overtook me, and I cried out and wrapped an arm around my belly, trying and failing to get back up. Being on my knees in front of this guy was a horrible idea.

"You can, and you will. Follow my orders, Belryn Bixidor, or I will make you serve me in other ways." He pulled on the magic that bound me to him, the obligation that ran between us, and the pain intensified. I cried out again, but he ignored me and continued talking. "And remember, if you don't listen, your cousins will pay the price." He pulled again, making the stabbing pain turn into a burning one, and I yelled out.

Purtham Luynore was fae, the same as me, and any favors or promises made by us or to us held a magical component. We called them obligations, probably because whenever one of them was called in, the person usually didn't want to do it, but they had to.

The bigger the favor a person does for someone, the bigger the obligation.

And unfortunately, I owed Luynore a big debt.

That was how Purtham Luynore had become the biggest crime boss in this city. He did favors for anyone and everyone who came to him, and in return, he held an obligation over them. Half the people in this city probably owed him.

It made Luynore a very dangerous man.

I'd been so stupid five years ago when I'd come here, begging him for help. And now, I was at his beck and call for as long as this obligation was in place.

And I didn't think I'd ever be able to pay off my debt to him.

I'd spend the rest of my life doing whatever the hell this horrible man wanted, no matter how bad it was, no matter how much I didn't want to do it.

I had no choice.

Luynore came around his desk and bent over, getting right in my face. "You will do as I say! Do you understand me?" He gripped my hair, yanking my head back and adding another hurt to my body. "Tell me you understand, Belryn. Say the words."

I stared at him, hatred building bigger and bigger every minute I spent in his presence. But there was nothing I could do, so I choked out, "I understand."

I knew he wanted me to add on sir, but since he didn't specifically say it, I was able to hold my tongue. My small act of defiance. Not that it mattered or helped in any way at all.

He sneered in my face before sort of throwing my head back and letting go of my hair. I gasped and crawled backward, out of his reach as I held my stomach.

The obligation magic relented, but the cramps in my belly still throbbed. At least the pain wasn't quite so sharp and the burning was gone.

"Be back here on Friday night at eight," he said without turning around to look at me. That was in three days.

"Will do." I held in the grimace that wanted to come from trying to talk. My whole body ached, just like it always did after he pulled on my obligation.

Luynore pointed at the door. "Get out of my sight."

Terrell helped me to my feet and practically dragged me out of the office, shutting the door behind us. He didn't say anything until we got into the elevator.

"I don't understand why you argue with him every time. You'd save yourself a lot of hurt if you'd just agree the first time. You and I both know you'll have to do whatever he says no matter what you want."

I stared at Terrell for a long moment. He'd never said anything like that to me before, and I'd spent a lot of time around him. "Be careful there, baby. It almost sounds like you care."

He glared at me. "I don't like seeing anyone hurt, even idiots like you."

I swallowed thickly. There was so much emotion in his voice. "You know what it feels like, don't you? He's got an obligation on you." It wasn't a question.

Terrell didn't respond, but the lack of response was confirmation enough. For some reason, I'd always had the impression that he worked for Luynore because he wanted to. He always seemed happy to use his fists when need be.

Or, well, maybe happy wasn't the right word. He always seemed indifferent.

Maybe that was simply his way of dealing with the horrors of having to follow another's command.

When we reached the bottom floor and the doors opened, Terrell helped guide me to the front door.

He helped me all the way to the sidewalk and even seemed reluctant to let me go, so I said, "Thanks for your help, babe."

He blinked at me, surprise showin' on his face for a brief moment, although I didn't know what he was surprised about. "Are you sure you can walk on your own?"

I waved him off. "I've had worse."

He cringed a little—more emotion than he usually showed—but sighed. "I can walk you for another block or two if you need me to."

My eyes widened. Holy shit. Terrell had a heart. "I… I-I…"

He rolled his eyes. "For fuck sake's, relax. I'm not asking you out on a date."

"You're gay?" I blurted out before I could help it.

He snorted and didn't respond. "Do you want my help or not?"

I examined him for a long moment before softly saying, "Fae heal fast. I'll be alright."

He grunted. "Be careful." Then he turned on his heel and walked back inside without looking back.

That had honestly been the longest conversation I'd ever had with the man and certainly the most concern he'd ever shown me.

I felt… weird about it. Like… maybe I now felt a little something about the guy. Like I didn't want him to die or be in the clutches of that monster anymore.

Not that I could do anything about it. I couldn't even save myself, let alone someone else.

My chest still hurt from whatever sick was growin' inside me, and the rest of my body was pulsing, so I took it slow and kept a glamor over myself so no one passin' me on the street could see how much I was grimacing with every step.

It took about fifteen minutes to get to the alley, and when I turned down it, I was surprised by the amount of energy coming from everyone. Normally, it was quiet here, and everyone always seemed run down and exhausted, but for some reason, everyone was chattin' and sounded… happy.

What in the world was going on today?

I scanned the area and frowned when I realized that everyone had… brand-new blankets.

Holy. Shit. New. Blankets?

Clearly someone had donated blankets to the poor or something, and dammit, I missed it. Shit. I really could've used a nice warm blanket tonight. My fingers never got the reprieve they needed from playin' in the cold. And I'd have to do it all over again tomorrow.

Of course I'd missed the fucker that'd brought blankets. Sigh.

"Bel?" a voice called out.

I turned to see Olnor smiling at me, which was… freaky, to be honest. All of us long-timers knew each other's names, even if we mostly stuck to ourselves. We didn't often talk to one another, so her waving me over like she was now was odd. Let alone the smile on her face. She was usually quite unhappy.

"Hey, Olnor, what's up?"

She smiled again and held a bundle out to me. "This is for you."

I glanced down at it in surprise. It was a blanket. Olnor had grabbed a blanket for me? She'd never, not once, helped me out. Not even when I was a thirteen-year-old kid out on the streets for the first time in his life. What the hell?

I was shocked, but I wasn't stupid, so I took the bundle before asking, "Why did you save me one? Where did you guys get these?"

"That man who talked to you this mornin' came back with a ton of them. He asked me to give you that one specifically. I promised I would." She shrugged.

I gaped at her. She promised she'd give it to me? She was fae and had to hold true to promises.

She shrugged. "He asked if I'd promise, and since he gave me an extra blanket as payment, I did."

A promise for an extra blanket. Now that sounded more plausible.

Still, I said, "Thank you, doll. Seriously, thanks." I started to walk away before everything she said hit me. That man who talked to me this morning… Remi? Remi had come back and given everyone blankets. And he'd made sure I'd have one too.

I rubbed my forehead for a moment, then sighed and reached into my pocket for the card. Maybe I should call him to thank him? And to ask him what the hell he thought he was doing. He shouldn't be… interfering.

Just because we lived on the streets didn't mean we wanted or needed his help.

I glanced around at the happy faces and grimaced at myself for my thought. Okay, so obviously, the blankets were appreciated and definitely needed.

Olnor snagged my attention by saying, "They're spelled."

I blinked. "Say what?"

"All the blankets are waterproof and have a heat charm in them. There's a patch sewn on the corner, and all you have to do is press it to turn it on. Press it again to deactivate the spell. He said they should last all winter and hopefully next winter too. And if we wanted, we could get the heat charm replaced once it runs out, although I don't know how he thinks any of us could afford somethin' like that." She shrugged. "Still, at least we won't freeze this winter."

My mouth opened in shock. Holy shit. I glanced at the blanket in my hand. "This must've cost a fortune."

"Oh yeah, they're hella expensive. Good quality too."

I shook my head in amazement. Maybe I should call the man.

I glanced at the card in my hand. Or… I could walk over to his office and thank him in person. Hopefully he was working late tonight? But if he already dropped these off, he'd probably gone home for the night.

But… I could go see him in the morning.

At that thought, the strange ache in my chest that hadn't left me since this morning sort of pulsed and eased up a bit. As if… as if it thought going to see Remi was a good idea.

What the hell?