Broken Spell (Fae-ry Tales 2)

Broken Spell (Fae-ry Tales 2)
Mychael Black
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2021 Mychael Black

Micah Norwood wandered into the adjacent sitting room, half asleep. He paused in the doorway. Kirof still slept in one of the chairs. Micah had tried getting the man to share the bed, but Kirof had resisted. Micah had never been the type to just make the first move, but waiting for Kirof to do it was slowly driving him insane. The desire between them had been strong from the moment they'd first met. It was a weird mix of hot and unnerving.

"Micah?"

He shook his head, belatedly realizing he'd zoned off. He smiled at Kirof. "Lost in thought. Are you regretting the chair yet?"

Kirof stood slowly, wincing as if in pain. Sleeping in a chair sucked. Been there, done that. Micah held the man's gaze as Kirof approached him. Pale hair fell over Kirof's broad shoulders, and ice-blue eyes held Micah more spellbound than anything he'd ever conjured himself.

"Not necessarily the chair," Kirof said.

"Yeah?" Micah stopped short of daring Kirof to take one more step closer. He had to look up, considering the Dark Fae was nearly a foot taller. He'd always hated being short, but something about a taller man made him weak in the knees. Broad, muscled. Kirof defied every Fae stereotype that existed, dark or light.

Kirof braced his hands on either side of the doorframe. Micah forced himself to look at the man's face and not the muscular arms outstretched above him. Kirof leaned down, and Micah held his breath, praying. Just when Micah thought he'd finally get the kiss he'd been wanting since they first met, someone knocked on the door.

Spell broken, Kirof stepped away, shaking his head as if trying to clear it. Micah wanted to launch an ice bolt at whatever jackass had interrupted. Kirof opened the door, revealing one of his brothers, Roen. Roen's human lover, Kyle, followed the Dark Fae into the room. Kirof shut the door behind them.

"Have you seen Aron?" Roen asked, his expression one of concern.

"No," Kirof said. "We just woke up. Well, I did." He glanced at Micah.

Micah shook his head. "I haven't been awake long. Is Aron not in his room?"

Roen sat down, brow furrowed. "No." He glanced up. "All his stuff is gone."

Kirof blinked. "Gone? Where the hell would he go? You know him better than anyone."

"I don't know," Roen said. "This isn't like him, Kirof. He wouldn't just up and leave without saying anything to me. Something isn't right about this."

"No need to get worked up yet," Kirof said. "I'm sure he's fine. Is there anyone else he'd want to visit?"

"Wait. What about that waitress we met?" Kyle asked Roen.

"She and Aron seemed to be rather... friendly."

Roen shook his head. "Tanra would come here. She knows where this place is. Hell, she's sent a few folks here for safety. If she and Aron wanted to get together, this would be the best place to do it."

Kyle grumbled. "I thought twins could mind read each other." Chuckling, Roen put his arm around his lover's shoulders. "Fairy tales."

Something felt off to Micah, though he couldn't figure out what. Aron had seemed perfectly fine, if a bit aloof, when they'd met. What could have changed? Micah went back into the bedroom and sat in the makeshift circle he'd set out on the wooden floor. He tried focusing on Aron, picturing the man in his mind, every detail.

Hazy images began to form, and he relaxed more to allow them through. Someone, another Dark Fae, spoke to Aron, though the stranger's back was turned. Micah tried to focus on Aron's lips in hopes of catching any words that might help. Aron and the stranger started out of whatever room they were in, and Micah caught a glimpse of what looked like an insignia on the stranger's left arm. A tattoo?

Micah sighed as the image faded.

"Any luck?" Kirof asked from the doorway.

"I don't know," Micah said. He looked at Roen, who stood just behind Kirof. "I saw him speaking to someone, another Dark Fae. The stranger had a tattoo on his left arm." He patted his own bicep. "Black, two swords crossed, with a rose in the bottom open space."

Roen's brow furrowed. "That's House Kehru's insignia. Aron was supposed to babysit a delegate visiting House Vakeor, but that was before we left. There's no reason why he'd do so now. He'd be in chains the second he stepped foot into House Vakeor territory."

"What about exiles from House Kehru?" Kyle asked from behind Roen. "Are there any?"

"Not that we know of," Roen said. "But I could be mistaken. Micah, were you able to hear them at all? Or see where they might be?"

"I tried to read Aron's lips, but I assume he spoke your language. None of the words looked even remotely familiar. As for place, a room of stone. Stone walls, ceiling. I couldn't see the floor. The door they walked out of was wooden, though. No windows either."

Roen sighed. "That doesn't bode well. It sounds like he's back underground, but why? What is he doing there?"

Micah met Kirof's gaze. The Dark Fae's expression mirrored what Micah feared might be the case. Micah drew in a deep breath before speaking.

"Roen... how well do you trust your twin?"