Chapter 4 #2
Jogging across the giant room, I locate Santa Alaya’s portal and rush through.
I hate to be late, and I got a rough start after Jace showed up at my place at six a.m. with truck trouble.
Jasper and Jack were already on a job and couldn’t help, so there I was in the middle of Main at the ass crack of dawn, helping him sort out carburetor issues.
Some days, I really regret being the only Tucker besides my father with a penchant for engines.
Now I’m running slightly behind, and I already had a packed schedule today.
When I reach the beachy-themed portal station at the other end of the portal tunnel, I resist the urge to call Hadrian.
He’s in Santa Alaya with the Punishers for the next couple of days for yet another away game.
This season’s schedule is brutal—he was only home for a few nights this time!
I can’t imagine doing what he does, traveling around the whole system so much.
I’d hate that. I like visiting other havens, but the moment I leave Pine Gulch, I find I can’t wait to get back.
Outside the station, Santa Alaya’s tropical sun beats down, warming my skin.
This haven is packed full of bright plants and flowers that burst out of every crack in the building from the street.
It’s a paradise of colors. Not for the first time, I wonder how my brothers and mother would feel in a place like this where their green magic probably feels so strong.
Even my magic is drawn to the old buildings, wondering who takes care of them because, while they’re obviously old, they’re strong too.
Only a black witch could make that happen.
Of course, the shifter queen bounces back and forth between this haven and another, and I’m sure she has monsters with all sorts of magic in her court.
Looking at the map on the back of my daily to-do list, I follow my supplier’s directions through sun-drenched streets all the way down to the oceanfront boardwalk.
Hooking a right, I continue along for another fifteen minutes, preferring to walk through and feel the sun versus taking one of the popular local taxis.
Eventually, a beautiful pink colonial building comes into view. That’s my destination for today, and where I hope I can find some interesting new products to carry at the Bodice, but also a gift, per Lemon’s request.
I spend most of the day at the Fábrica Superior with my supplier, Enrique. He’s an excellent host, stuffing me full of the most amazing food, all while tantalizing me with glitter and sparkle and gorgeous soft leather.
I buy way more than I should; we’ll just call that an investment.
But I find some boots and belts I think the Bodice will love, not to mention Lemon.
When I casually mention her request of a gift for the Keeper’s mansion, Enrique gives me a gothic planter with a cutting of Variegated Hydrangea, something that’s only native to Santa Alaya.
My brothers can grow the cutting fast, and it’ll be stunning in front of the Keeper’s mansion.
By the time I reach my hotel, I’m sweating from every pore, still schlepping my backpack with my shit in it, and all I want is a shower. But it’s not meant to be because there’s a line to check in.
I get to the front and smile at the beautiful dark-skinned pixie female behind the check in desk.
“Hola, senora, how can I help you?”
“Checking in for Bluebell Tucker.”
She nods and smiles, nails clacking on her keyboard as she looks up my reservation. Her brow furrows, and she looks back at me. “Tucker is t-u-c-k-e-r?”
I frown. “Yes, that’s right.”
She clacks more, then calls a manager, and they whisper together for a moment, pointing at the computer screen. After a solid five minutes where I start to feel more than a little snippy, both females look at me apologetically.
The manager speaks first. “Miss Tucker, I’m so sorry, but we don’t seem to have a reservation for you in our system. What’s worse is that we’re fully booked, so we don’t even have a room to offer.”
My mouth drops open. “For real? I’ve got my confirmation code and everything.”
“I know,” the manager says, her tone extra apologetic. “And I’m so sorry because I don’t even know how this is possible, but we don’t have you in here, and we have no available rooms. Let me call around to our sister property up the street and see if we can slot you in there.”
I frown. “How long’s that gonna take?”
“Give me five minutes,” the manager says confidently.
Twenty-five minutes later, there’s no word, and I’m still sitting in the lobby waiting for someone to tell me what’s up. I’m about to go back to the desk for answers when my comm watch rings. Hadrian’s name hovers over the band.
I direct the watch to answer him. “Wassup, Alk?”
“You’re in Santa Alaya on a buying trip, right?” His deep voice reverberates through the watch face.
Something deep in my belly pools hot and hard. Like always, I shove it down. I can’t be lusting after Hadrian, despite how fucking sexy we both grew up to be. Kind of a shame he’s basically my brother. And Jasper’s best friend.
Except he’s not at all your brother, the devil on my shoulder whispers. He’s not even human.
No shit, Sherlock, I mutter to that bitch. Stop talkin’ to me about how hot Hadrian is. He’s Hay-Hay, Alk, Big H. Or one of the million other stupid names my brothers call him.
“Did I lose you?” A soft chuckle.
I clear my throat. “Sorry, no. I’m in my hotel lobby, but they’ve lost my reservation, and what was supposed to be five minutes to clear the problem has been half an hour of me being increasingly pissy and debating if I need to flip tables or what.”
He’s quiet for a second. “I’m gonna message you my hotel address. Just come stay with me. There’s plenty of room. I won’t be home until after the game, but I’ll let the manager know you’re coming.”
I nip at the edge of my finger. “You sure? I’ll crash on the sofa or whatever. This is just…I don’t know if they can find a spot for me.”
“Sending you a message now.” Moments later, an address pops up, hovering above my comm watch.
“Are you absolutely sure?” I’m giving him one last out, then I’m taking him up on the kind offer because I’m not sleeping in this damn lobby.
“Ask me again, and I’ll kick your ass when I see you. Gotta go.” He clicks off before I can protest yet another time.
Grabbing my backpack, I slip it on and head out of the lobby. I’m not going to bother with letting the front desk know I’m leaving. They sure didn’t seem to care enough to check on me for the last half hour.
Outside, Santa Alaya is full of laughter and music.
I bask in the fading winter sun as I follow my comm watch’s directions through colorful, vibrant streets toward Hadrian’s hotel.
It takes about twenty minutes to walk there, but I’m not in a rush because his game starts in an hour, so he won’t be back until who knows when.
I’m guessing he’ll go party with the team afterward, so I can get in a solid nap while he’s doing that.
I didn’t think I’d have time to go to the game, so I didn’t bother trying to get tickets, and I didn’t even consider asking him.
His hotel, Hotel las Armas, looms at the end of a gorgeous cobblestone street. Calling it a hotel seems like too much, because it’s opulent but small. A black-and-white tiled entryway is open to the street and filled with monsters drinking beautiful concoctions as they mingle in small groups.
A beautiful vampire approaches me with a smile. “Miss Tucker?”
I nod, unsure how she knows it’s me.
“Excellent,” she chirps. “Senor Alkazar let us know you’d be coming.
” She hands me a small envelope. “Here’s your key and a two-hundred-dollar voucher for the hotel.
It can be used in the spa, at the bar, restaurant or for room service.
You’re in the penthouse suite, which has its own elevator.
” She guides me around the check-in desk and down a hallway behind it.
Plants peek in from open windows down the entire right-side stucco wall.
She pauses and gestures toward an elevator at the back.
“Simply scan your key down there, and it’ll take you directly to Senor Alkazar’s suite. ”
Damn. This is the royal treatment. I always assumed Hadrian got this, but it’s sure nice to be on the receiving end of it.
She smiles at me. “Can I answer any questions or send up a refreshment for you?”
I might as well take advantage of this while I can. “Any chance I could get a diet soda of some sort?”
Her smile widens. “I’ve got pretty much anything you can imagine. Do you have a preference?”
I order a Diet Cherry Pepsi and head for the elevator, wondering how quickly I’ll actually receive it.
To my fricking deepest surprise, the can of soda sits with a glass of ice on a tiny table just outside the elevator door.
There must be a hidden service entrance.
Just past the table there’s another doorway that looks like I’ll key-card into.
After grabbing the soda, I let myself into Hadrian’s room.
Despite the star treatment so far, I’m still shocked to find a full apartment with a beautifully appointed kitchen and the same black-and-white-checkered tile as the lobby.
Big open arches let in the setting sun and give a perfect view of a courtyard filled with monsters having dinner.
A singular bedroom is nestled back behind the kitchen, but I’ll be fine on the giant U-shaped sofa between the kitchen and the line of open windows.
Scoffing at how ridiculously gorgeous this place is, I drop my backpack on the sofa and head to the windows, staring down into the courtyard.
A few monsters down below glance up at me, whispering and pointing.
I guess it’s fun to see who occupies the topmost suite.
Do folks stare at Hadrian like this when he travels?
I bet they do on account of his size and hotness.
All gargoyles are handsome. It’s, like, a monster trait they just all possess.
But Hadrian’s attractiveness is on another level.
I don’t know if it’s because he’s bigger and quieter than even the average gargoyle.
Maybe it’s because he looks like Aragorn from Lord of the Rings, except he’s purple.
Maybe it’s his love of books, which makes him seem kinda nerdy.
Maybe it’s that he seems even older than his years.
Maybe it’s that he’s so impossibly manly and competent.
I have no idea what he sees in Jasper, or Jack, for that matter.
If I could have picked any of my brothers to be his bestie, I’d have assumed Jace, who’s an old soul.
Maybe Hadrian and Jasper are so close precisely because they’re such polar opposites.
I’ve thought about it plenty of times over the years.
I knew when Hadrian picked the Punishers’ offer that he’d buy a place and set down roots.
I don’t think Jasper even has a plan to ever move out of my folks’ place.
He’d be happy to live there forever. It should be awkward, but when he dates—and he dates a lot—he just goes to the girls’ place and they’re, like, fine with that, I guess?
I sip my soda, thrilled to have gotten my favorite flavor, as I return to the sofa and snuggle in.
Opening my computer, I smile at the pic on my laptop screen—me and my brothers, plus Hadrian.
The guys must be about thirteen because I’m eight or so.
I’m in the middle, and Hadrian’s got one arm slung around me and the other around Jasper.
Jack and Jace are missing half their teeth, still in that awkward growing up phase. But we look so happy. So cute.
Clicking into my product-tracking software, I work for a half hour before the day gets to me. Before I realize it, I’m falling asleep on the cushiest black velvet couch I’ve ever encountered.
A scent fills my nostrils, something clean and manly.
Glycerine.
Hadrian. Did I murmur his name aloud?
Reaching my fingers across the sofa, I feel for him.
He’s not there…