15. Pike
Chapter 15
Pike
Drake glares at me and puffs out his chest. “I’m not doing karaoke night. This is a strip club .”
I shrug. “But can you imagine karaoke with the dancers? And drag night?”
Drake’s eyes seem to bug out of his face. I keep throwing out ideas he thinks are ridiculous. It’s been a week of antagonizing him, then spending the night with Trick in my arms in that dank basement. Just sleeping. Barely even talking, but we both take comfort in being in each other’s arms.
“Trick needs sun today and if you don’t have anyone else to put him on his leash, I’ll do it.” One thing I can do is make sure Trick gets the sun he needs.
“Fine. Ava’s busy, anyway.” Drake throws Trick’s leash at me.
I’m in the basement at a thought. Trick is exactly where I left him, curled up against Frankie.
“Come on, my loves, it’s time to sun our pretty Fae.”
Trick snorts as he rolls over to face me. His eyes are so bright, his wings flutter in the binder. I wish I could take the damned thing off, but it’s spelled so only Drake can do the removing.
“What if I got Drake to let me bring you something to do? Like hobby supplies? You have to be bored.”
“Before, I was skilled in many things. I don’t think I’d pursue any of them now if I had the choice.” Trick stays in bed and trails a finger along the edge of his next. “Ava sews though, and I’d love to learn how, but I don’t think Drake will let me have needles.”
“Why does Ava get more privileges than you?”
Trick shrugs. “I used to try to run every day. Haven’t done that in years, but still…” He wiggles his shoulders, probably to get comfortable with the binder.
“I’ll see what I can do. I think I’m working my way to getting you out of the basement all day.”
“You know, I used to have time out at night, but I’m not the headliner anymore. I don’t have anything to do.” He dramatically puffs out a breath and falls back.
“Oh, hadn’t thought about that. Sorry.” I swipe a hand through my short hair. My tail wiggles and Trick tracks the movement.
“It’s fine. At least I’m not getting beaten for not glowing.” He pushes to his feet and the top of his t-shirt slides down over his shoulder.
I swallow back a moan. “Ready to go to the roof?” I hold out my hand. He takes it and we’re on the roof.
Wind whips around, sending his hair into a mess, but he laughs as he jumps around with his arms out beside him. He spins and the joy on his face etches into my heart.
“I wish I could give you something in return for all your kindness.” Trick stops in front of me and gasps. “Wait. I do,” the words are a whisper as if he just only thought of something.
“Darling, I don’t need anything.”
“Then I’ll hold on to it until the right time. It’ll feel special that way.” He spins again. I love how carefree he seems to be around me compared to when we met. His brother is still apprehensive when we meet or leave notes to each other, but that’s understandable. “What did Wren say from his research into soul tethers? Or Poe?”
I laugh. “Your brother is not that good at research, despite his mastery of realm hopping.”
“It’s a wonder he mastered that. He never was one for study outside of what was needed to be a courtesan. He loved learning how to pleasure. Even before his wings glowed, he was making boys melt. So it doesn’t surprise me that his head isn’t in research now that he knows where I am.” Trick throws his hands in the air and spins again and again.
“Poe found something helpful.”
Trick stops and holds his breath, waiting for my words.
“It’s very interesting.” I thread my hand through Trick’s hair and he leans into my palm. “If we can’t find the spell anchor, we can create a new soul tether.”
“Right, but how?”
“True love dissolves the magic that keeps you from the one your heart desires. Apparently, love is stronger than magic. Who knew?” I chuckle a little as he staggers back. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve never been in love. I don’t know what romantic love even feels like. How will I know?”
“You’ll know.”
“I know what family love is. Friend love. Wouldn’t those count as true love? They’re true to me.” Trick paces as he wrings his hands and his wing tips flutter under the binder.
“Trick, look at me.”
Those big blue-gray eyes search mine.
“Your tether is already thinning.” Just the slightest, but it’s a start.
“How?” His cheeks go pink.
“Obviously, your heart has found someone.”
“Maybe.” He gives me the biggest grin. “Sparkle has been nicer to me since you showed up.” The laugh fills my heart with so much happiness. I pull him in my arms.
“Brat.” I tip his chin with my tail. “What if it’s a demon you’re still not sure about?” I lean in and barely brush his lips with mine.
“Pike! There you are!” Ava bursts through the door in the floor of the ceiling. “Drake is raving about something. You better see if you can calm him down. He’s trying to fire Kristy.”
“Fuck.” I press my forehead to Trick’s. “I’ll be back.” He takes a few dazed steps a way from me as he nods.
I hand Ava the leash I’d forgotten about and blink down into Drake’s office, where he and Kristy scream at each other.
“You no good son of a?—”
“What’s going on?” I ask, letting my voice rumble through the room.
“Drake just told me I’m fired after tonight.”
“What?” I glare at Drake, who sits smugly behind his desk.
“Her performance is lacking and?—”
“Absolutely not. Kristy stays. She’s the biggest draw you’ve had since she started.”
“I want Trick back in. With as much sunlight as he’s getting, he’ll be brighter than before.”
“Can you believe this?” Kristy turns to me. “I bring in a fuck ton more than that brat and?—”
“Hey, now. Let’s not call Trick names when you don’t know his circumstances.”
Kristy rolls her eyes. “Sure, fine.”
“Actually, I think having Trick back in the rotation is a good idea, but he’s not headliner material for glowing. He needs to earn it just like everyone else.”
Kristy tips her head. “Exactly, which is what I’ve been saying all along. I like the kid, but he’s not more special than the rest of us.”
I don’t exactly agree, but I’m biased when it comes to Trick. “Right. So Kristy stays, as do the other dancers, and Trick comes out as one of the regulars until further notice. He’ll glow, but that won’t be his main attraction to headlining anymore.”
“Why,” Drake starts. “Do you think you have so much say in what happens in Flutter?”
My eyebrow has a mind of its own. I swear I don’t cock it on purpose. “You realize I’ve invested more in Flutter than you’ve made in five years of business. Flutter would be mine if not for the paperwork. So I’d watch it if I were you.”
I don’t trust the slimy look on his face. Drake leans back. “Fine. But if patrons hate the new lineup, we do things my way again.”
Kristy laughs. “No problem. Everyone loves all the changes so far.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. Drake can be so damn frustrating some days and easy others. “Alright, so that’s resolved. Kristy stays as our headliner. Trick gets back on stage.” I turn to Kristy. “If you’re agreeable to that?”
“Absolutely.” She nods and turns on her heel.
Drake pushes to his feet and stomps toward me. “You need to stop undermining?—”
I hold up a hand. “I’m going to need you to stop. Before you took my money, I investigated Flutter’s financials, and you were drowning. You should thank me and stop fighting my ideas.”
“This wasn’t my vision.”
“And what was?” He looks away from me instead of answering. He can’t know I know about Trick, how he’s using him for his own power.
“Nothing. I’ll play by your rules, Pike. For now.”
“That’s what I thought. Also, Trick isn’t going to be confined in the basement all the time anymore. He wants to learn how to sew with Ava.”
Drake grinds his teeth but waves me off. When I’m on the roof again, Trick and Ava are dancing. Ava laughs as Trick spins her around.
“Join us, Pike.” Trick says. He and Ava release one pair of their hands to let me in.
Before, it’d always only been Van and Warwick accepting me. Now I have Trick and Ava. Kristy trusts me, as do the other dancers. While I love my home in the demon realm, I find myself falling a little more in love with Hex and her people every day.