Bound By the Sleeper’s Harp (The Arcane Artifacts #1)

Chapter 1

The scent of coffee eased some of the tension bracketing my body.

I took a deep inhale and got in line, letting the atmosphere of Awake Coffee wash over me.

The background jazz music, the din of voices, the loud noises from the grinder and espresso machine.

It was pure comfort, the single indulgence I allowed myself these days.

I flexed my aching shoulders and glanced down at my raw knuckles. Today's MMA class had been brutal in the best way. I suppressed a smile at the sight of my inflamed skin. Every bruise was chosen, not inflicted, not anymore.

Awake Coffee was located in the heart of one of Walton’s quieter neighborhoods. I loved West Cross for its clean streets and walkable establishments—a human neighborhood that supernaturals largely ignored, unlike the high-rise chaos of Midtown just a few miles away. Making it safer, too.

A burst of raucous laughter had me glancing over my shoulder as a group of locals entered. I turned away before anyone had the chance to greet me or make small talk, fixing my gaze on the hand-decorated chalk menu, pretending to contemplate my choices, even though I had the entire thing memorized.

There were times I missed the girl I once was. But that girl had died at the hands of Luke Portman. Died and come back stronger, albeit not without scars.

The changes had been gradual. The slow death of my confidence. The retreat into myself. The loss of my friends—all except one. Everything leading up to the night that both stripped me bare and gave me my life back.

It had taken the better part of two years to heal. To forge me into the woman I was today. But there were some things I might never get back because of how I was forced to live now. The secrets I was forced to keep.

The line shifted again. It was busier than usual today. I zipped my two pendant necklaces along their gold chains, fiddling with them as I waited. The patron in front of me placed an order then moved out of the way. It was my turn to order.

“Rose!” the woman behind the counter greeted me. “Hey, girl.”

“Hey, Tara.” I plastered a grin on my face, wearing a facade I’d mastered.

“Sorry about the wait. No Vivi today?" Tara glanced past me toward the door. Her hopeful expression dimmed when I shook my head.

Tara and Vivi had been playing a game of cat and mouse for years; Tara was the cat. I wished they would give it a chance, this thing between them. My helpless heart couldn’t take much more of it.

“Just me today,” I answered. “She’s busy packing.”

“She’s…wait, packing? Does that mean we have to cancel girls night tomorrow?” Her expression dimmed even more.

“Yeah. Long story.” I didn’t want to admit I was relieved about the cancelation of our monthly get together.

Vivi said it was good to spend time with our friends.

If it weren’t for her, I’d literally have zero.

But honestly, it was probably better that way.

“There was some family drama with her sister and her fiancé—”

Behind me, an impatient throat cleared. I glanced over my shoulder at a middle-aged woman waiting with her arms crossed. Her eyes were fixed on my hair, her expression turning sour with judgment.

“Sorry,” I muttered—mostly out of reflex. Some of my old scars peeking through.

I turned back to the cute blonde behind the counter.

Tara had a short bob, blue eyes, and a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

Her style could mostly be described as retro, anything that ranged from seventies to nineties.

She always wore something fun. Today’s dress was a salmon-colored number with bell sleeves and bright flowers.

Her black apron was cinched at the waist showing off her curves.

If that wasn’t enough to recommend her, the fact that she co-owned Awake Coffee didn’t hurt. Vivi was an idiot for not locking her down immediately.

Tara chewed on the inside of her cheek. “All right. Well, what can I get you? Dirty chai latte, venti?”

“Yep.” I fished my wallet from my purse.

“And a white chocolate mocha for Vivi?”

“Also venti. Extra shot. Actually, can you make that two?”

“Wow…” Tara’s brows shot up. “All right.”

“She’s got a late night.”

Tara worried her lower lip. “Should I call her?”

“She’ll probably be on a plane by the time you close up here. But you should definitely text her. I think she’d like that.”

“Right. Okay.” Tara gave a soft smile as her fingers flew over the touch screen console, logging my order. “Seven-forty-two,” she said, adding, “family discount.”

Even though we weren’t family.

“Thanks,” I mumbled as my cheeks flushed. She was trying to be nice, and I wasn’t one to turn down a discount. My finances couldn’t afford that and Tara knew it. But still, I hated the embarrassment that followed.

My burner phone buzzed with incoming texts as I pulled cash from my wallet. I threw the extra bills into the tip jar.

I thanked Tara and pressed my wallet under my arm before unlocking my phone and stepping away.

Vivi had sent two images, each with her holding a different outfit in front of the mirror. A string of messages followed.

Vivi

Which outfit says I’m going to kill my sister’s ex fiancé?

Vivi

The black one, right?

Vivi

That way I’ll blend in, just in case there are any witnesses.

I snorted, typing out a reply—

And collided with a wall of muscle in the form of a broad chest. A rush of warm liquid poured down my hands and the front of my clothes and I gasped, jumping backward.

My purse, phone, and wallet dropped to the floor as I regained my footing.

A massive coffee spill covered the front of my lavender T-shirt.

It was one of my favorites, too, with a picture of a Ragdoll cat wearing fairy wings.

“What the hell—?!” My words cut off as I locked gazes with a simmering pair of green eyes.

My lips parted as I took him in.

It wasn’t just that he was tall, with layers of muscle beneath his black T-shirt. He was also covered in tattoos and piercings. His black hair was long on one side and shaved on the other, with tribal patterns etched in. Everything about him screamed danger!

A rush of warmth dumped into my stomach. A sensation I was surprised to feel when I’d felt absolutely nothing for the past two years.

I forced my breaths to calm, a technique my therapist had coached me on.

When I blinked, the male’s glamor wavered and I no longer saw a human, but a goblin. His skin changed from golden to gunmetal gray. His ears turned to points. His piercings and tattoos multiplied. A piercing appeared in his septum, another in his lip and eyebrow. I sucked in a breath.

“Maybe watch where you’re going, yeah?” he gritted out.

The moment the words were spoken, the spell was broken. I blinked and his glamor snapped back into place, making him appear human again.

“I’m—sorry! It was an accident,” I sputtered.

Wait…

Why was I apologizing?! That wasn’t who I was anymore. I wasn’t a scared, cowering girl.

“Someone grab her a towel,” Tara called to one of her employees as another rushed forward with a mop to clean the bit that had landed on the floor.

“Thanks, Tara,” I managed, regaining my composure.

“I’d like another coffee,” the male told Tara, never taking his eyes off me. I felt his stare caress my skin as he looked me up and down.

That same, almost foreign feeling welled up inside me again. Attraction. He wasn’t even my type.

“Uhm.” Tara hesitated, like she wanted to argue. “Another refill. Sure. Mark will take care of that if you head over to the barista counter.”

I ripped my gaze away, turning my eyes downward. Most of my belongings had spilled out of my purse. I wiped my hands on my yoga pants then crouched and swept everything—including my unmentionables—back inside, then grabbed my phone and stood, only to find the goblin holding my wallet, examining it.

Every nerve ending went on full alert. “What are you doing?!” I accused. I didn’t carry identification anymore. Something I’d stopped doing after Luke destroyed any hope at a normal life.

“I’m just looking for your license, you know, to make sure it doesn’t indicate your need for corrective lenses, since you obviously couldn’t see where you were going—”

I snatched my wallet from him and shouldered past, heading for the drinks counter. Instead of taking the hint, he stalked after me. I gritted my teeth, ignoring him as he set his mug down for his refill, crowding me.

“You okay?” Mark asked, handing over a towel before glaring at my new shadow. Mark had asked me out a few times, but I’d always firmly declined. I didn’t date—not anymore.

“I’m fine,” I managed, blotting up what I could so my shirt was no longer dripping. I tossed the towel onto the counter.

Mark hesitated before nodding. “I’ll have your drinks out in just a moment.”

“Thanks.” I took a steadying breath, trying to calm my nerves. A hint of musk and something woodsy met my nose. I couldn’t resist another inhale until I realized it was the goblin. I took a step to the side, putting more distance between us. He mirrored my actions, stepping closer—too close.

I flinched. The reaction was followed by embarrassment as I reminded myself that I was okay. That he wasn’t going to hurt me. That no one would ever hurt me again.

The goblin immediately took two large steps back—which only furthered my humiliation. “Just waiting for my refill,” he said, his voice quieter than before, like he was trying to reassure me. Funny, since he hadn’t cared before.

“There’s literally a million other places you could wait,” I said under my breath, finally finding my backbone.

“I wouldn’t say a million. Realistically, there’s more like—”

“Are you always this much of an asshole?!” I rounded on him.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Usually, I’m worse. But you’re right. I’ll tone it down a notch—for now.”

I trapped my bottom lip between my teeth, fighting a smile. A real, genuine smile, as Mark finished up my drinks.

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” the goblin added after a long stretch of silence. He kept his voice low. I noticed that he didn’t move any closer, either.

“Yeah, well,” I gestured to my shirt, trying to keep my tone light. “Kinda failed from the start.”

“You should pay better attention to your surroundings.” There wasn’t any censure in his tone, just calm concern.

My shoulders went tight anyway. I wanted to argue, but he was right. I’d been careless letting myself get distracted by my phone. I knew better. Or, I should have. Maybe enough time had passed that I’d grown complacent. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing. “Thanks for the tip.”

“Anytime.” His gaze remained fixed on me, a physical sensation that was impossible to ignore.

“Drinks are ready, Rose,” Mark said, offering me a nod as he slid them onto the counter.

I moved forward to collect them and caught another delicious inhale of that woodsy musk.

“Take care of yourself,” the goblin said as I strode away.

I said nothing in return.

It didn’t matter that I could feel him watching me as I made a beeline for the exit. I didn’t look back.