Hungry For Love (Hex Is Where The Heart Is #2)

Wren

Unless I’m transporting someone else, the transition between worlds is a gentle slide.

A soft breath. But the Winter Court royals never do anything so nice.

My arrival into Hex leaves me feeling like meat chewed up and spit out by a giant.

I heave a breath and suck in mud and grease from the gravel road.

Rain pelts me and I try not to curse the sky of my new home.

I lay in the mud for a few breaths, my left wrist burning where His Majesty injected magic into my bloodstream.

The one skill I prided myself on more than anything isn’t mine to command any longer.

I heft myself to my knees and grab the now ruined silk shirt holding my meager possessions.

A handful of trinkets for a decade of service.

I’m naked from the waist down, not allowed to take anything given to me by the court, which meant I only had a gag shirt given to me by Lark and a silk shirt meant to seduce.

I chose to wear the gag shirt though it doesn’t cover anything from sensitive eyes.

The silk shirt I’ll never wear again. It’s too much of a reminder of what I lost.

My home.

But this is what I wanted, right? Freedom. At the cost of my home and everything I’ve known. I never thought...

I shake my head. Never assume anything with the royals, certainly not Fae royals. Mother’s begging for me to be allowed to stay still echos in my head.

This is what I wanted. Choice. Freedom. And the royals gave me that.

If only they hadn’t taken away my teleportation.

I can’t even hop through other realms. They ripped every realm away from me except for the one I chose.

The human realm, because that’s where Lark usually stays.

Maybe now we can build our relationship again. Be brothers again.

I push to my feet and lift my face to the sky, hoping the rain washes away all the mud. I’m soaked to the bone and shiver, not caring. It’s time to start anew and I hope Lark forgives me for barging into his world unannounced.

The portal mages had mercy on me and dumped me in Hex instead of one of the neighboring cities.

I can’t imagine how I’d make it here dressed the way I am.

Though I’ve heard Evansville has a pleasant portal Fae that owns a delightful bakery.

I might have to venture there one day to see how they compare to Wick’s.

But for now, I must walk to Lark’s. Hopefully, he’ll take me in until I get my feet under me.

My stomach rumbles and I realize it’s early. Lark might not even be awake yet. I suck in a breath. Everything is fine. I just have to find my way to Lark’s house. No problem.

Except it is a problem. I’ve always only teleported to everywhere in Hex unless I’m walking to Wick’s. I have no idea how to get to Lark’s because I don’t know where the fuck it is.

My wrist throbs. I’m sure my magic knows I want to use it, but I can’t. I’m not even sure if I can glow.

I drop my pathetic silk shirt of trinkets and pull the back of my shirt up and over my head to free my entire back. Sure, my ass is out, but this is more important. My wings snap out and flutter.

I squeeze my eyes closed and will my magic through my wings.

That subtle warmth buzzes through my body, but I keep my eyes closed a little longer.

What if I can’t glow? What if they’ve blocked all of my magic and not just what I’ve tapped into for teleporting?

My breathing picks up and I force myself to calm, digging my nails into my palms.

“Everything is fine.” I open my eyes and a small cry falls from my lips. The reflection of my wings glow in the puddles around me. “Okay, crisis averted.”

I pull in my wings and right my t-shirt before grabbing my silk shirt back from the ground.

None of this is ideal, but everything is fine. My stomach rumbles again and I pat it.

“I’m going to eat so much food.” I chuckle.

“Maybe stop working out.” I don’t have to be beautiful anymore.

“Maybe I’ll cut my hair!” I spin and said long as fuck wet hair whips me in the face.

Scowling, I throw it over my shoulder. “Yes, I do think a hair cut is in my future.” Courtesans weren’t allowed to cut their hair no matter the gender. I’m no longer a courtesan.

There’s a pep in my step as I make my way towards Hex proper, with its bustling streets. At least I hope I’m going in the right direction. Trees flank me from every side, so it’s hard to tell. I’m working on vibes here. And the vibes say go forward. So I do.

Oh, shit. I tug my t-shirt down as far as I can, but it barely grazes my knees. I can make a loincloth situation from the silk shirt, but then I have nowhere to put my trinkets.

I drop my silk shirt to the ground again, splashing mud up my legs. Then pull off my t-shirt. No one’s around, so standing naked for the few minutes it takes to fashion a quick outfit shouldn’t be too bad.

There’s a cough behind me and I spin, twig and berries on full display.

Of course it’s Talon. The one man in Hex that gets me all hot and bothered.

The sexy baker of Warwick’s Wicked Bakery.

His golden hair and neatly trimmed beard are darker in the early dawn light.

His bright blue eyes look me over before a blush creeps down his suntanned skin and he looks away.

“Sorry, I don’t know what this looks like, but I’m trying to get everything covered.” I cup myself as if I’m a shy virgin and laugh. I’m not embarrassed in the slightest, but the griffin in front of me blushes so prettily.

Talon shakes his head and pulls his t-shirt over his head. “I don’t know what your plan was, but this should cover everything important.” He hands the shirt over and his blush goes all the way down his yummy sculpted chest. He won’t look at me.

“I was planning on making a crop top and wrap skirt so everything was covered, but I hated the idea of tearing up a gift. Thank you.” I take the shirt and pull it on. “You’re right. Everything’s covered. Thank you.”

Talon bobs his head and swallows. “Glad I could help.” He continues walking the path I’d been on.

I grab my silk shirt and run to catch up with him. “Since you’re here, could I ask you a favor? Well, another one.”

He puffs a sound and nods.

“Could you point me in the direction of Lark’s?

” I explain my predicament and I swear a smile tips his lips.

Not that I tell him the truth. I just tell him I’m challenging myself by not teleporting.

Everyone knows I’m one of the rare Fae that can walk between realms, but I don’t want them to know just yet that ability has been ripped away from me.

“We walk right past. I’ll point it out.”

“Thank you, doll. You’re a lifesaver.”

Talon goes even pinker. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing to me.”

I get another grunt before we go back to silence. The rain continues, but it’s softer now than when I was unceremoniously dumped into Hex.

Hex is quiet so early in the morning, and I find myself loving it.

The Winter Court always has someone bustling around.

Whether servant or courtesan. I won’t have to deal with that any longer.

No more entertaining anyone if I don’t want to.

No more fuck marathons to keep a noble happy.

No more dulling myself down to placate royals. I can be me.

But who the fuck is Wren?

“That’s the one.” Talon points out the yellow house with the pink trim. It’s so dainty looking and so Lark.

“Thank you again, Talon.” We wave as he continues on to Wick’s to start on the day’s baked goods.

I’ll have to tell Sparkle I saw the griffin without a shirt. Maybe even let him sniff the shirt.

Now that I’m at my destination, I tremble. Lark has made Hex his home as much as the demon realm and the Fae lands. But I know Hex is where he and Pike stay the most. It’s where all their—our—friends live.

I lift a shaking hand and knock. There’s a bark from the other side and scratching at the door. At least Frankie’s excited, even if she doesn’t know it’s me yet. I love this hellhound.

“Frankie, love, come away from the door so I can open it,” Pike’s voice rings out.

More barking. I plaster a grin on my face and try to will my breathing to calm.

The door unlocks and I have an armful of Frankie as soon as it opens.

“Hello, girl. How are you?”

Frankie keeps her hellfire extinguished, so she doesn’t burn me. Pike says she’s called a Dobermann, whatever that is. I just know she’s enormous and I love her.

“Wren?” Pike says my name and I look up. He looks freshly showered and his already red skin redder. His horns glisten in the porch light.

“Hey, can we talk? Is Lark around?” I look around the demon, searching for my brother.

Pike opens the door wider and Frankie follows me inside.

“Wren?” Lark comes around the corner and looks me over. His perfect pink hair is braided and wrapped around his head. “What happened? What’s wrong?” He glances to Pike before running to me and pulling me into a spine crushing hug.

He’s warm, and the scent of berries and honey comes off him. I push him away and step back. “I’m all dirty.” Now he is too.

“I don’t care.” Lark pulls me in again. “You need a hug.”

Pike lingers by the couch and holds Frankie’s collar to keep her from joining us.

“I got myself banished from the Fae lands.” The words are so soft I’m not sure Lark or Pike hear them until Lark pulls away to look in my eyes.

“What?” He whispers back. His perfect blue-gray eyes search mine.

“I—I finally asked to be released from my courtesan contract. I went through the proper procedure, all the loopholes and rules and everything. I thought I’d get a slap on the wrist and reassigned to a different job.

I never thought.” I shake my head. “Never realized banishment was even an option for my request.” I look to the ceiling and will myself to keep the tears at bay.

I’m stronger than this. The trembling’s back and I hate myself for the reaction.

Lark chews on his bottom lip. He takes my hand and leads me to the big ensuite bathroom connected to the main bedroom.

“Wash up. I’ll set some clothes aside for you.

They’ll be a little too big, but they’ll be comfortable.

Then we’re going to Wick’s for breakfast with the gang.

Once your stomach’s full, we’ll figure out a plan. ”

I nod. “A plan would be good. I hadn’t even began to think of one other than to get here.” My knees collapse.

Lark pulls me back up by the armpits. “This isn’t a bad thing. You’ll get through this. And we have you, Wren. We all do. I know the guys aren’t here right now, but I know they’re behind you one hundred percent.”

My legs threaten to buckle again and take Lark with me.

“They bound my magic. I can glow, but I can’t teleport.

I fought so fucking hard to learn how to.

It’s like they ripped a little bit of my soul away from me.

A bit of my identity. There aren’t many Fae that can just walk between the worlds.

I was one of them.” And I took advantage of it.

Lark’s face goes white. Fuck.

I cup his cheeks. “No. Whatever you’re thinking, don’t.”

“You learned how to do it for me. To find me when Drake kidnapped me. Now it’s gone.” He squeezes my hands. “I’m sorry.”

“Perhaps it’s for the best.” I swipe a hand through my hair and sigh. “Drake’s dead. You’re free. Safe. Happy. Maybe it was time for me to stop playing between the realms. I chose the world I want to live in, because I want to get to know you again. But I hate that I can’t visit others anymore.”

A soft smile lights Lark’s face. His wings flutter and softly glow. “I’d like that. And Pike can take you between realms. Can’t you?” Lark asks his demon beau.

“Of course.” Pike scratches behind Frankie’s ears. Her tail thumps against the back of the couch in their bedroom.

I shake my head. “I can’t cross realms at all.

” I lift my left hand. His Majesty made sure of it.

My shoulders slump. “I’ll just have to get used to walking or riding in one of those weird car contraptions.

I don’t think I’ll ever get used to what humans call vehicles.

I still prefer the elegance of a carriage.

” That makes Pike roll his eyes. Lark laughs, and it’s magical, like it was when we were kids.

I reach out to pet Frankie some more. Her slick black coat shines.

She licks my arm and tries to lay on top of me.

“You’re such a sweetie pie.” I rub her tummy, and her tail flicks harder against the couch.

It’s easier to talk when petting a dog, even if the dog is a hellhound.

“Talon helped me find your house from the far road. I didn’t even know which direction to go.

I started walking and Talon just appeared.

” I’ll have to wash his shirt and take it back to him.

Pike cocks a brow. “Is that whose shirt you’re wearing?”

I tug at the hem. “Yeah, originally I had on that gag shirt y’all gave me and it was too short. He found me naked when I decided I needed to turn it into a new outfit. He offered me his shirt.” It was so warm despite being soaked through from the rain.

A smile tugs at Lark’s lips. “Come on, we’ll add it to the wash and you can get it back to him at breakfast.”

“Perfect idea.” I don’t know how he does it, but Lark always cheers me up. “I’ll be a new man when I come out of that shower, just you watch.”

Lark laughs and waves me on. “You know where everything is. I’ll set some clothes on the counter for you.”

I hug him one last time and my melancholy drains into the floor. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.”

The shower washed away every care in my mind.

Right now I don’t have to do anything except exist. I brush the tangles from my hair.

I’d always wished it was pink like Lark and our mother, but it’s stark white.

Dye never sticks, no matter what I tried.

I’ve just had to deal with it. But... I don’t have to deal with the length anymore.

I dress in the soft clean t-shirt and shorts Lark set out for me then go searching for my brother.

He’s curled up on the couch against Pike with Frankie laying on top of both of them. It’s an adorable sight and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen my brother so content. But we lost a decade when Drake stole him through the veils.

“You’re ready?” Lark asks.

“No. Will you cut my hair?” I hold up the pair of scissors I found.