Scarlet Tempest, #1

by Juniper King

  I ignored the little swoop of my stomach at his innuendo. “If you’re just here looking for someone to warm your bed, I suggest you find someone else and let me get back to work.”

  His friend looked down to hide his expression, but not before I saw the smirk play across his lips. The satyr, however, wasn’t fazed by my rejection. He let out a low chuckle. “Well, that’s probably for the best, anyway. I’ve always found humans to be a little bland between the sheets.” His eyes offered the obvious challenge he expected me to rise to, the sly smile never once leaving his face during the exchange.

  I raised an eyebrow. “You’re in a human tavern.”

  This time his friend let out a sharp burst of laughter, the jovial sound affecting me in much the same way as the satyr’s voice had. These men were more dangerous than I’d first thought.

  “Looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you after all, Ayre,” the brunet said once he had composed himself.

  “Looks like we’ve found a good challenge,” the blond volleyed back at him with a smile, like they were recounting some inside joke at my expense.

  My arms folded tightly across my chest. “Looks like you two need to learn the basics of social interaction.”

  The brunet’s green eyes met mine. “We’d like to rent a room, please”

  “With two beds,” added the satyr, the smile still playing at his lips.

  “I’ll see what we have,” I grumbled turning on my heel.

  Leaving them standing near the door, I strode behind the bar to the small key cabinet. We didn’t bother with a front desk for the inn, everyone knew to come to the bar if they wanted to rent a room. After grabbing a key at random, I saw they had made themselves comfortable at the table I had just finished cleaning, the satyr’s bare feet propped up on the top.

  I stopped abruptly beside him. “Room 6, down the hall to your left,” I held out the key for him to take.

  The satyr gently wrapped his hand around mine, completely dwarfing it in his. It was warm and, to my surprise, slightly calloused. Despite his distasteful attitude, even the small touch was enough to send a flutter through my stomach.

  As his hand met mine, I noticed a slight furrow skitter across his brow, as if touching my hand was somehow distasteful to him. My own brows drew together in confusion. Could he sense there was something strange about me?

  But the moment passed and his eyes flicked back up to mine, that seductive smile once again crossing his lips. “I’ll be sure to leave the door unlocked tonight, in case you want to stop by.”

  I yanked my fingers from his grip. “I think your friend would get jealous,” I said, earning two wolfish smiles in return.

  With their hungry eyes staring into mine a wave of heat surged through my body.

  Damn it. I could feel my face flush as I turned on my heel and left their table. Their haunting chuckles only fueling my feet to retreat faster.

  Jess let out a loud sigh as she reached her hands up and bent her spine in a graceful arch. “I can practically hear my bed calling my name.”

  “You can sneak out a little early, I’ll finish cleaning up,” I told her as I wiped my hands on my apron. Branek had left the tavern about an hour earlier to finish some paperwork in his office, leaving Jess and me to close and clean up.

  “Thanks, Sel, you’re the best. Are we still on for tomorrow?” she asked as she slung her purse over her shoulder, making sure I didn’t have a chance to renege on my offer.

  “Of course. I’ll meet you around noon.”

  With a wave she headed towards the exit.

  I was in no rush to get home because, well, I was home. The Sluggish Nymph was literally where I lived.

  After leaving the orphanage at seventeen I’d officially moved in and, seven years later, I’m still here. After putting the last chair on the table, I dusted my hands, trudged through the back hallway, and up the flight of stairs to my room.

  Several years ago, it was only Branek’s apartment and a large storage space that comprised the much smaller second floor of The Sluggish Nymph. After I moved in, Branek had cleaned out and converted the storage area into a fully equipped living space, giving me a good-sized suite to myself. I had my own bathroom and kitchen, as well as an open sitting area, and a master bedroom.

  I walked into my room, flicked on the light switch, and tossed my key on the short cabinet next to the door. Humming a tune to myself, I went about my regular nighttime routine. Walking into the bathroom, I turned on the light and my toothbrush and toothpaste leaped off the counter and landed in my waiting hand.

  My head twinged with a renewed jolt of pain. A headache had been building behind my eyes ever since I toppled that merc earlier, but such small items were as simple to move with my mind as with my hands.

  As far as I knew, I’ve had my supernatural abilities since birth. As a child, I thought it was something everyone could do, until one day I learned how wrong I’d been.

  When I was around four years old, I was playing alone in the girls’ bedroom one day, floating a stuffed animal around in front of me, making it do a fun little dance. The mistress of the orphanage passed by the open door and shrieked, lunging into the room and striking me across the face. I cried and wailed, but she screamed over me, threatening to throw me out if I ever used magic again.

  Everyone knew I was something not quite human. But magic was just too much for people to accept—I was too much to accept.

  When I was a few years older I had gotten into a fight with a boy, and became so angry I lost control, accidentally pushing him with my magic. Esme, the old headmistress who had struck me, had since left the orphanage, and the new one knew nothing of my abilities. But I couldn’t help wailing even louder than the boy when I’d realized what I’d done, thinking I would be thrown out onto the streets for being a freak.

  Since then, I’d been much more careful with my otherworldly burden, not even Jess or Branek knew. Tonight had been an indulgence.

  Pulling my nightshirt over my head, I flipped off the bedside lamp, tucked myself into bed, and sighed as I melted into the mattress. This felt like heaven after such a long shift. My mind began drifting as the soft, freshly washed sheets swaddled me in their comfy embrace.

  Amber eyes and a lascivious grin flashed through my head.

  I rolled over and smooshed my face into the pillow to banish the image.

  It didn’t seem real. What were the chances a satyr would come to Woodburne, of all places? They usually liked larger towns with more prey, so to speak. I remembered how his eyes had stared into mine with a heat that had promised a world of passion. How his lyrical voice had so easily coaxed the goosebumps from my skin. I wanted to run my fingers through his hair and see if it was really as soft and fluffy as it looked. I wanted to find out how his lips would feel against mine.

  Okay, that’s enough. I pulled the pillow over my head. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of thinking about him. I could just see that egotistical smile of his if he ever found out he’d entered my thoughts while I was in my bed.

  A pair of green eyes quickly replaced the amber, a boisterous laugh replacing honeyed tones. My fingers loosened their grip on the pillow. What was his secret? What was a human doing hanging around a satyr? There was something strange about him. And I’d never seen anything like the aura which had surrounded him. I knew some Supers could shapeshift, taking on the guise of a human, but no one had ever mentioned anything about an aura. After all, how would they be able to blend in with the people they were imitating if they shimmered like a mirage?

  An exciting idea burst into my head. Was he like me? A half-human with some kind of magical inclination? Someone who didn’t quite fit in on either side?

  Come on, Sel, now you’re just projecting.

  I sighed and rolled onto my back, staring up at the shadows dancing on the ceiling. Nothing this interesting ever happened in Woodburne, how could I not speculate and fantasize a little?

  It was going to be a l
ong night.

  2

  The next morning, I awoke to the familiar sound of birds chirping outside my window. My eyes cracked open under the heavy weight of fatigue. I groaned and pulled the pillow over my face. After much tossing and turning, I had eventually been able to sleep last night, though it hadn’t been nearly restful enough. Vague recollections of a certain satyr floated through the edges of my memories. Thankfully any dream details were lost to my unconscious mind.

  I laid there for a moment, smothered by my pillow, thinking about all the benefits of staying in my cozy blanket cocoon. With a heavy sigh and a languorous stretch, I tossed the pillow aside and threw the blankets off.

  Trudging through the darkened room, I threw open the curtains to let in some mid-morning light. Crisp, spring air flooded my nostrils as I opened the balcony door and inhaled deeply. The sun seemed to energize me on the spot, encouraging me to get ready for the day ahead.

  After a quick shower, I dried my hair and flipped through the clothes in my closet, finally deciding on a green sundress I’d bought the week before in preparation for summer. I dusted on a light layer of makeup and left my hair loose, letting it spill over my bare shoulders in scarlet waves.

  Green eyes stared back at me from the mirror as I took in my appearance with a frown. With hair covering my ears I could easily pass for any other human, though everyone in Woodburne already knew me for what I was, a genetic hybrid. Something that never should have existed, if you listen to some.

  Usually I could ignore people saying rude things to me, but for some reason that merc’s comment last night stuck with me and sent me down a rabbit hole of negative thoughts.

  It was rare for Supers and humans to produce offspring. From what I’d read, it all depended on the race of the Super. Some were more capable of breeding with humans, some were more fertile, lots of variables that I cared little about.

  What did matter to me; half-humans did not take on the physical or magical features of their non-human parents. Period.

  It was a difficult topic to research since Supers didn’t care to make details of their lives, history, or genetics available to humans, but over the years I’d found a handful of books from travelling merchants with ‘in-depth’ studies into the genetics of half-humans and they all said the same thing.

  And gave me no insight as to why I was different.

  I brushed a lock of hair behind my ear, at least the magic I could hide, but my ears were on display for the whole world to see. Some people found them unique or charming, even sexy if you listened to the merc last night when he’d started his pitch. Others found them unsettling.

  I shook my head to dislodge the negativity. I wasn’t going to let that scummy merc ruin my day off. I was going to meet with Jess and have a nice lunch. I slung my purse over my shoulder and strode out of my apartment with confidence.

  After many long years, and a great deal of encouragement from Jess, I had learned to own my abnormality. It was a part of me, and—except for a few brief moments of anxiety—I was no longer ashamed of it.

  I trotted down the inn stairs lost in thought, my wedge sandals clunking on the wooden steps. Rounding the corner into the first-floor corridor, I collided face-first into a wall of muscle, losing my balance and falling hard on my backside. After which, a few choice expletives of mine slipped out.

  “For such a little thing you certainly know some big profanities.” Ayre loomed above me, hands in his pockets and that sly, lopsided grin on his lips. “I didn’t see you after your shift last night.”

  “That’s because I didn’t come,” I snapped, preoccupied with checking my nose for any blood after the collision.

  “That’s a shame.”

  Can’t say I didn’t walk right into that one. “If you’re still looking for someone to amuse yourself with, why don’t you go prowl around the streets. I’m sure there are plenty of other women who would jump at the chance to bed a handsome satyr.”

  Without reacting to my words, he offered his hand and I reluctantly accepted. He yanked me up with enough force to draw me right into his chest. My breath puffed out of my lungs as I was caught in his arms. This close, I was able to catch a whisper of his natural scent. It reminded me of a sun-bathed forest with a hint of cedar and pine. I had a panicked thought as to whether or not I’d brushed my teeth this morning. Why couldn’t I remember?

  “You think I’m handsome?” he purred. The warmth of his body engulfed me, his strong arms around my back.

  Oh my… This satyr might make me rethink my ‘no men’ policy. His cocky and downright sexy smile spoke to the more wanton part of me that craved some passionate, satisfying intimacy. Luckily, the logical side of my brain was the stronger of the two, reminding me how arrogant and lecherous he was and how piggishly he was acting. I was dizzy from the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions going through me.

  I took a deep, steadying breath before answering. “Yes, Ayre, you’re quite handsome, and I think you know that. Now if you’ll excuse me…” I pushed gently against his chest, hinting it was time for him to release me. He loosened his grip enough that I was no longer crushed against him but kept me within the circle of his arms.

  “Hot date?” he asked, giving me a crude once over, and tracing his fingers down my hips. I slapped his hands away and he finally released me. But without his support, I stumbled backward a bit.

  “I don’t date,” I snapped without thinking, more focused on catching my balance.

  His gaze became predatory. “Now that I find hard to believe. An attractive young woman in the prime of her life,” he began musing to himself. He once again closed the short distance between us and took my left hand, bringing it up to examine. “No ring, so I can assume you’re not tied down.” As he speculated, his thumb caressed the back of my hand. Tingles spread from the epicenter of his touch all the way through my body, drifting pleasantly through my stomach and all the way down to the tips of my toes. Gods, I hated that such a simple touch from him was able to elicit this kind of reaction from me.

  “With your delicate looks and figure, I’m sure you have countless suitors. You don’t seem promiscuous; in fact, you’re blushing at the very mention of intimacy. And you refused a night with me,” his eyes darkened, and my heart beat faster the deeper he probed. “Could it be you’ve never experienced the pleasures of sex?” The heat from his gaze burned through to my soul. My cheeks were on fire, my mouth flapping open and closed like a fish out of water. What the hell is happening right now?

  “Speechless because I’m so intuitive?” His thumb continued stroking back and forth along the back of my hand.

  My attention came back in a rush and I ripped my hand away. “I’m speechless because you’re a complete deviant! Who says things like that in the middle of a hallway with a total stranger?”

  “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, everyone starts somewhere. I’d be happy to... educate you.”

  Lightheadedness consumed me. I had to give myself an internal slap before being whisked away by his fiery eyes and silver-tongued innuendos. “Was your friend not enough to keep you entertained last night?”

  A husky chuckle, “He’s not my type.”

  “And you’re not mine.”

  “Savage,” he said with hooded eyes. “But I think you’ll change your mind.”

  “Doubt it.”

  He seemed to concede defeat for the time being. “I’ll see you later, Scarlet.”

  “My name is Selynna.” I cringed at the name he’d given me.

  He gave a triumphant smirk over his shoulder before walking away.

  Gods… dammit.

  I stomped off in the opposite direction, towards the back exit of the inn. I was determined to put the unpleasant experience out of my mind and enjoy my day out.

  It really was a beautiful day, perfect for a nice walk into town. I enjoyed the warm kiss of the sun on my exposed shoulders.

  The Sluggish Nymph was not far from the center of town; only about a twe
nty-minute walk at a leisurely pace. In a small town like this, nearly all the shops and restaurants could be found there.

  To say Woodburne was a town might be overreaching a little. We were somewhere between a village and a hamlet, with less than a thousand people.

  I waved to an elderly lady tending her front garden. Our eyes met and she nodded with pursed lips; an improvement. There was a time when she would not so subtly flee back into her house whenever she saw me passing. It had been over one hundred years since Supers and humans were in open conflict, but some people still didn’t like the idea of humans and Supers mingling. Especially not interbreeding.

  The old woman’s home, like most of the buildings in Woodburne, was small, simple in design, and decorated with surrounding greenery. We didn’t have the space to raise livestock or grow large fields of vegetables and fruit, so we mainly relied on small gardens and trade from larger towns. The market at the center of town was always teaming with merchants from Rochdale and other nearby towns selling their wares.

  I loved chatting with the merchants when they stopped into the tavern for a pint. They always had such interesting stories and didn’t carry the same pretension and attitude many of the mercs did.

  I was lucky at my job. The Sluggish Nymph was the best place in town to hear all the news and gossip from other cities, short of traveling to them. I’d never left Woodburne, and, let’s face it, I probably never would.

  It wasn’t easy getting from one city to another; dense forests, mountain ranges, and wild animals made it not only difficult to traverse, but these places were home to many varieties of supernatural creatures. Most Supers were more or less harmless, but for some of the more mischievous or dangerous ones, mercenary work had become a very lucrative career path.

  From what I’d heard about other towns, some were like ours; relatively small and secluded, but there were many larger ones, metropolises bustling with people, and shops, and restaurants, and so many more things to see and visit. Places where humans and Supers lived together in peace.