To Kill a King (Hollowcliff Detectives Book 2)

by C. S. Wilde

  Telling this to Bast didn’t feel right.

  Choking a fae with a slashed throat was not just overkill but a cruel thing to do. Not to mention that both killer and victim were his freaking brothers.

  Well, Bast had access to the exact same report, so Mera couldn’t hide that from him. He’d insisted he was fine, and that working the case would help him get through it, but right then, he must have regretted it.

  Closing her laptop, she set it aside. “Your father was poisoned, but Theodore was brutally killed. Two vastly different methods, don’t you agree?”

  “Corvus is resourceful,” he retorted without paying her any attention, his focus on the screen before him. “Stop making excuses for the shig.”

  “I’m not,” she lied. “It just seems strange. You have to admit that.”

  “Nothing is odd when it comes to my brother,” he countered drily. “Oh, by the way…” He threw the water from the glass on her chest.

  Sure, Mera could have bent the liquid midair, and avoided the mess, but how could she have predicted her prick of a partner would do that out of nowhere?

  Her white shirt got soaked.

  Forcing a poised tone that masked her rage, she raised one eyebrow. “Sebastian, why the hell did you do that?”

  “I was wondering if you could shower without giving away your secret.” He laughed with mischief. “I wanted to see if you’d turn into an akritana.”

  Mera tugged at the sticky, wet fabric. “I only turn into a waterbreaker if I’m immersed in sea water, malachai.”

  “Is that so?” His focus lingered on her see-through shirt, particularly on her breasts. As if he wanted to unclip her bra with his stare alone.

  Maybe checking if she would turn hadn’t been his only motivation…

  Bast licked his lips, but suddenly shook his head, as if ridding himself of something. Like impure thoughts, for example.

  “Well, now I know.” He went on to study the screen as if what he’d done to Mera had been no big deal.

  Asshole!

  She fumed, but as a detective, she couldn’t kill Bast and get away with it.

  In theory.

  “Did the Sidhe guarding Karthana and Master Raes report any attempt of contact from Corvus?” she asked, though slapping Bast’s pretty face felt way more appealing.

  “They didn’t, but I’d expected that. Corvus is smart. He wouldn’t risk it,” he said absentmindedly, scanning through the report. “The murder weapon was a curved blade.”

  “Does that help us?”

  “Moon blades fit the description, and every assassin in the league has one. Maybe Master Raes can help.” Closing the laptop, he stood. “I’ll pay him and Karthana a visit.”

  Karthana? Why?

  “I’ll come with you.” Mera jumped to her feet at once.

  She hated the idea of leaving Bast alone with Karthana. The fae clearly had feelings for him, even though she was betrothed to Corvus, and no matter how often Mera’s partner played it down, he had feelings for Karthy, too.

  Bast pivoted on his heels, standing in her way. “It’s best if I talk to them alone, kitten.”

  Mera abhorred the sting of petty jealousy, but it pricked her chest nonetheless.

  “Yeah, I bet you and Karthana will do a lot of talking,” she huffed, crossing her arms.

  He stepped closer, towering over her, and Mera wished she could pull that smug look from his face.

  “I never took you for the jealous type,” he said with a naughty grin.

  “It’s inappropriate, that’s all. Then again, so is the fact you’re working this case.” Dickwart. “You do remember your precious Karthy is promised to Corvus, right?”

  “That murderous prick is going to jail soon, so she’s technically available.” He licked his lips again as he ate Mera with his eyes, his focus lingering on her soaked breasts.

  Warmth shot up her cheeks, and a funny tingling bloomed between her legs.

  “Karthana isn’t my first choice, of course,” he continued. “But you said no funny business between us, so I’m… what do you say in English again? Ah, branching out.”

  “You would seriously sleep with your brother’s betrothed?”

  Shrugging, he shoved his hands in his pockets. “That would show him, wouldn’t it? Besides, as long as she consented to it…”

  “You’re not that much of an asshole!” At least, Mera hoped he wasn’t, though she might be wrong. “Karthana likes you more than you like her. Sleeping with her would be cruel.”

  “I obviously wouldn’t do it. I’m not as cruel as Corvus.” All his humor vanished at once, a certain pain filling his blue gaze. “Though you’re right to expect that of me. It’s in my blood, after all.”

  “You’re better than your blood. Better than Corvus.”

  “Am I?” he countered quietly, before stepping even closer. Lazily twirling a lock of her hair around his finger, he smiled. “Nightblood makes me want to do wholly inappropriate things sometimes...”

  Yeah, not the nightblood’s fault.

  Of course he was teasing her, being the prick that he was. A hot, strong prick, who smelled of pinewood and smoke, and was standing way too close.

  Blinking, Mera cleared her throat. “How about you concentrate on the case, and not your dick?”

  “My dick, hmm… about that.” Hooking one arm around her waist, Bast pulled her to him, slamming Mera against his chest and his rock-hard erection. “I thoroughly enjoy seeing what jealousy does to you, partner. You look sublime when you’re outraged.”

  “Bast…”

  His fierce, looming presence shallowed her breaths. The exchange was entirely wrong, but she didn’t pull away.

  She didn’t want to.

  “I am focused on the case,” he assured her. “But do you understand how hard it is to do my job when you’re around? All I want right now is to shove you against that wall and fuck you raw, but that’s not how this works, is it?”

  ‘Do it! Please!’ her siren begged.

  His lips looked so soft… Mera wanted to bite them.

  “What do you mean by ‘this’?” she managed, her voice hoarse. No. Whatever he’d meant didn’t matter. “W-we’re partners,” Mera said mostly to herself. “The case comes first.”

  “I need more,” he growled, his canines growing sharper.

  More? As in connecting the ends of a golden string?

  Mera gulped, her nipples hardening under her bra. Even if she fought her most basic instincts, her body betrayed her.

  “Couples aren’t allowed to be paired as partners.” She breathed sharply, the bridge between her legs soaking wet. “If our Captains find out, they’ll reassign us.”

  It was one of the reasons why she’d never attempted anything with her former partner, Julian. Also, he was her best friend.

  Shit!

  She’d completely forgotten to call him. Julian would be monumentally pissed once they finished the case and she returned to Clifftown.

  If she returned. After all, Bast was her partner now, and he was based in Tir Na Nog.

  Mera’s throat knotted at the possibility of staying in fae territory permanently. Clifftown was her home. She didn’t want to abandon it; didn’t want to abandon Jules, either.

  “You don’t understand,” Bast whispered, kissing the curve of her jaw. “I’m painfully aware we can’t be together, and still, you’re my first thought in the morning, and my last thought at night.” He brushed a lock of hair off her face with his free hand. “I can’t have you because your heart is still in Clifftown, and those are the rules of this damn thing. You can’t be mine, and I can’t be yours halfway.”

  Was this about Jules?

  Bast wasn’t making any sense, but it felt like this was about her former partner… somehow?

  Screw that. His lips were painfully close; too close. Mera opened her mouth and pressed herself against Bast, forgetting about Clifftown, her duties, and Julian himself.

  “You’re not maki
ng any sense,” she breathed, letting the need in her core bloom to the surface. Brushing the light-silver hairs at the nape of his neck, she shrugged lightly. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  A mischievous grin cut across his lips. “We could always fuck. As long as our Captains don’t find out…”

  “That’s a terrible idea,” Mera lied. Right then, it sounded like the best freaking idea he’d ever had.

  “Is it so bad?” Leaning forward, Bast’s lips brushed her ear. “Tell me to stop, then.” The bastard nibbled her lips with a soft kiss.

  Her breathing accelerated as the last shred of common sense left her. Mera should’ve stepped back and untangled from him. Instead, she leaned forward and kissed him back.

  ‘Yes!’ her siren cheered as his tongue invaded Mera’s mouth.

  She understood how wrong this was. How hooking up with him was the last thing Bast needed after the emotional turmoil he’d gone through recently, yet…

  ‘Perhaps it’s exactly what he needs,’ her siren argued. ‘Some well-deserved release.’

  Mera didn’t care if that horny asshole had a point or not. Trapped between Bast’s delirious kisses and his throbbing erection, she couldn’t think of much else.

  His fingers dug into the back of her head, desperately bringing her to him with an insatiable hunger.

  Letting her instincts take over, Mera rubbed her nether parts against his crotch and clawed his perfect, hard bum. “You’re mine, faerie” she claimed in between heavy kisses that left her breathless.

  Bast gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “You’ll drive me mad, akritana.” Lifting her by her thighs, he sat her atop the table.

  Mera’s legs wrapped around his waist, slamming his massive bulge against her entrance. In between hungry, passionate kisses, she unbuttoned his vest, then his formal white shirt. Her leather jacket was already on the floor, her soaked white shirt thrown aside, showing Bast her lacy black bra.

  He stopped and watched her for a moment, complete devotion beaming from his burning gaze. “I’m scared of how you make me feel.”

  That’s all he managed to say before his mouth crashed back against her lips.

  Expertly, he unbuttoned her pants and one hand plowed beneath the fabric, his finger rubbing against the pebble between her thighs.

  “Bast!” Mera gasped, clinging to him.

  A chuckle rumbled low in his chest. “You’ll come in your pants, Detective.”

  The vindictive prick!

  Bast’s fingers were quick and deft, rubbing her effortlessly. Fire built inside Mera and she moaned loudly. “Oh, you baku…”

  She could curse all she wanted. He wouldn’t stop.

  His hands… Poseidon in the trenches, his fucking hands!

  With each stroke, Mera climbed higher and higher within herself, reaching for her aching release. It astounded her how much she ached for him; how fast she headed toward her climax.

  Licking her neck, Bast slid two merciless fingers inside her, and pleasure rushed to her head and limbs. Mera was flying, soaring as her partner kept rubbing and fingering her.

  Desire piled inside her, the throbbing delirium too violent for her to hold. “Don’t stop!” she yelped, her breaths short and her mind spinning. “By the ancient gods, don’t fucking stop!”

  He nuzzled her neck. “I have no intention of stopping, my love.”

  My love…

  That was all it took.

  Mera’s vision went white as she let go and screamed his name, thrashing against him, again and again, each wave of pleasure a tsunami that dragged her under. Her quivering body slowly turned to jelly as her furious orgasms waned.

  Fuck, they must’ve heard her on the freaking moon...

  Removing his fingers, Bast showed them to her—they were soaked in her own oils. Sucking them as if savoring a mouth-watering nectar, he moaned, a feverish blush going up his cheeks. “You taste like paradise, Mera.”

  She stared at him; this fierce force of nature that crashed onto her constantly. Her partner. Her…

  Love?

  No, Mera couldn’t think about that now. They were tangled in good, old-fashioned fucking, nothing more.

  Playing with the waist of his pants, she tugged it lower. “I need more, Detective.”

  “Then more you shall have.” He kissed her violently, his tongue claiming her mouth as she unbuttoned his pants and freed him.

  Her fingers eagerly wrapped around his massive shaft, and Poseidon in the trenches, it might hurt when he plunged into her, but oh, how she looked forward to that.

  Mera stroked him gently, and Bast grunted into her mouth, his hands cupping her cheeks as he kissed her harder.

  Three harsh knocks slammed on the door outside.

  No, no, no!

  “Rae-henai!” Bast barked at the entrance. “Come back later!”

  The knocks became more insistent, until a muffled voice accompanied them. “Please! I need help!”

  Grumbling a loud curse, Bast pulled away from Mera and fixed his pants. His hardness made it difficult for him to zip, but it was quickly waning with the interruption.

  Mera sighed despondently, her core aching for that part of him inside her.

  ‘Talk about terrible timing,’ her siren huffed with frustration.

  Bast took a recomposing breath as he finished buttoning his shirt and vest, then fixed his hair. Lifting one index finger at her, he stared at her sternly. “To be continued.”

  She didn’t know how to feel about that.

  With desire no longer clouding her judgement, Mera understood how close they’d come to making a monumental mistake. The weight of her recklessness crashed down on her as she put her shirt back on, and buttoned her pants.

  In truth, she’d expected this from a loose cannon like Bast, but she should have known better. Ruth had taught her better.

  Mera worked with him, for crying out loud! Sleeping together would only complicate things. A lot. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so embarrassed.

  Bast headed for the door, yanking it open, and nearly breaking it off its hinges. “What?” he barked.

  A banshee with red hair and brown skin dashed into the precinct the next second. She wore the palace servants’ sleek navy attire, and she was panting while shaking profusely. Her fully white eyes held horror inside.

  “Help,” she croaked in between rushed breaths. “Please, detectives, attend to the palace at once!”

  “What happened?” Mera asked.

  This couldn’t be good.

  Fear and sorrow flashed across the banshee’s face. “It’s Prince Leon.” She took a deep breath. “Someone tried to kill him.”

  Chapter 20

  A few weeks ago…

  * * *

  The early morning sun ventured through the window, waking Bast. He inhaled deeply and stretched on the bed, only to realize this wasn’t his mattress. Or his sheets. This wasn’t his room or apartment, either.

  A naked banshee with green skin moved sheepishly on his left, her head propped on his arm, while the Sidhe on his right—Spring Court by her blonde hair and pink skin—still dragged through her slumber.

  Smiling lazily, he wondered if they’d mind if he woke them for another round. After all, his cock was more awake than Bast himself.

  Before he could get to it, though, a small pressure poked the back of his skull. He immediately knew who was calling through their mind-link.

  Rae-henai…

  Well, he could always pretend to be asleep.

  Hmm, best not to. The last time he did that, Fallon found out—Danu knows how—and he put Bast on sarking desk duty for a whole month.

  “What is it, Captain?” he asked aloud, waking his partners.

  “I need you in the precinct,” Fallon’s voice rang in his mind. “Now.”

  “I’m kind of busy.”

  “I said now, Bast.” Their mind link went quiet.

  Odd. Fallon was rarely this curt or grave.

  Shi
t must have hit the fan, an expression he’d just recently learned. Say what you will about humans, but they could be brilliant in their cursing.

  Gruffly getting out of bed, he noticed the Sidhe and the banshee exchange a disappointed glance as he put on his clothes.

  “Are you sure we don’t have time?” They played with each other’s hair. “We’ll be quick, we promise.”

  Grinding his teeth, Bast swore to himself he would curse Fallon to the end of days. “Sorry, sweethearts,” he grumbled as he buttoned his vest. “Duty calls.”

  Bast leaned on the wooden wall in Fallon’s office, his arms crossed while he watched his captain.

  He might look a lot younger than Bast with his spiky auburn hair, big green eyes, and a profusion of freckles, but the captain was a lot older, and smarter, than he seemed.

  Bast had applied to the force the moment he and Stella arrived in Tir Na Nog. However, as a former assassin, his chances were non-existent, and he would have been lucky if the police didn’t arrest him—hard without evidence, but still a risk.

  Yet Fallon accepted his application immediately, which had to be one of those miracles humans raved about all the time.

  “You up for a fight?” Fallon asked him during his first interview. “We have a world of cleaning up to do.”

  Bast didn’t think twice before agreeing. Still, guilt weighed down on him. The police’s background checks clearly sucked, and here was this fae, giving Bast a chance when it was the last thing he deserved.

  “Sir, I must warn you, I used to be an assassi—”

  “It’s not on public record and you’ve never been arrested, so I don’t care,” Fallon countered without hesitating. “We all have shit in our past, but to do this job, I need someone who bends the law just enough to get things done. Someone who might have crossed the big lines, but wants to atone for that. Redemption is a mighty motivator, Sebastian Dhay.” At that, he stared at Bast point blank. “So, tell me. Are you the fae I’m looking for?”

  “Yes, sir!”