Binding Curse: Dark Fae Hollow 4 (Dark Fae Hollows)

by T. F. Walsh

  Scar guy pointed to the couch and grunted.

  I strolled toward the cabinet, checking out miniature statues of horses. A shame these animals were extinct.

  Behind me, Axel lounged on a sofa as if on vacation. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’d been here before. So, what business did Axel have with a gang leader? Unhelpful scenarios snapped across my mind, offering nothing but concern. Did Axel work for the gang, doing odd jobs to get paid?

  A loud clap had me turning my attention to the doorway. A blonde man in his mid-forties joined us. Had to be the broker because who else would prance around in his underwear with a peacock pattern and smirk without a blemish of shame. Light hair covered his chest. He wasn’t a huge man, but I guessed since he had a gang, it didn’t matter if he was strong physically or not. Six muscle heads squeezed into the room after him, and the spacious area felt cramped.

  “Axel.” The broker took his hand, shaking it. Axel was on his feet and pulled the man into an embrace.

  With Axel’s tattoos, I figured he’d been involved in shady crap, but the leader seemed to remember him fondly. After this, I was grilling the ass off Axel about his past. I mean, sure, it was none of my business, but details weren’t adding up. He lived in an apartment with the elderly and families as if guarding them, and yet he kept seedy characters as friends. I’d never had the chance to delve deep into the human community or understand why they operated the way they did.

  “Come sit.” The broker waved me over. “Don’t fret, I know you’re a PPD officer, and if I wanted you gone, you’d be dead already.”

  Trepidation traveled from my head to my toes. I gave him an acknowledging nod and walked around the couch, showing him I wasn’t afraid to turn my back. I plopped down next to Axel while the broker sat adjacent to us on a single sofa. Guards were positioned around us. If we had to make a quick escape, I’d easily take down two men. Axel could handle three. We’d dive through the bay window in the corner before anyone could reach us.

  The broker relaxed into the seat and crossed his legs. Thank the princess because I wasn’t sure I could keep a straight face while he wore that ridiculous peacock-patterned underwear.

  “Let’s get down to business,” he said. “You’re here to discover who your binding partners are.”

  I remained locked on the spot for a moment, questions swirling in my mind, and they had zero to do with his statement. But because I didn’t feel an inch of deception, maybe this guy believed his own crap. I regretted not grilling Axel further about him because a strange sensation folded around me as if I’d just walked into a hungry bear’s den.

  Chapter 19

  I shifted in my seat, the leather sofa stiff and hot. So, I leaned forward, resting elbows on my thighs, staring into the darkest mocha eyes. The broker had tanned skin. Healed scars dotted his torso. No festering lesions or injuries, meaning he kept his hands clean. I suspected the same couldn’t be said for his guards.

  “What else do you know about us?” I asked, curious to pick a loose thread in his scam because so far, no deception radiated off him.

  He broke into a sudden laughter, powerful and explosive. “Axel, shame on you. Why didn’t you tell the girl who I was?”

  “She knows,” Axel responded, his tone stoic as if holding back emotions.

  The broker tapped the side of his nose. “Clever girl. Okay, let’s get down to business. How will you be paying for my services?”

  “How do I know you’re not making up shit?” Seen too many criminals brought into the precinct who were running a similar con.

  “Listen.” His voice darkened as his gaze narrowed. “Nothing happens until I’m paid.”

  “What’s your fee?” Axel interrupted.

  “Well, here’s the thing. I have plenty of resources, guards, money. Everything a man could want for a comfortable life.” He licked his lips and uncrossed his legs, scooting to the edge of the sofa. “So I need you both to do something for me.”

  Axel swallowed loudly, and his lips twisted into a grim line. Should I be concerned? What bothered me more were the guards because I suspected this wasn’t a visit we could walk away from if we decided to change our minds.

  “I want you to find my binding partner,” the broker said. My gaze fell to his wrist with the binding insignia—twelve black rings and a red one, intertwined. Same one every citizen of Kutia Hollow received after they were linked to another just after birth.

  The room fell silent.

  I erupted into a laugh and my eyes teared from the joke. “If we could find a binding partner, why the hell would we be visiting you?” I nudged Axel and moved to get up. “Let’s go. We’re wasting our time.”

  “Sit,” the broker’s voice bellowed, and several guards stepped closer, towering over us.

  Shivers coated my arms. I suspected these beefy men wouldn’t hesitate to rip our heads off if asked.

  “I can’t foresee my match,” he said. “And to secure my future, I need to uncover who it is. That’s where you come in. Discover who he or she is and bring them here. Simple.”

  “There’s nothing easy about that. If it were, you would have found them yourself.” I ran a hand down my face, convinced we had to leave because this dickhead would ask for the impossible then murder us for not giving him what he requested. Or we ought to agree to his ludicrous ideas and ditch him.

  “Once you bring back my binding partner,” he continued. “I will use my sight to see if I can detect both of your links.”

  “If,” I repeated. Figures. “So no guarantees, right?”

  “There are no assurances in life, just that one day we’ll die.”

  “That’s grim.” Living with such a dark perspective must be depressing.

  The broker watched me. “Because I’m a man of my word. Pay me what I want, and I’ll not only keep you alive but tell you what a fat council rep who visited me last week sought.”

  Fuck. Eduard had visited him? I huffed. “You might as well ask us to bring you a star from the sky. It’s impossible.”

  “Whoever is my binding match will be a fae who shares my ability,” the broker explained. “I’ve searched everywhere with no success.”

  Before today, I had no idea the broker existed, but now he was saying someone else might have the same ability, and we had to track them down? He was insane.

  “Okay, we’ll do it.” Axel pushed to his feet.

  Was he going for the say anything to get out of there deal? Okay, I’d play along. “Agreed.”

  “Good, good. Now as a little extra incentive,” the broker’s voice lowered as he continued, “if either of you doesn’t return with my fee within three days, I will hunt you both down. There is nowhere you’d be able to hide from me.”

  I froze and studied him. Was he joking?

  Axel was pulling at my elbow, guiding me to the exit. “Okay, you can trust us.”

  “I like you, Axel.” The broker was alongside us, clapping Axel on the back, his men moving aside for us to leave. “I have faith in you to not let me down.”

  Once outside, someone shoved me forward, along with Axel, and we stumbled away from the house. I spun as the door slammed shut. “Fucking son of a bitch. That guy is a madman.” I turned to Axel who was deep in thought, his gaze miles away. “So,” I said, “we’ll work on another lead?”

  Axel’s eyes fastened on me. “Did you not hear his warning? He’ll kill us and make sure we suffer.” He pushed into a fast walk back toward the tent town. “Don’t underestimate him. Trust me. Now, let’s move. We have three days.”

  “You’re not considering doing this, are you? This is a ridiculous mission.” I had to admit, uncovering why Eduard visited the broker nagged at my brain.

  But I had no other leads. I sighed and stayed close to Axel. “This is an idiotic idea. Where are we going to find this fae? Back in the city? How will we know who it is?”

  “The broker gave us a clue.”

  “Yeah, one that wasn’t helpful.” I tightened the j
acket tied around my waist, confused as to our next steps. How did one of his men have a scent tracker ability, anyway? Was that why Axel had panicked? And I’d say vulsines were a bigger danger than some weird gang leader… in peacock underwear.

  “I might know of a fae,” Axel began. “It’s far, but—”

  I stopped in my tracks and seized Axel’s hand, so he quit his marching. “What? You just happen to remember someone else who might identify partners, and yet you let us go on this wild goose chase to meet a psycho?”

  “Hey, it was your idea to visit the broker, not mine.”

  “Yes, because we were following a dumb lead. But if these people existed, why hasn’t anyone hunted them down, forced them to find their other link? And why am I only now hearing about them?”

  “Listen, this is a hunch on something I’d heard years ago, and I never thought anything of it until now. This woman I knew crossed paths with a fae who had proclaimed to tell her who her binding partner was.”

  “And, was it true?”

  Axel’s lips pinched to the side. “Don’t think so. The guy killed her a day later.”

  “What? That sounds like an urban legend. And that’s what you want us to follow… a fabricated lie? Every evidence of these myths I’ve traced always lead to a dead end.”

  He gripped his hips, glaring my way. “A reputable source told me. He spoke to the woman a day before she died.”

  I released a loud exhale on purpose. “Yeah, the mysterious guy had probably killed her for her money and then made up a story about himself. That’s not evidence.”

  I traipsed toward the tent village, unsure what pissed me off more—following these stupid cryptic clues or letting myself believe they might be real, and why Axel seemed to know all these people no one else in the city had heard about. The broker was in his house laughing at us.

  “You do what you want,” Axel said. “I’m going to Nerekhta to find this fae. I don’t see you coming up with anything.” He pushed ahead of me.

  “Are you kidding me?”

  He faced me. “If you plan to join, hurry. It will take us more than half a day to reach the town, and that’s if we catch the only train still functioning out of Moscow.”

  Was I considering this? As much as I told myself this was absurd, what were our other options? I had to swallow my pride and get this done, at least until I got my head on straight.

  Axel stormed into the tent village, not slowing.

  “Fuck.” I kicked into a run after him. Looked like we were doing this—tracking down someone I doubted existed.

  The train carriage rattled beneath me. The place stunk of piss, and the fresh air rushing into the compartment from the half open sliding door did zilch to clear the smell. I sat on the hessian material, though the cold numbed my butt. Axel was beside me, his legs stretched out, hands folded over his lap, chin tilted into his chest. Was he sleeping? I glanced around to the dozen other stowaways who had jumped onto the cargo train when we did. It was the quickest way to travel. Across from me were piles of sacks. A rat scurried out from a corner and darted inside one. I cringed, hating them worse than cockroaches.

  We’d been on the train for two hours heading to Nerekhta, a small Russian town, and had over three hours to go. My stomach growled out loud. What I’d give now for a mushroom soup with a side of cheese pancakes. The last decent meal we’d eaten was back at Axel’s friend’s house for breakfast.

  A young family huddled at the other end of the compartment, and the shuffling of wrappers told me they were smart enough to bring snacks on the trip. Why didn’t we?

  “Was that your stomach growling?” Axel mumbled.

  “Yep. Once we arrive in town, first thing in order is a meal, or I’ll eat my arm.”

  Axel laughed. “I’d like to see that.”

  I nudged him in his side. “Seriously, we should have brought food.”

  “Was thinking about it, but then we would have missed the train.” Axel straightened his posture and stretched his arms above his head, releasing a yawn.

  The crunch of footfalls drew my attention to a young boy, seven or eight years old, standing a few feet away. He offered a small bag containing trail mix.

  Axel pulled several silver coins from his pocket and gave them to the youngster. Axel placed the snacks in my lap. “See. Ask, and the universe shall deliver.”

  “Thanks. You surprise me with your kindness.” I stuffed my hand into the bag and filled my mouth with peanuts, sultanas, and a variety of seeds. I handed the bag to Axel who devoured half in one go and then closed his eyes again.

  The family in the corner broke out into a low hum, and the kids joined in, followed by the other passengers. I didn’t recognize the song, but it sort of flowed with the rhythm of the wheels on the tracks, the grunt of the engines. The community camaraderie had me joining in because it made me feel a part of their plight. Damn, I was an outcast and in a worse predicament. Only then did it hit me how alone I was. I’d been acting tough, but I had no one to turn to without getting them into trouble. Axel was my key.

  The growth along his jawline screamed rugged and added to his sexiness. His strong features were undeniable, and I couldn’t stop staring at his sweet lips, at the earlier cut that had now healed over. Warmth twirled inside me at the memory of his arms holding me tight. Since we’d met, he had this effect on me where I wanted nothing more than to fall into his embrace. Except that wasn’t helping us, only complicating things. But he went and kissed me with such intensity, I wouldn’t forget the moment.

  If our shitty situation resolved itself, would he consider spending time with me again? Ha. A week ago, I would have said hell no, insisting my home was in the city, following the rules. I blamed humans for our problems, refusing to understand why they lived in the Outlands. But that was me being narrow-minded.

  “I can sense you staring,” Axel said, a strand of mocha hair falling across his face.

  “Yeah, seeing how much dirt you have on your shirt.”

  He wiped a hand down his chest. “Checking me out is still checking me out.” When he opened his eyes, he winked, and for those few seconds, I softened beneath his gaze. What was wrong with me?

  Maybe it was exhaustion or hunger, but sitting next to Axel, our sides touching, left me comfortable and at ease. The last time I’d felt this way was in Talan’s company and look how that turned out. I shut my eyes and fought the images of Axel swirling in my mind. Nothing could happen between us, so daydreaming was me setting myself up for heartache. I wasn’t sure if I could handle losing anyone else close again.

  Remembering I’d put Nyx’s photo into my jacket when I was home, I reached into the inside pocket and pulled it out. I’d taken the shot a few weeks before her death. Her blonde hair was straight, the ends curling over her shoulders. She was too young for makeup and insisted she had no time for such girly nonsense. Not when the city needed help with resources. Her smile was genuine. Nine years might have passed since I had lost her, but it felt like yesterday. I choked and wiped my eyes. For you, Sis, I’ll stop the senseless deaths. No matter what it takes.

  Chapter 20

  “We’re here,” a soft voice whispered in my ear. So warm and inviting, I snuggled closer, adoring the blanket embracing me, the musky scent of reassurance.

  “As much as I’d love to continue holding you, if we don’t leave now, we’ll be doing a country tour of Russia.”

  Reality crashed into me, and I snapped to attention, sitting in the empty train carriage next to Axel.

  He had his arm around my waist, offering me a devilish grin.

  I untangled myself. “Sorry, must have fallen asleep.”

  “Happy for you to sleep with me anytime, but not right now.”

  Instead of balking at his insinuation, I fell into my thoughts, picturing Axel and me naked, fucking. Hell, I buzzed all over at the notion. Before I started drooling, I climbed to my feet, stretching my neck. “Why didn’t you wake me earlier?” I headed to the open door
and stared out into the night. In the distance sat a huge town with houses and warehouses illuminated by several spotlights.

  Axel hopped down and offered me a hand.

  I jumped out of the carriage on my own, my boots crunching pebbles. “Where to now?”

  “We’ll go to the Ryumochanaya Bar. It’s open twenty-four hours, and they serve food. A decent place to start.”

  We walked as the train behind us hissed and rolled down the tracks. Before long, we were crossing a field in the dark, yet I kept checking over my shoulders. Shadows crawled in my peripheral vision, and I hugged myself. Considering the recent attacks, I didn’t feel safe out there exposed.

  “You seem to know your way around. Have you traveled all over Russia?” I asked. Anything to break the silence and avoid the dread slithering up my legs.

  “I enjoy exploring.”

  A tingle buzzed beneath my skin, indicating Axel lied. Hell, the first time since I’d met him, but why over such a trivial thing. “Why are you lying?”

  “So anyway, when we get to Ryumochanaya’s, let me do the talking. And cover your fae marking, okay?”

  I stared at him as he eyed me, clear he wasn’t opening up. I untied my ponytail and fluffed out my hair, which cascaded to my waist. “Better?”

  A ghost of a smile touched his lips as his gaze trailed down my body. “Very much.” His voice was soft and left me giddy.

  By the time we reached the Russian village, it felt as if we’d walked into the old part of Moscow. Run-down wooden huts, and trees filled with dried leaves dotted the land. People walked the dirt road weaving down the center of the dilapidated town, though I suspected some buildings had been transformed into stores or bars. Lights poured out from a dozen establishments along this street where dried grass hung over the sides of the road. Russian folk music boomed from several directions, and the hum of voices reminded me of the place the officers from PPD visited. Would I ever get to join them again? Stop being stupid. I’d prove myself innocent, show them where the real danger lay, and then life would return to normal.