by Lola Gabriel
10
Not surprisingly, the conversation became non-existent following Reef’s confession, but he didn’t have time to worry about how his words had affected Penny. He had been half-expecting a knock at the door, or for an Authority team to appear at any moment, knowing that Elsa had been closely monitoring the mortals—as per his request.
How was he supposed to know that the girl from his dream was real? He’d never had a premonition like that before, but he knew there was a reason his subconscious had sent him such an urgent warning: he needed to protect Penny at all costs.
As impossible as it was for Reef to accept that he was meant to save a mortal, he couldn’t explain away the feeling of headiness that swept over him every time his gaze fell on her. It wasn’t just that the redheaded woman was beautiful. Beauty was something Reef encountered a hundred times a day, both with ethereal beings and the mortals on the Sunside. He was not easily consumed by overwhelming attraction, his tastes more refined than some of his other brothers’. Lennox had always been a ladies’ man, and even Keppler, with whom Reef was closest, never shied away from an attractive being.
But Reef, despite his magnetism, preferred to keep to himself. Not to say he didn’t enjoy the company of the opposite sex; it was just hardly something that weighed on his mind. If anything, Reef preferred the solitude of his own presence to the company of others.
Then why was it so difficult to leave Penny?
It had taken hours to clean the abandoned apartment, although once Reef had gotten through the crux of the spiderwebs, Penny had located some old rags and helped to wipe down the furniture and walls. Reef barely remembered the flat, but that was because he hadn’t been there in at least two centuries. The furniture and staples in the cupboards indicated that there hadn’t been anyone else for a long while, either.
It was the safest place Reef could envision for Penny, as long as she didn’t leave or look out the windows.
“You’re just going to leave me here?” she protested, her eyes huge. “What will I do if someone comes?”
“No one is going to come. There’s no reason for it.” He gestured at the settees and antiquated tables. “This place hasn’t been touched in centuries. There’s no feasible reason for one of my brothers to come here, and no one else would dare.”
“I…” Penny faltered, and Reef could see the desperation on her face. “What will I do?”
“I’ll bring you a tablet or a laptop when I come back,” he promised. “There is realm-wide Wi-Fi down here, so you can surf the net. I won’t be long.”
At least, he hoped that was true. He knew he needed to get to Elsa and ensure she had not only kept her mouth shut, but that she also stayed out of it. And he needed to find Violet, too.
“You have Wi-Fi down here?”
“We have everything they have on the Sunside… except for the sun.” Penny blinked at him and slowly shook her head.
“You’re filthy,” she muttered, turning away, presumably so he wouldn’t see the look of upset on her face, though it was hard to miss. “You’re going to attract attention if you go anywhere like that.”
“I’ll go back to the palace and shower,” Reef replied.
“The palace?”
“It’s more than just a palace. I mean, it was at one time, but now it’s a multi-functional facility that employs thousands in various fields. My offices are there, as well as my home.”
“Wait!” Penny yelled as he reached for the door. He paused and glanced at her. “I— How did you find out that, uh… mortals were coming here? How long have you known?”
“Not long enough,” Reef answered bitterly. “I have to go, Penny. I’ll bring you something to eat, too. Just be patient. Look around. Maybe you’ll find something to read.”
Oddly, a glimmer of excitement lit her eyes, and she scanned the apartment with renewed interest.
“I bet,” she murmured, “there must be some ancient literature in here.”
“Probably.” Reef hesitated, feeling like he should say more to her, but something held him back. Before he could formulate the words, Penny flung herself forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her breath was hot in his ear, and it sent thrills of elation through his body. His arms encircled her waist automatically, and their bodies pressed together.
What is she doing?
“If something happens to me,” Penny said, a slight crack in her voice, “I want you to know I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
Reef’s back tightened, and his grip around her waist firmed. “Nothing is going to happen to you,” he swore. “Not while you’re under my protection.”
Penny dropped her head back slightly and peered into his face, the uncertainty still clear, but Reef wasn’t having it. He lowered his lips to hers, deigning to strike the worry from her face, if only for a moment.
He wasn’t prepared for the wave of electricity coursing through his veins when their mouths touched, the sweetness of her breath catching him off guard. A small warning sounded in his mind, but he silenced it, determined to relish the fleeting moment of ecstasy empowering them both in that instant.
Penny’s lips parted, and Reef saw her eyes close, her lashes tickling the edge of his nose. Another shock encased his body as her tongue darted out to meet his, and the two teased each other gently. His hands slid along the small of her back, caressing her toned buttocks and drawing her against his solid form. They seemed to be falling into one another, sharing the same flesh, seeping into each other as if by osmosis.
Reef didn’t remember sinking to the floor or undressing Penny’s pristine body. His face slowly dropped along the curves of her skin, sampling the saline succulence in every crevice he could find. Her breaths began to escape in short, raspy gasps, her fingers knotting into his hair to drive him lower, encouraging his mouth on every avenue of her body.
Penny’s legs draped over his wide shoulders, and Reef continued his discovery of his new treasure, his kisses growing more heated, her legs and body tensing with every lap of his tongue.
It’s never felt this good, this right, he thought, pressing his mouth to hers again. Their eyes met, and once more, they were both overcome with the feeling that they were one, possessed by the other and uniform in every way.
Penny’s sighs became louder, moans of pleasure filling Reef’s ears until he was matching her cries with grunts of his own. His slow movements turned harder, almost feral, and the quivering of Penny’s form beneath him only heightened his desire for her. With another loud groan, the lovers met in unison, the apex of their pleasure joining into a shuddering mess.
Penny slowly opened her eyes, but Reef’s had never closed, his need to remember every detail of her face insurmountable. If he never touched her again, he would forever recall the perfect symmetry of Penny’s face.
“You’ve been watching me the whole time?” she exhaled, sounding embarrassed.
“You’re beautiful. Of course I was.” A blush stained her cheeks, and Reef wondered if she wasn’t accustomed to being told she was gorgeous. It seemed improbable, but the look of almost childish embarrassment told him otherwise.
Mortal men are idiots, he thought, falling slightly to the side, alleviating the weight he’d had on Penny, but they remained pressed together. Gently, Reef traced the lines of her face and stopped.
“My gods,” he muttered, withdrawing his hand. “I am filthy. How did you let me touch you with these hands?”
Penny’s mouth curved into a becoming smile, and she answered him with a kiss. “I was desperate to make you stay,” she teased.
“Oh, I see,” Reef laughed. “This was an ambush. The things you do in wartime, huh?” Her smile didn’t falter, and she continued to study his face.
“I just wanted you to understand that I am grateful for what you’ve done for me.”
Reef tensed slightly. “You didn’t have to sleep with me for that,” he told her tersely. “A simple ‘thank you’ would have sufficed.”
Penny’s smile did fade then. “You didn’t have to make it ugly, Reef,” she replied, pulling herself up and pushing his leg away from her. She reached for her shirt and slipped it over her head.
“I didn’t. You did.” Reef also scrounged for his clothes, and together, they dressed quietly, their backs to each other. Still, he couldn’t help but cast her a covert look. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he told her from the door. Penny didn’t answer, but she nodded to indicate she’d heard him.
Again, he was struck with the desire to say something else to her. He didn’t, though, and when he let himself into the hallway, shutting the door behind him, Reef idly wondered if he hadn’t just picked a fight with Penny to keep her at a distance.
That’s going to be difficult now, he thought grimly. I would say that ship sailed the second I kissed her.
Elsa wasn’t in the offices when Reef arrived, and she wasn’t answering her cell, either. Reef’s anxiety mounted as he raced through the tapes, watching the events that had unfolded at the portal. To his relief, the aftermath had not been recorded, as he had perfectly recalled the blind spots of the cameras. While the footage clearly showed him leaving with Penny, it didn’t show where he’d gone.
That’s why no one came for her, Reef reasoned. Still, he had to deal with Elsa before the story about a mortal wandering around the Hollows hit the papers. There was only so much damage control Reef could manage by himself.
He drummed his fingers on the table as he erased the footage and sat back, deciding his next move. Judging by the description that Penny had given him of Violet, he guessed that she was a sprite. They tended to look much younger than they were and believed in auras guiding them, but that didn’t narrow the search down any more than his original search for the portal she had used. There were thousands, if not millions of sprites in the Hollows. Surely half of them were brunettes.
Even if I happened to narrow down where she is, Reef thought to himself, she’s not going to show her face back in the Hollows until things settle down. She has to know she left one behind. She won’t risk getting herself pinched by the Authority.
It was inconceivable to Reef that anyone would try something so stupid. The risks were far too great on every possible level. And for what? A few bucks? Even the lowliest scum in the Trenches wouldn’t risk themselves like that. There had to be more to it than just that.
Of course, there was no way of knowing what Violet was thinking if he couldn’t get his hands on her.
“What are you doing?”
Reef whirled in his chair and exhaled with relief when he saw Elsa standing there, peering at him from behind her wire-rimmed glasses. “I’m thinking. I have a lead on our tour guide.”
Elsa didn’t move from her spot at the doorway, and she stared at him.
“She uses the name Violet, and she’s a sprite—or at least, I think she is,” Reef said.
“Did the living mortal tell you that?”
“Who else?” he retorted. “I’m not psychic.”
“Where did you take her?”
Reef glowered at her. “Since when do you ask me questions?” he snapped, and Elsa had the good sense to balk.
“I was just in the barracks, and I thought you might have brought her there.”
Reef continued to stare at her. “And?”
“And nothing, Mr. Parker.”
“There’s no need to go around telling the other officers about what happened at the portal,” he instructed her. “Have you told anyone?”
Elsa hesitated, and Reef felt a sinking sensation in his stomach.
“I deployed a tactical team to standby.” He stared at her purposefully. “But I didn’t send them to back you up when you left with the girl.”
“What did you tell them?”
Elsa shook her mousy brown hair vigorously. “Nothing!” she exclaimed, and Reef believed her. She wouldn’t risk lying to him. The punishment would be worse than just firing her.
“They don’t need to know anything more than they do. They already know too much.”
“Yes, Mr. Parker.”
Reef continued to stare at her for a long time, his mind whirling. He knew what he was doing was wrong, and despite what he’d told Penny, the repercussions of learning he was hiding a mortal—one he had made his lover—was going to be bad for him. It was true that he ran the Hollows Authority, but if his brothers learned what he was doing, particularly Wilder…
Reef tossed the thought away. He knew he’d find a way to get Penny out to the Sunside before things ever got that far. Besides, I can handle Wilder. He’s not the boss, no matter what he thinks.
“Well? What are you doing now?” Reef demanded, regaining his look of stoic contempt. “I gave you an instruction.”
Elsa nodded quickly, hanging her head in nervousness. “I’ll see what I can find out about this Violet.”
Reef rose and nodded curtly at her. “Good. Keep me posted.” He stalked past her and headed into the corridor, his heart beating so rapidly, he wondered if Elsa could hear it. He was sure she would go for the footage immediately and see that he’d erased it. It wasn’t like she needed it. There was nothing of consequence on it.
No matter how Reef justified it, he knew he’d done something he shouldn’t have, and it nagged at him.
You’re protecting Penny. You promised to keep her safe, and you better honor that promise. You’ve done a lot worse than erase some tapes in your life. He made his way up into the main floor of the palace, intent on finding some supplies for the apartment. Penny must be going out of her mind with boredom right now, he thought. There’s nothing to do there. I need some books, a tablet, food, maybe some cleaning supplies that aren’t vinegar—
“Are you going to watch where you’re going, or are you trying to run into someone?” Reef snapped out of his mental list and looked at Wilder, who had just descended from the staircase.
“If I run into someone, it’s bound to hurt them more than it’ll hurt me,” Reef replied lightly, stepping around his brother.
“Reef, I need to discuss something with you.”
Reef waved absently. “Not now. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“It’s important.”
Groaning inwardly, Reef spun on the stairs and looked at Wilder. “What is it?”
“What’s going on with the mortal situation?”
“I already told you I’m on it, Wilder. Now if only you would remember what I told you about staying out of my business—literally. This is my business.”
“You still have Oscar Lucas in the barracks.”
Reef’s eyes narrowed slightly. “How do you know about that?”
“I know everything that happens in these palace walls, dear brother,” Wilder said. “I know everything that happens everywhere in the Hollows.” There was an unmistakable undertone to his words for which Reef did not much care.
“Ah, you’re right,” he agreed, moving down one step to meet his brother’s face at eye level. “The proper question is, what business is it of yours what I do with the beings who break the law on my watch?”
“You’re getting testy, Reef,” his brother said. “I only asked a question.”
“Wilder, you and I both know you never just ask a question for the sake of asking a question. What do you want to say? Spit it out; I’m in a rush.”
A cold smile formed on Wilder’s lips. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with the mortal who’s been spotted down here, would it?”
Reef’s blood turned to ice chips, and he stared at his brother blankly.
“I’m sorry, what?” he asked, his mind spinning. There was only one way Wilder could have known, and that was if Elsa had told him. When I’m done with her, she’s going to wish she was in purgatory.
“Don’t play coy with me, Reef, it doesn’t suit you.”
“Matters of Hollows Authority are just that, Wilder—matters of Hollows Authority. I don’t need to tell you anything.”
Wilder’s
face twisted into a scowl, and he glared at Reef. “What is your deal? If it wasn’t for me, you never would have found out about this breach in the first place. Why are you being so secretive?”
“And you only knew because you struck a deal with a thief behind my back! You undermined me among my staff! You really think you’re the first person I’m going to run to with information?” Reef snapped back.
Wilder didn’t even have the good grace to look abashed. “Let’s just agree to disagree on this one, shall we?” Reef snorted and turned back to keep climbing the stairs. “Reef!”
“Holy hell, Wilder, what?”
“Do you know where she is?”
Reef paused, biting on his lower lip before glancing nonchalantly over his shoulder, his face not betraying an ounce of his concern. “Who?”
“You know who!” Wilder growled. “The mortal girl!”
“Oh. Nope.” He continued up the steps, but Wilder wasn’t finished.
“I hope she finds a way back to the Sunside soon,” he called after Reef. “Because I just executed a realm-wide kill order on her.”
Reef froze, his bowels turning to water. He spun back around, color draining from his face. “You did what?”
Wilder nodded, grinning like a Cheshire cat. It was obvious that he wasn’t bluffing.
“Yep. Every citizen has carte blanche to take her down. There’s a four-million-dollar bounty on her head.”
11
Reef had proven to be a poor prophet. No matter where Penny looked for something to read or entertain herself, she came up empty-handed. She didn’t find so much as a deck of cards, so she decided to return to the daunting task of cleaning the apartment.
It was a strange set-up: it had no bathroom, and the kitchen consisted of only cupboards, with no stove or fridge. There wasn’t even a place to set one up, and while there was an old-fashioned basin, a sink was out of the question. It wasn’t wired with electricity, but Penny did find several candles and brittle matches, which she lit to enhance her lighting.