Dark Fae Cursed (Broken Court Book 1)

by Heather Renee

  Lastly, I drew on my magic and focused on my favorite part of the day. Calling forth my power, I made sure my hair was out of the way and let my hold go. My signature teal magic trickled from my fingertips and worked its way up my arms, wrapping around my shoulders.

  My wings emerged with hardly any effort, and I sighed with relief as my true self came to life.

  Some fae had gossamer wings, and others had leathery ones, but feathered ones were rare. Mine were made from the strongest feathers known to any supernatural and sharp as the finest blades in existence when I wanted them to be.

  I’d only known a handful of other fae like me, but never actually met any of them in person. So, for me, my wings were one-of-a-kind. They began between my shoulder blades, pitch black in color, and as they extended out just beyond my outstretched fingertips, they changed to a charcoal hue, giving my wingspan an ombre effect.

  My teal magic reflected off the hard edges of my pointed tips, and I let my undamaged robe fall to the ground. The feathers were magically capable of sliding through whatever material might be in their way to freedom.

  Pulling my wings closer, they wrapped around my torso, holding me tight and providing me with a sense of security I couldn’t get from anywhere else.

  I closed my eyes, soaking in the power for several minutes before drawing it back in. When I was done, I gave myself one more cursory glance and noticed the wrinkle I’d seen before was gone. My lips lifted and I turned for the shower, forgetting about my earlier worries.

  It was time to hunt a vampire.

  Chapter 2

  After I was dried off from my shower, I dressed in a leather corset, dark blue jeans, and my favorite black heeled boots before taking a peek in the mirror one last time. My plan included making the vampire think I was searching for a good time, so I could entice him with little fuss.

  Vampires might be weak to their needs, but unfortunately, they weren’t stupid. Everything about me needed to be perfect.

  Using my hands, I adjusted my cleavage then puffed up my hair and headed to the door. Neva was waiting for me, also dressed to the nines, which surprised me. “Are you coming with me?”

  Normally, she only organized my outings and didn’t participate in them, but if she wanted to expand her usefulness, I was more than happy to let her watch a master at work.

  “Something about tonight doesn’t feel right. I know you’re capable of handling yourself, but I’d like to be close by in case you need me.” Neva’s thick ebony curls bounced around her cherub face.

  “Just don’t get yourself bitten by a bloodsucker.” I tossed a wink her way before walking through the front door. Instead of having her give more info at the house, she could do it on the way.

  While I enjoyed pushing Neva past her comfort zone, I had a lot of respect for her as another supernatural and hoped one day she’d be able to thank me for being the person in her life that didn’t let her lay down and be bullied by the monsters of our world. She might have been decades older than me, but I’d been through hell and grown up much faster than any other supernatural I knew.

  When we reached the elevator, I entered my code for the garage and turned toward the glass windows of the enclosure to take in the city. The moon was high in the sky, but with the light pollution, there wasn’t a single star visible. My apartment sat on top of one of the most prestigious buildings in LA on Wilshire Boulevard, and nearly everyone here valued their privacy.

  Neva stayed quiet, even as we exited the elevator and walked the few spaces until Black Widow came into view. My fingers traced over her sleek lines until Neva tossed me the keys. The car was my pride and joy. I loved her even more than my high-rise apartment.

  She was a Ferrari 488 Spider and worth every moment I spent torturing the sleazy car dealership owner. I’d witnessed him treat his teen son like shit because he wanted to try out for the school musical instead of the football team. When I was done with him, I’d not only gotten a new car, but the kid was enrolled in acting classes.

  I slid into the plush leather seat that hugged my body perfectly and waited for Neva to do the same before starting the car. I pressed my thumb against the ignition, then enjoyed the vibrations as over six hundred horsepower roared to life. Gods, I loved this car.

  “It’s like a wet dream, isn’t it?” I grinned at Neva.

  She grimaced but indulged me with a nod anyway.

  “Where did the witches say we’d find this vampire, and what do I need to know about him?” I asked over the purr of the motor as I drove out of my parking space.

  The elf took her phone out and read the screen. “Beatrix said he usually hangs out at Warlock and his name is Dante. Here’s a picture of him.”

  I soaked in every detail of the image. His brunet hair and golden skin were a stark contrast to his dark, ominous eyes set just above a pointed, yet slightly crooked, nose. Probably from putting it where it didn’t belong. There was even a faint scar above his right eye. This guy was definitely scrappy. Even better for me.

  While I couldn’t deny he was alluring even just from a picture—probably the bad boy vibe calling to me—I wouldn’t have thought he was worth the trouble of capturing alive. Then again, I didn’t like to ask too many questions. As long as the request didn’t check one of my hard-no boxes, I rarely ever second-guessed my assignments. The pay days were usually worth it, too, ranging from money to extravagant items, like my high-rise apartment, all the way to magical favors owed.

  “We haven’t been to Warlock for fun in a while. Maybe we can have a drink while we’re there,” I said to Neva once I was done taking in the bloodsucker. She hadn’t been to the club on business with me, but I’d taken her several times just to loosen her up.

  “Just don’t mess with the celebrities until after we’re done with the vampire.” Neva replied with a sigh, likely remembering the last time we were at the ritzy club that was merely nicknamed Warlock by supernaturals and was where the magically enhanced celebrities liked to let loose.

  It wasn’t a coincidence that Chris Hemsworth was perfect for the role of Thor. Everything about him was supernaturally superior, and I meant everything.

  “You have a little drool on your chin, Ms. Lucinda.” Neva smirked as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.

  Surprisingly, traffic was light, and we arrived at Warlock in record time. The valet took my keys, his eyes unable to stray from my chest, and I tapped him on the nose with a shock of magic. “Enjoy them all you want.”

  The young kid blushed, eyes bright with my power as he muttered an apology, then slipped into the car without another word or longing gaze.

  “Did you forget about the part where the witches asked you to stop messing with the humans, Ms. Lucinda?” Neva asked as I joined her on the sidewalk and skipped the line, but I ignored the question. It was time to play my part.

  Gregory, the beast of a man who guarded the entrance, gave me a once-over. “Lucy, it’s been a while.” He glanced at his watch. “And you’re here earlier than normal. Leaves more time for trouble.”

  I offered a sultry smile. “I know, but I just have a quick thing inside, and I won’t cause a scene.”

  He grimaced. “That’s what you said last time.”

  “But I promise this time. In and out, like I was never even here.” Sometimes I preferred to use force and magic to get what I wanted, and other times it was suitable to simply make acquaintances. I knew the moment I stepped into LA two years ago that it was going to be my home—the hotel-hopping could only work for so long. So, while I’d caused some commotions here and there with the humans, I’d also managed to make some allies along the way.

  He rubbed a hand over his bald head. “Alright, go on in.”

  Pulling a hundred from my corset, I ran the edges of the bill down his cheek before tucking it into the pocket of his silk shirt. “You’re the best, Gregory.”

  His light skin blushed as he moved the rope out of the way and allowed us in. Others still in line complai
ned, but he yelled at them to shut it, and I grinned. I’d made the right call when adding a club bouncer to my list of people I liked.

  Neva took in the heavy atmosphere of alcohol and sexual tension with a dash of magic while I searched the booths and couches for the mark. Half of the club was filled with humans and the other with supernaturals. Ignoring those who didn’t give off a magical presence, my eyes traveled around the dimly lit room. I caught glimpses of a few witches, several shifters, and a handful of vampires, but not the one from the picture.

  A waitress walked up to us, carrying a tray of empty glasses. “Would you like me to find you a table, Ms. Morrow?”

  I waved my hand dismissively. “No, we’re not ready to sit just yet.”

  Her face scrunched in confusion, but I didn’t have time to explain myself to a human who wouldn’t understand anyway. I grabbed on to Neva’s hand and pulled her toward the bar where we wouldn’t stand out so much. “Stay close to me. Once we spot him, this should move quickly.”

  Even under the dim lights, I could see her eyes widen and knew she was already overwhelmed. She could wrangle supernaturals on a smaller scale just fine when organizing my assignments, but being crammed into a building with a couple hundred people and pulsing music was a different story.

  Wind blew across my neck, and my indigo hair brushed across my shoulder. There were no open windows in the club that I’d spotted, and no fans graced the ceiling above me, which left me to believe someone was using magic.

  I searched the area, not only for the vampire, but for anyone paying too much attention to us. Nothing stood out, and the bar was still devoid of one vampire named Dante. A growl of frustration built in my chest.

  If I was a dirty bloodsucker looking for an easy mark, where would I be?

  Neva tugged on my hand. “What’s in the back corner over there?”

  I followed where she nodded and saw there was a new addition to the club since I’d last been. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

  The elf didn’t argue, but also didn’t take her eyes off me as I moved through the crowd. A man approached me when I was halfway to the exit. “Hey there, sugar.”

  I was pretty sure he meant to purr the words, but instead his voice was obnoxiously low with an irritating wheeze.

  “Not tonight, fleabag.”

  He grabbed my arm. “Oh, come on, sweetheart. You didn’t come here dressed like that to go home alone.”

  I moved closer and lowered my voice. “If you want to keep your hand and balls, I suggest you let go of me right the hell now. And if I catch you harassing another woman because she felt the need to dress up for a fun night out, I will find you, then make sure you know how it feels to be the victim of a predator.”

  His eyes glazed over in fear, but he’d yet to release his hold on me. I moved in closer, wanting to make my point and move on, and grabbed the collar of his button up shirt. “If you think I’m kidding, ask Gregory about Lucy.” Then, I shoved the human trash away and he stumbled to the floor, but I didn’t stick around long enough to see if he got up.

  Instead, I beat my darkness back into submission that the scumbag had caused to rise, once again begging me to kill. I wouldn’t be ready to unleash the inner me until we had Dante in hand, so I focused back on the task of finding out what was beyond the door I could now see people moving in and out of. Once I made my way past the bumping and grinding of people, I found myself in an outside bar of sorts and wondered if that was where the wind I’d felt before had been from.

  Before I could ponder too much about it, I found who I’d come for. The vampire sat in a corner with a human in his lap. Her eyes were foggy from his magic, and I knew if I didn’t act soon, she’d be too much of a distraction to get his attention in the way I wanted.

  They stood from their spot, and I retreated back to the door. The redhead could barely walk on her own in four-inch heels and the tight black dress she had on, but I knew that wasn’t the only thing hindering her ability to stand straight.

  I hadn’t counted on Dante already having made his mark for the night, but it wouldn’t stop me. Vampires weren’t the only predator expert at luring in their prey. Plus, I’d promised Gregory I wouldn’t make a scene, so it was time to see how good my corset really worked.

  When the group of humans ahead of the vampire moved through the exit, I positioned myself in the doorway. With my back pressed against one side and my left leg up, I pressed my heeled boot against the frame, effectively blocking it while undoing the top button to my corset. Black lace peeked out, and I tousled my hair just enough to hopefully call attention to what I wanted Dante to believe I was offering.

  I was pretending to play on my phone when a throat cleared, but I didn’t move from my post. I knew I was drawing the attention of others around us, but Dante’s was the only one I was truly concerned with. I wanted him nice and riled up before I gave him my full attention.

  He pushed against my foot, but it didn’t budge. “Are you going to move or is being a bitch your only goal tonight?” Dante snarled with an accent I couldn’t place.

  I bit my lip and slowly glanced up while using one hand to tuck strands of indigo hair behind my ear. “Oh, am I in your way? Silly me.” Slowly, I drew my leg down, watching Dante and confirming it was him by the scar above his eye.

  Once I was back on two feet, I moved in closer, giving him the full effect of what I wanted him to think he could have by adding a little magic to the shock that flowed between us as I purposely brushed my body against his while moving out of his way.

  His sharp intake of breath told me everything I needed to know. “Who are you?” he asked, barely holding on to the girl he should have been taking better care of.

  Vampires were allowed to feed on the humans as long as they didn’t leave a mess behind and made them forget about the experience. The majority of humans didn’t know about us, and we liked it that way. At least, most of us did.

  “I’m Lucy. I’m just passing through town and heard this was the place to go if I wanted to find a little fun, if you know what I mean. Looks like you’ve already found yours for the night. Pity.” I fluttered my lashes at him, and his eyes flashed red.

  He grinned seductively. “Well, I’m Dante, and this one is a regular. She’s here every time I visit.” He gestured to the nearly unconscious woman who was now swaying side to side. “Let me take her back, and I’ll make sure your time in LA is not only fun, but pleasurable.”

  Shit, he was actually very good at what he did. My skin heated from his continued accent I was beginning to think originated from Italy, and I was becoming curious as to what kind of pleasure he might be able to elicit from me. No longer did I wonder why the witches wanted him alive.

  If Dante was as powerful as I sensed, then he’d already be well aware of what I was. The fact that he thought I was just passing through was likely what lured him in, but little did he know, he was in for the surprise of his life.

  I sent off a text to Neva, letting her know to come check on the girl as soon as we walked away. I despised collateral damage and wasn’t sure what kind of vampire magic Dante was capable of. Plus, I didn’t need the Supernatural Council putting their noses in my business if something happened to a human while I’d been around.

  The council consisted of ten supernaturals from varying races, but mostly witches, vampires, and shifters. Their members changed every year and their identities were usually kept secret for their safety. They used supernatural hunters to investigate reports and dole out punishment, but I’d heard on rare occasions they’ve shown up in smaller groups to do it themselves when the situations were too sensitive to entrust to just anyone. Oh, what I would have given to watch that show.

  Just as I tucked my phone into my back pocket, the bloodsucker appeared at my side. “Your place or mine?”

  His dark eyes took another long moment to drink me in before I answered. “How about my hotel down the road? I drove here, and my car is in the back.”

&nbs
p; He smiled, fangs on full display, but I managed to hold in my cringe. In no way was I letting those things get near my skin. I was no vamp tramp.

  Some supernaturals enjoyed the thrill of letting a bloodsucker drink from them, but it had never been my brand of adventure.

  “You got it, gorgeous.” He tugged me closer and took a deep inhale of my hair. “We don’t see fae around here much. Trouble in paradise?”

  I shook my head and grinned. “Just on holiday.”

  That bit of information excited him further, and I was worried the job would be too easy to satisfy the darkness within me. I’d been hoping for a challenge, yet Dante appeared to be putty in my hands. It was convenient but disappointing, considering how slow business had been.

  As we moved through the back of the club, crowds parted just enough for us to walk through without bumping into everyone we passed. The natural predator vibe that exuded from Dante actually came in handy.

  He held the door open to the alleyway that led to the back lot where the cars were parked, but I wouldn’t be taking him in that direction. Instead, I pretended to stumble on the cobblestone alley and blushed before righting myself. “That bartender sure knows how to make a drink. Let me just text my friend that I’m leaving before you drive us.”

  Dante sauntered closer, his hands reaching for me, but I moved a few steps back until my screen was out of his view, and asked Neva to make sure Beatrix was ready for her toy after Neva had finished with the human. Since the elf had wanted to come along, I wanted her to feel helpful instead of just sitting inside until I was done.

  I didn’t wait for her reply as I slipped the phone away and gazed at Dante through hooded eyes. “I don’t think I can wait until we get back to my room.”

  Drawing my magic forward, I reached out and tugged on the collar of his crisp white dress shirt. He didn’t resist, so I took charge and pushed him against the brick wall of the alley. We were just beyond a wall of wooden pallets, mostly out of view from anyone else who might be leaving.