Tempting Ballad

by Katherine McIntyre

  The breath snagged in his throat as he whipped around the corner to another row of clawed sconces and dim lighting that stretched far enough to appear unending. The clatter of the footsteps above rose, meaning Jericho’s men closed in. Any moment, they’d pour down the staircase.

  Belle’s breaths came out ragged, and she lost strength at a rapid pace. If they didn’t find a way out soon, she’d probably drop, as would a few of the others. Who knew how often they fed their prisoners? Familiar rage twisted in his gut.

  His palm sweated, but he kept a tight grip on her hand, as if at any moment his sister might fade away.

  Leticia stopped at a door halfway down the end of the corridor and stepped in through it. One by one, they all followed. By the time he’d reached the door and they entered through, Leo and the ones in the forefront had opened the massive metal door on the opposite side of the room. A cold, fresh breeze swept through, one that tasted like salvation.

  “Onward and upward,” Ky shouted out, pumping his fist in the air as they continued rushing forward. Some of the prisoners stopped still at the sight of the night sky. Bile rose in his throat. Fuck, they’d been trapped here for so long.

  Belle had been imprisoned here for so damn long.

  “Come on, Belle,” Renn murmured as they closed in on the exit. “You’re free.”

  The velvety nighttime spread out beyond the door, and the distant whirr of traffic, muted conversations from the balconies, and the crunch of twigs from the nearby woods traveled his way. His heartbeat pounded so loud he could feel the thump, thump, thump between his ears.

  The moment his feet hit the pavement, a shock of relief jolted through him, one he’d never expected to feel. They weren’t off the premises yet, but the pounding of Jericho’s guards sounded remote. In this moment, he finally believed they stood a chance.

  They stepped out from the side of the manor onto the dark asphalt of the wraparound drive that wound through the entire place. He didn’t know if they’d be able to make it to wherever their car had been taken, but he’d fucking run on the road if he had to.

  One SUV wound its way toward them, followed by another, and another, and another.

  He squinted, trying to see past the headlights that glared in their face, highlighting their group of about twenty.

  In the driver’s seat of the first SUV sat Marisa Kincaid, looking as elegant and determined as her brother. Renn kept a tight grip on Belle and rushed forward. He bypassed several of the others, not pausing as he broke into a flat run. His sister stumbled along the way, but Renn didn’t falter. He’d be her strength now. They needed to get into the car and hightail it out of here before everything they’d worked toward came crashing down.

  He’d noticed Claude lingered nowhere in sight, and he hadn’t missed the way the man snuck out when they’d been in the middle of fighting. His stomach tightened. Somehow, he didn’t think the guy was rushing through the manor to try and find them help.

  Renn pushed his aching calves, urging his flagging body onward. He wove past Ky and Liz, past several of the others, until he lingered just behind Leo and Leticia. The passenger’s door of the SUV popped open, and Leo hopped in. Renn sucked in a breath and surged forward to grab the back door, yanking it open. He all but pushed Belle inside, who still hadn’t said a word to him since he’d found her in the cells. Based on her vacant expression, he’d be lucky if she ever did.

  Renn leapt in after, and Ky and Liz squeezed in with them, making for an uncomfortable fit.

  Leo turned to look back at them, their gazes meeting.

  Renn swallowed hard at the intense flare in Leo’s eyes, at the regard this man so effortlessly gave to him.

  He didn’t deserve an ounce of it.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Leo said, giving the command.

  Marisa hit the gas, and the car surged forward, carving through the driveway. The moment the wheels hit the road, she pressed down harder, and they flew.

  Silence reigned the entire car ride. Marisa drove with purpose, her gaze steady on the road and whatever destination she had in mind. Leo leaned back in his seat, staring at the ceiling of the car, and Liz rested her head on Ky’s shoulder. Ragged breaths filtered through, harsh over the subtle jazz music on the radio. Belle remained silent, and the exhaustion hit Renn so hard he couldn’t muster words if he wanted to.

  He focused on reining in his breaths and trying to return to some form of normalcy.

  Like that was something he could ever attain.

  His family had sold his sister. The Seelie King was dead, and he’d fallen for the man who’d orchestrated the assassination. The realization sank into his bones with a trepidatious newness that he couldn’t bear to face. Not after everything he’d gone through today.

  The car zoomed along the highway, the rhythmic whirr of the tires evening his breaths.

  “Leo, how did you do it?” Ky asked, tapping on the back of his seat. “The whole Seelie King thing?”

  “We set that in motion a while back,” Marisa said, even though her gaze didn’t leave the road. “During the Faneuil Hall attack when the King’s best soldiers all clustered there, I headed to the hotel the King stayed at. We’d been in the same hotel originally, so I remembered the layout and what room he stayed in. With the help of a few others, I made my way into the vents and installed a device in the vent outside of the King’s room.”

  “So what did you need Natalia and her crew for?” Renn asked, the curiosity bubbling up inside him. Leo’s propensity for thinking ahead continued to amaze him—everything about the man did, from his resilience to the hope he maintained through all of this.

  “We needed someone immune to platinum particles to set off the device. Anyone Seelie-born would’ve died, but a hunter could sneak into the hallway to release the particles without the slightest effect,” Leo responded, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Enter Natalia and her merry band of hunters.”

  Fucking brilliant. Because of course the man took advantage of every opportunity he could.

  “Where’s Claude?” Marisa murmured, an edge to her voice that belied her fears.

  “He’s gone,” Leo said in response, granite in his tone. “His was one of the families involved in Jericho’s drug empire, so when we refused to detour off of this path, he defected.”

  “Betrayed us, you mean,” Marisa responded, gripping the steering wheel so tight her knuckles whitened.

  Leo shrugged as if it didn’t affect him. Renn swallowed hard. He knew the man better than that. Leo let so few people in that Claude’s betrayal would’ve devastated him. Part of him longed to reach forward and touch, to reassure, to offer anything he could to take away some of Leo’s pain.

  After everything Leo Kincaid had done for him, after everything the man had opened up inside of him, the idea of walking away from this wrenched his insides, a loss he hadn’t anticipated.

  The car slowed, and Marisa flipped her turn signal on as she veered the car into the parking lot of Black and White Diner on the outskirts of Boston. The diner bustled with the Saturday night crowd, but there was plenty of space in the lot. When Marisa pulled in to park, Renn glanced back to catch a few of the other SUVs already making the turn in. They must’ve coordinated an escape location.

  Leo placed his hand on the back of Marisa’s seat to turn and look their way. “We’ll congregate out here, and then everyone can take a car and head their separate ways.” His golden gaze lingered on Renn with an intent that made his insides freeze over.

  This was it.

  He’d known from the beginning that this arrangement had an end. Hell, he’d been the one to drive that nail into the declaration. He’d replayed the other night with Leo in his mind again and again and again, wishing he had the courage to tell him the truth. To speak from his heart instead of his fears. However, the time for goodbyes had arrived, and Renn wasn’t ready.

  “Sounds good,” Ky said, reaching past Liz to pop the door open. “Don’t know how we’ll ever b
e able to thank you, man. If you need any help with your revolution, you know we’re good for an assist.”

  Leo’s lips turned in a genuine smile that lit his eyes. “I know you are.”

  At that, Liz and Ky tumbled out of the car. Within seconds, they’d looped around to the opposite side and opened the other door.

  Liz extended a hand to Belle and helped her down. She met Renn’s gaze. “We’ll take her over to the diner to wait for the others.”

  He nodded, unable to voice his thanks. He knew what they were doing. He slipped out of the back of the car, but when his feet hit the asphalt, he could barely feel it. Renn walked several paces forward until he reached the back of the car. He heard the front passenger’s door shut, the sound echoing in the cold air.

  Renn looked to the sky as the crunch of footsteps signaled Leo’s approach. The moon was almost full tonight, a magnificent silver orb casting gentle beams, so different than the sallow lights of this parking lot. The stars glittered up ahead with a distance that taunted him, like he could try to grasp for them his entire life and never come close.

  Leo settled next to him against the back of the car. Marisa strode past the two of them to go greet the other cars that would be arriving with their passengers. They had a lot of work ahead of them to rehabilitate the prisoners, and he had his own journey cut out for him with Belle. He understood Marisa did the same as Liz and Ky, giving them a chance to say goodbye.

  The thought lodged in his throat and didn’t budge.

  Renn dragged his gaze to Leo. “So, I guess this means you’re going public, right?”

  Leo nodded. “Claude knows far too much, and word will spread. However, I’ve amassed allies among the Seelie fae, the Unseelie fae, and the hunters. Natalia’s agreed to go public with us. We’re going to forge a way forward together—something different than the Courts.”

  Renn shook his head, the warmth suffusing through his chest. “If anyone can make a revolution happen, it’s you, Leo.”

  Leo turned to face him, the moonlight highlighting his pale green skin, placing those razor cheekbones and elegant chin on full display. Even with the scorch marks across his chest, the smudges of blood and dirt on his face, and the disarray of his raven strands, the man was so fucking gorgeous it took his breath away. Leo Kincaid was the once in a lifetime sort of opportunity, a man you’d have to be crazy to walk away from.

  Yet every time Renn opened his mouth to tell him the truth, his tongue froze.

  He reached forward and brushed his thumb across the smudge of dirt on Leo’s cheek. His heart hammered as if he were back in the manor and running faster than he believed possible.

  Leo reached for Renn’s hand and pressed his lips to the inside of his wrist.

  Renn’s stomach fluttered at the gentle touch, at the tenderness in Leo’s gaze that melted the frozen core of him. He stepped up to close the space between them, pressing his lips to Leo’s.

  The man let go of his wrist and wound his hands around his waist, stabilizing him. Leo brought his mouth to Renn’s, closing in on a kiss filled with both relief and desperation. All he could smell was the rosewood and bourbon scent of this man, and he could feel the blaze of heat strong enough to eradicate an entire forest.

  Renn poured all of himself into the kiss, surrendering to this man with an ease he knew deep in his bones he’d never find again.

  He kissed him with all the words that refused to budge past his lips, with the longing that built in him with a strength he’d never known.

  Leo pulled away first. His golden gaze grew tender as he looked down to Renn. “If I could’ve had anyone by my side through this, it would be you, Renn Cantrell. But I’m a man of my word, so this is goodbye.”

  Renn opened his mouth to argue, to fight for this relationship, to say the things that had been racing through his mind far too often as of late, but the words stuck in his throat.

  Leo pulled his hands off of Renn’s hips and stepped away. He turned on his heel and strode toward the others, walking toward the chaos to begin organizing it the way he always did.

  Renn stood there frozen as he watched, the word goodbye echoing over and over and over.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Three weeks had passed since the assassination of the Seelie King, the attack on the Harrod’s manor, and the night Leo said goodbye to Renn Cantrell.

  In the interim, news had spread fast. Leo came forward with another option to the chaos of the Seelie Court which had suffered a massive upheaval. Lilian Hornsby, the King’s old advisor already stepped into the vacuum, the cutthroat woman marking herself as his number one enemy.

  Yet in the turmoil, he began to get more and more emails, phone calls, and in person meetings from dissatisfied fae. The Ashewarrens had cut out the uncle who sold off Stefan, and they spread the word to any member of the Unseelie Court who would listen. And when Natalia stepped up in alliance with him, not only did their numbers swell with fae sick of the fighting, but other hunters as well. They wanted to find a way forward together, not continue on with more of the same.

  True to Renn’s M.O., Leo hadn’t heard a word from him, and regret held a steady grip on his heart. At least, until the postcard arrived in his mail with the location for a Discord’s Desire show in New York City and two words in Renn’s handwriting—Be there.

  Despite the potential for more pain, Leo couldn’t help himself.

  Which was how he found himself striding up to Webster’s Hall, a four-story brick building with the marquis emblazoned in neon lights. When he stepped to the door and opened it, the sound and heat blasted into him. He handed over his ticket and climbed to the top floor where Discord’s Desire would be playing. After all the meetings he’d been involved in today, he was showing up late, but he should still be in time to watch the show.

  As he ascended the steps and heard the familiar strains of their music, his heart lurched. He gripped the railing for a moment, stopping to collect himself off the floor. He could do this. Even if his chest strained with hope he was terrified would be dashed, or even if Renn just called him up to scratch an itch.

  He reached the top floor and the heat intensified, sweat fragrant in the air. Lights flashed all around, illuminating the writhing bodies of the crowd scattered all across the dance floor. Discord’s Desire had taken center stage, which meant the bump and grind had begun. Leo’s gaze drifted to the satyr behind the drums who was tapping his feet, swinging his head, and pounding away. Every time, the man poured his heart and soul into his performance.

  Leo made his way to the bar. He was going to need a drink.

  ****

  The show ended with a massive uproar of applause as Kieran screamed “We are Discord’s Desire,” into the mic.

  Leo leaned back at the bar, nursing his third Manhattan since he arrived. The moment the sound cut and the lights dimmed, he caught sight of Renn leaping off the side of the stage. Most of the attendees were still in such a lust-filled haze they didn’t have the wherewithal to chase him, though a couple of them tried with lazy swipes.

  Renn bounded toward him at top speed.

  Leo pushed up from his seat and rose to stand. The anticipation had been a persistent buzz since he arrived, but the sight of Renn rushing his way caused it to detonate.

  Renn skidded to a halt in front of him, looking as gorgeous as the day they met. His tank top stuck to his chest with sweat, and the leather pants he wore highlighted his lanky frame. With the kohl lining his eyes and the wild disarray of his hair, he looked freshly fucked and as enticing as ever.

  “Fuck, you made it,” Renn said, a hesitant grin rising to his lips.

  “Is that a bad thing?” Leo murmured in amusement. As always, the man descended in a whirlwind of chaos.

  “No, it’s a good thing. A real good thing,” Renn said, his chest rising and falling while he tried to catch his breath. “At least, I hope it is.”

  Trevor and Danica approached the bar and took a seat, and Jett filtered in among the
m. Kieran and Liz wound their way to the other side of the bar, shit-eating grins on their faces.

  Confusion twisted Leo’s chest. Clearly, they knew more about this rendezvous than he did, but he didn’t know if he dared to hope.

  Ky let out a wolf whistle. “What are you waiting for? Go get your man.”

  Renn shot him daggers. “We’ll see the rest of you fuckers later. Come on, follow me.” Renn reached out and grabbed his hand, all but dragging him forward. They headed toward the opposite side of the room, and Renn came to the stop in front of a black door.

  “Private room,” he explained as he turned the knob.

  Leo’s chest tightened. The rest of the band’s comments had him hesitantly curious, but he decided observing was best right now.

  Renn opened the door and led him inside, not letting go of his hand. The interior room was intimate, featuring a low crystal chandelier, a few black leather loungers, and a small bar setup on the far side of the room, all in dark marble. Renn brought the door shut behind him and locked it.

  “Are you sure the others aren’t planning on making a timely interruption?” Leo asked, an amused grin on his lips.

  Renn gave him the side-eye. “While Ky and Trev would be thrilled to watch this, I’d never be able to work up the nerve with spectators.” He pointed toward the lounger, letting go of his hand at last. “Sit.”

  Leo couldn’t help but follow the order, confusion still running rampant. He sank into the leather lounger and spread his arms along the length.

  Renn bit his lip, scanning him over with an incendiary look before he began pacing. “So, we headed back on tour, clearly. And I tried to plunge back into my routine—playing the shows, trolling for a hot piece of ass at night. Yet every person I attempted to bring home, I ended up sending away. The problem was, none of them were you.”