A Hint of Cayenne (The Trouble With Elves Book 4) Page 3

  She stiffened and pulled herself back. His eyes opened in time to see her hand heading for his face, and he let it come. Someone needed to knock some sense into him, because he obviously couldn’t keep any sense for himself. It came on hard and stung worse than a sprite’s bite. He resisted the urge to rub his cheek. Instead, he narrowed his eyes on her but didn’t let her go.

  “How dare you?” She trembled in his grasp. Thorn didn’t know if it was fear or desire.

  “You hit me, not once but twice now, and almost a third. I’d say I could dare whatever I want. You owe me.” Maybe she didn’t owe him anything, but he wanted to use it anyway. “I’ll do it again too if you lay another hand on me. Let’s just be clear here. Each time you hit me I get to kiss you.” Oh Mother Earth, what the hell was he saying? His mouth kept moving and these words kept coming out, but he couldn’t seem to control them. Maybe he didn’t want to.

  As if she intended to call his bluff, she punched him in the nose. She didn’t have enough leverage this close to do much harm, but it sure made his eyes water. He didn’t even hesitate. He grabbed hold of her chin, pulled her hair back, and kissed her again.

  Chapter Five

  Shocked, Cayenne let him kiss her. Her body screamed for his loving attentions remembering last night’s adventure, in his bed, his hot hands on her flesh. But her brain warred against it. It wanted revenge and, damn it, respect as a hunter. The fool took the damn bounty and managed to let it go. She may not know exactly what happened that made her fly back into him, but he had to have used magic. She pushed on his chest, and he finally let her loose.

  “Go the hell away. I’ll find it on my own. I’d appreciate it if I never saw you again, bounty or no.” Her voice shook as she said the words. Tears welled in her eyes. She was hurt and angry with him for what he’d done.

  What would she tell her sister if she couldn’t get to the fairy again? That they would spend another month in a box in the alleys? Or maybe return to holes dug into the ground until another bounty came and she could afford a leased room. Or would that money go to buy proper food? And then what? They’d end up out in some meadow or under a damn tree waiting for the next bounty. She needed the money, and she had every intention of getting it.

  “If you think you can go without being thrown back into me, start walking. But I have a bad feeling we are going to be stuck together.” He ran a hand through his hair.

  “Stuck? What kind of magic did you use?” She couldn’t be stuck with him.

  “I didn’t.”

  The hell he didn’t. Cayenne lifted her chin and turned around. One foot in front of the other, she walked as fast as she could without running. She needed space from him, away. About five feet away the same damn pulling sensation hit her, and she flew right back into Hawthorn. This time he was prepared and caught her, keeping them both upright.

  “See,” he whispered beside her ear, and she shivered.

  “Take the spell off, Hawthorn.” She spun around to glare at him.

  “Did you hear me cast a spell? We have been arguing and fighting the whole time. When was I able to cast a damn thing without you noticing?”

  Bat shit, he had a point.

  “Cayenne, it was the fairy. I know he spoke, but I was wrapped up in our...little discussion...and didn’t take much notice. I’m fairly certain he hexed us. Their magic is not overly powerful, but can cause some serious damage or, in our case, strange consequences. And he got away.”

  “You let him get away. All of this is your fault all together.” She crossed her arms. “If you hadn’t stolen the bounty from under me in the first elfing place, we wouldn’t be having this conversation or this problem. You’ve cost me everything!” Tears ran down her cheeks this time. There wasn’t anything she could do to stop them, so she just let them come. The hot streaks refreshing against her skin, freeing almost. He didn’t deserve to see her cry: that should be reserved for someone who cared about her. But Cayenne was beyond controlling it. She bit the side of her cheek and wiped the tears away.

  “It’s all right, don’t cry. It can’t be that bad.” He put a hand on her shoulder.

  “Don’t!” She jumped back. No matter how much she wanted to dive into his embrace and feel the very male protection, that comfort. He wasn’t the one she needed it from. He was the one who caused the pain. “You know nothing, elf.”

  “Then explain it to me.” His voice softened.

  She took a deep breath. When she looked into his eyes, they pulled her in. They were kind and warm. But he’d already broke her trust. He didn’t need any personal information from her.

  Cayenne squared her shoulders. “I don’t need to explain anything to you. I barely know you. We fucked. Beyond that...” She let her words trail off because what was beyond that? He didn’t want to keep her. She wasn’t sure she would want to keep him. He looked elfalicious lying against a bed naked, but it wasn’t grounds for a lifetime. Trust and safety. Comfort and friendship. Those are what made up a lifetime. She had more respect for herself than to just fall over for some guy she met in a bar. “Look, last night was fun. But that’s where it ends. We both know it. So don’t ask me about my personal life. It’s none of your business.”

  “We are stuck with each other for now, Cayenne. If you don’t want to get personal with me, fine. But don’t hit me again.” His eyes hardened. “The only way out of this is to get the fairy to undo his spell. No one else can.”

  “I won’t hit you again as long as you don’t give me a damn reason to. Keep your grubby hands to yourself.” And stop pissing me off.

  “We need a plan. We are going to have to work together. Are you capable of that?”

  Cayenne rolled her eyes. What was she to him, five? “Yeah. I’m capable.”

  “I have the net.” He lifted it up off the ground.

  “But we have no honey.”

  “There are other ways to catch a fairy.” His cocked an eyebrow, and a grin spread across his lips. The way he looked made her uncomfortable. She didn’t know any other ways to catch a fairy. What did he know that she didn’t?

  “Like what exactly?”

  “Let’s head into the forest. I’ll tell you along the way.” He gestured toward the woods beyond the Hunter’s office, in the same direction the fairy ran off. Goosebumps slid down her arms as she headed out in front of him.

  Chapter Six

  Thorn followed Cayenne but kept his distance. He needed to wait for the cover of the woods before he implemented the plan. If she was upset before, when he finished, she’d be enraged. He had no other option. After he captured the fairy and removed the hex, he’d turn it in and come back for her...possibly wearing armor.

  In the end, it would be worth the payday, all of it. Though he might not ever see her again. He couldn’t be sure he’d want to see her again either. Females were dangerous creatures in general. Add in what he was about to do to her, and she’d be a ten-foot sprite with fangs barred. Thorn shook the image from his mind. He didn’t want to picture Cayenne that way, but she was a saucy elfess and fuming...he would soon find out what she would be when he set her free. Of course, if he were wise, he’d pay someone else to come let her loose, but he owed her more than some stranger coming for her, even if she’d be pissed. She would have every right; though he refused to regret anything. Not only would it help them both, but she’d hit him twice. She can handle a little payback. No, he would face her like an elf. Tall, strong, and with no regrets.

  “So what’s your big secret plan?” Cayenne asked. He was glad she didn’t turn around and address him directly.

  He unraveled a piece of his net and stuffed it into his back pocket. “Fairies like any number of things. Honey is just one of them. But I think, in these woods, we can find something similar, sap from one of these trees.” He pulled out his jar of honey. Great thing about elfin magic was the ability to make things smaller. He’d automatically used it on the honey before he slipped the bounty from under Cayenne. It fit in his pocket wi
thout any fuss. He checked it, resized it back to small, and stuffed it in his jeans again.

  “Sap?” She looked over her shoulder at him. He gave her a warm smile. He wanted her to believe he knew what the hell he was talking about. He didn’t want to have to drag her all the way to a tree. It was bad enough he’d need to tie her up. Elfess plus honey would be a nice treat for the malevolent fairy. He’d be more than willing to come back for a fresh bite. The disease inside him wouldn’t settle for anything less once it smelled the flesh and honey mix, like sugar to ants. There was no other way the bounty would come back otherwise, and if he didn’t pay off his gambling debt, then someone would be sent for him. Sent to hurt him until he paid. Mother Earth forgive him for his trespasses against this female. If he thought the bounty would come for a male dipped in honey, he’d do it himself, but the fear she would put off would be all consuming for the wicked Malevolent that had taken over the creature.

  He waited for the trees to surround them, for plenty of space between the hunter office and Cayenne. When she figured out what he was doing to her, he wanted to be far enough no one would hear her foul mouth .

  “So where are we headed?” Cayenne asked.

  “Go for that skinny tree over to the left.” His voice came out low and even, thankfully. He chose the skinniest tree he could so the rope would fit around it and her. If he worked fast enough and took her by surprise, she wouldn’t know what he was doing until it was too late. Besides, she carried a good right hook, and he didn’t want to feel it again so soon.

  Cayenne sauntered over to the brown trunk and stopped. She glanced up the tree and then back down to the ground. “What’s so special about this one?”

  Thorn took a deep breath. His heart protested loudly in his chest. If he was going to do this, now was his chance.

  He rushed her with the rope stretched out in his hands. She slammed into the tree with an oof. He kept his body pressed roughly up against hers, twisted the rope around her wrists, and then closed his arms around the trunk. His fingers worked quick to tie the knot on the other side.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Her voice came out in a high shrill.

  He didn’t answer her. If she was confused and irate, it would increase the lure like whip cream on a human sundae. He hoped she didn’t become too afraid, and as soon as the spell was broken, he’d tell her he’d come back for her. Cayenne struggled against the restraints.

  “Hawthorn! You bark rot! What have you done?”

  “You agreed to work together to catch the fairy right?” He swallowed as he watched her flail her legs behind her trying to kick him, but he’d already moved far enough away she couldn’t reach him. Her head shook back and forth trying to catch a glimpse of him. Though it intrigued Thorn to have her tied up, he wouldn’t have taken her this way, without her permission.

  “This is not working together, you slug! You are using me as elfing bait!”

  He pulled the jar of honey from his pants and blew on it to make it enlarge to its normal size. “We had to up the game. The fairy isn’t going to come back just because we have honey. We have to make it worth his while.” He unscrewed the cap.

  “Wait... What are you doing?” She paused, and he refused to answer her. “Hawthorn?” Her voice trembled.

  Thorn stuck three large fingers inside the jar and pulled out the honey. He slid the sticky sweet substance down her back.

  “Is that honey?”

  “Yes.”

  “When I make it out of this, I’m going to hunt you down and slice your bounty-hunting throat. You are a poor excuse for an elf.” Her voice lowered. She was pissed, and he didn’t blame her. He was a right jerk. He’d make sure nothing happened to her, for now. But his heart skipped at the thought of what she would really do when he cut her loose.

  Chapter Seven

  Thorn waited behind a split tree, downwind of where Cayenne still struggled against the rope. The tree covered most of his body. There was enough of a gap to watch her and the area around her. The fairy would have to come into Thorn’s line of sight in order to get to her. He’d set his net up to drop when he let loose of the rope. If he timed it right, the bounty wouldn’t even know it until the net dropped.

  “You are a pig!” Cayenne yelled out. “I have a little sister back where I come from. If anything happens to me, she won’t have a single soul to take care of her. Do you know what it’s like to be responsible for another person? Of course not, you selfish snail.”

  He didn’t know she had a sister, but it didn’t change anything. She couldn’t appeal to him through guilt. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to her. Cayenne kept throwing words out into the open. It was good. They would lead the fairy to her quickly.

  “If I die here, I’m going to come back and haunt your ass.”

  Thorn shook his head. She was overreacting and barely in any danger.

  A twig snapped to their right, and Thorn ducked down to wait.

  “Is that you Hawthorn? Finally, I get through to you. My wrists are killing me.”

  The ugly fairy crept out into Thorn’s line of sight. Drool dripped from his mouth, and his eyes were red crazed. Thorn had seen a fairy do that once before, over flesh and honey. It wasn’t a pretty end to the person doused in it. There was a point in elf history where they used to let loose crazed fairies unto enemies and then shoot the fairies when they were done. Fairies didn’t come back from the Malevolent. Once the disease took hold, it never let go. Instead, it grew until it consumed them from the inside out.

  Thorn watched it tiptoe behind the struggling elfess, and when he finally stepped to the point where Thorn’s net would fall on the mark, Thorn let go of the rope. His trap dropped, and the bounty barely noticed until the ropes surrounded him. It struggled against the netting, growling and lashing out. Thorn stepped out from around the split tree, proud of himself.

  “Save your energy. You won’t get loose this time, fairy. I’d like you to unhex us.”

  “And why would I do that?” His voice came out low and cracked.

  “Because if you don’t, I’m going to rip your arms from your sockets. As long as you are still alive when I drop you at the bounty office, I still get my reward. The bounty office isn’t very far from here, and I can blink you there before you bleed out.”

  The fairy stopped straining and sat so still Thorn could hear the breeze ruffle the leaves. He scanned his surroundings in what looked like a hopeful way. His face fell when he didn’t find anything. “I live if I unhex you?”

  “Yes. I won’t kill you. But you will be turned in regardless. How is up to you.”

  The fairy lifted its fat chin, closed his eyes, and spoke three words in the fairy tongue. Thorn had no idea what he said. The fairy dialect was so diverse, it was like deciphering a complicated math code only in pictures. And that didn’t even start to explain their language. Thorn felt the wind rush through him, and he heard the sound of something popping.

  “Is it done?”

  “See for yourself elf.”

  Thorn walked back toward the split tree keeping his eyes on the fairy. He continued until he could barely see them anymore and nothing happened. His body wasn’t flung into hers. He ran back toward Cayenne and the bounty. “I thank ya. Now let’s get you turned in for that bounty, all in one piece.” He picked up the net and slung it over his shoulder.

  “Wait!” Cayenne yelled. “You can’t just leave me here.”

  “I can, and I will. Sit tight and hope I have a mind to come back and rescue you.” Thorn laughed and willed himself to blink back to the hunter office. Piece of cake.

  Thorn walked right out of the blink whistling as he opened the front doors of the office.

  “Name and bounty please,” an older female said without looking up from her clipboard. She wore white hair up in a perfect bun and glasses framed her wrinkled face. Elves didn’t age fast, and Thorn could only assume she had been working for the office a long time.

  “Hawthorn and the
most repulsive malevolent fairy I’ve seen to date.” Thorn flung the net on the counter, and the female jumped back.

  She reached over for her intercom and pressed it on. “Fairy bounty, need assistance.” Within seconds, several elves in white lab coats stalked out of the back with curious eyes. The one closest had an iron cage in his hands. The fairy growled.

  “If you’d untie your net please,” the front elf said.

  The one in back surfaced toward Thorn’s net and had the cage open and ready. The fairy curled itself up as close to the rear of the net as possible. The white coats picked up the net, and the fairy scooted through the cold iron.

  Burning fairy’s skin left the stench of charred meat and heated metal hanging in the air’. Thorn blinked his watering eyes against the smoke sting and then cleared his throat. The female behind the counter handed him his pay. She had prepared it while they were struggling with the fairy.

  Twenty gold coins. It was a damn nice payday.

  Thorn blew on the money in his hand, shrinking it. He stuffed it into his jean pocket. Now to the very dangerous task of untying a pissed off bounty hunting elfess. If he left her there, she’d eventually get free. But he couldn’t just allow someone to come upon her. It would be cruel of him.

  Plus, she needed rescuing, and he was just the elf to do it.

  Chapter Eight

  Cayenne screamed into the woods. Hawthorn would get his as soon as she found a way out of his elfing knots. How could she have slept with the male? She stomped her feet in both frustration and anger. She was an idiot. This was exactly why it had been so long since she fucked a guy. They stabbed her in the back nine times out of ten, and this one had done it twice! Sure she took a swing or two at him, but damnit he stole her bounty!