A Brush of Darkness
By Allison Pang
4/5
()
About this ebook
Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as-sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.
Allison Pang
Allison Pang is the author of the urban fantasy Abby Sinclair series, as well as the writer for the webcomic Fox & Willow. She likes LEGOS, elves, LEGO elves…and bacon. She spends her days in Northern Virginia working as a cube grunt and her nights waiting on her kids and cats, punctuated by the occasional husbandly serenade. Sometimes she even manages to write. Mostly she just makes it up as she goes.
Read more from Allison Pang
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Reviews for A Brush of Darkness
188 ratings20 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I have seen this book in the book store numerous times, and the book cover has always grabbed my attention. I love the cover art on this book, and I'm not really sure why, so when I received this book for review I was super excited. To start off the book takes a little while to jump into. It's one of those books that has a really complex world, and jumps right into it from the very beginning. I think I could have done with a little more explanation, because the beginning was a tad bit hard for me grab on to. That being said the world is delightfully complex. I like a world that is complex, because even though it is hard to write the first book, where the world building all essentially takes place, it leaves so much available for future books. I also like that once I thought I had everything all figured out about the world a new element or two would be introduced. I really like Abby, the main character. She is way over her head in what is going on with all the OtherWorld politics. But the thing I think that I enjoy the most about Abby, is that she is not one of those girls who just sits around a mopes at all of the bad things that have come her way, she fights for herself. I have to also say the other thing that I like about Abby is she has some "supernatural" power, but it's not something that she can really use to fight, but she's smart. I love all of the other side characters as well. They are all pretty well thought out. They are mysterious when they need to be, deceiving when they need to be, and all around just enhance the story. I appreciate all of their interactions with Abby. As well as the authors ability to make the reader really believe the words that are on the page. I also found some of the cultural references really amusing along the way. I love the enchanted iPod that plays anything you could want to listen to. And I particularly liked that in the middle of a fight scene a conversation took place about World of Warcraft, which made me giggle (maybe because I used to be a WoW player). Either way the cultural references were a good touch. I think if you like intricate worlds in your urban fantasy books, with tons of different types of "supernatural" characters, then this is definitely your book. I think in general most people who enjoy urban fantasy would enjoy this book, as well as the character Abby. And besides who can resist a miniature unicorn?
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I liked it a lot. There were some parts that I had to re-read because I thought, "what, what just happened?" But I thought it was pretty good for a writer's first book!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A decent urban fantasy book, a little dry, but with some clever and refreshing elements.
This is a fae book, really. It talks about three groups, the angelic, the daemonic and the fae - but it reads more like a fae book in style, where fae is a catch-all for anything supernatural. The world building is a bit weak, though some concepts were interesting. The central thing is that Abby is a touchstone, a link between a supernatural being and the human world. I think this idea has real potential. And there were some explorations to the dreamscape that were intriguing. The story is set around somewhere called "the Marketplace" which came off a bit vague and confusing. The characters were semi-interesting, but a little on the 2D side, nothing really distinctive.
On the plus side, there were some clever one-liners throughout the book, and I'm a sucker for wit and banter. And the romance, at least at the beginning, was refreshing. The romantic interest is Brystion, an incubus with powers of lust that feeds off dreams. Abby deals with the romance in a subtly different eay from your typical heroine, with a dash of practicality and a sprinkle of fun. It does sort of fizzle towards the end though, and some problematic issues arise.
Anyway, this manages to avoid the failings and irritations many books of this genre are guilty of. It's mildly enjoyable, but nothing spectacular. I'll probably pick up the sequel next time I'm at a loss fot something to read. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'm pretty sure A Brush of Darkness has now cemented my love of this genre! Abby Sinclair takes her rightful place among my favorite female protagonists of all time! Sassy, sarcastic, and downright awesome, Abby is the type of woman who won't let anyone else push her around. What I loved most about her character was the fact that Pang wrote her with such depth. From the beginning you know there is more to Abby than meets the eye. As the book progresses, little bits come to light. It makes for a fantastic and engrossing read.
However it isn't just Abby that steals the show. Brystion of course is the dark, brooding and smoldering love interest. From the first moment he was introduced I knew I was going to fall for him. Yes, he plays the classic bad boy image, but (and pardon my French) damn does he do it well! This incubus has no qualms with admitting what he is. He is sex personified, and he is delicious. Behind him the other characters kind of pale in comparison, but they do their part and they do it right. Pang populates her world with all types of otherwordly creatures. Including, and of course my favorite, Phineas the unicorn. If you thought unicorns were sweet and lovely, well, you thought wrong. We'll leave it at that.
True to the genre, there is a fabulous amount of outright action present in A Brush of Darkness! This is a wild ride through not only the mortal world, but the world of the other and everywhere in between. I loved the way that Abby and Brystion played off one another. I was also quite appreciative of their more sensual scenes. Pang treats these two with class and, although they definitely sizzle on the page, the scenes aren't overly descriptive. Just enough to make your skin tingle, if you know what I mean.
Wickedly funny, this is a book that will have you reading like mad! I could go on and on about the characters, the vivid world building and everything else, but really you'll just have to read this to appreciate it fully! If you like sexual tension, snarky humor and a roller coaster ride of a plot, this is one for you! I cannot wait for more of Abby and Brystion. Bring it on! I'll be here. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I loved this book. So much so that I am going to ramble about it because you know that is what I do when I heart books. I am so happy to see this book take an urban fantasy and give it a real sex scene. I am so tired of other UFs teasing you with tiny bits of sensuality. It's like reading a YA book, no wait, most YAs have MORE SEX than most UFs. Anyway, I ramble, I appreciate the full sexy sex scenes.
I had to push myself through the beginning. I am still unsure if that is due to the beginning of the book or the oncoming of a reading slump, we will never know. Once I got past the beginning (probably 1/4) the action picked up and I started to really get into the story. I stayed up all night to read it.
I love Phineus. He is by far the coolest unicorn ever! I heart him (stay tuned for a day in the life of Phineus on the blog). I think that Brystion is pretty damn hot, as is Abby and they are hot and awesome together, um major plot point aside. I just want those two to be together. I love Abby, she doesn't know what to quit, which the mark of an awesome UF heroine.
Finally, I wonder (out loud to you all) if Allison Pang reads some Anne Bishop (whom I adore) because I felt a couple salutes to her through out the book. I could be a total fan girl and imagining but if there were salutes to her that makes this book all the more awesome. I enjoyed the fresh wit and life Ms. Pang brings to her pages and I will definitely be watching this author! You should too - Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5sucked!!!!!!!!!!!!
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- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5If you want to read a book that leaves you with a gajillion questions then this is that book. It was good, but I finished it massively confused.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This is a tough one to rate. I liked it, but the alternate reality is sort of slippery and hard to get a handle on. Take our protagonist Abby's special supernatural gifts - she's a TouchStone and a Dreamer. Without a TouchStone, supernatural creatures can only enter the mortal world for short, one-hour stints. So the they contract with humans, who serve as anchors for them to come and go as they please. But since being a TouchStone is a state rather than an ability, there's no THERE there. Abby can't tell if the creatures she TouchStones with are crossing into or out of the mortal world, she can't sense their presence or location...her special ability doesn't require her to do or feel or see anything at all.
And she's a Dreamer, too, which means that when she falls asleep and enters the Dreaming, she's powerful. Dreams are clearly sort of substantial in Pang's world - Brystion, Abby's incubus romantic interest, can apparently feed on dreams, and the Dreaming connects to other worlds, so it's kind of like a freeway to the multiverse. But I couldn't figure out, like, is there some cost to feeding an incubus all your dreams? Is there an infinite supply of dreams, if a dream is eaten is it gone? I wasn't sure if there was some sort of system in place, and Abby herself is pretty ignorant.
A BRUSH OF DARKNESS is heavier on the romance than most other UF books are - I'd say that it really straddles the line between urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and only avoids crossing over to the other side because there's no resolution to the romance at the end of this book. But Abby's relationship with Brystion is clearly the driving force here, and the two are rarely apart. All of the other plot points seem designed to push them together, test them, give them something to do.
Brystion is an incubus and he seduces a woman by embodying her fantasies, becoming her vision of the perfect man. Abby likes tall, dark, and handsome so that's how Brystion appears to her. He's perpetually made and remade according to the fantasies of his targets, never appreciated for who he really is. From the sounds of things, he couldn't survive without this sort of perpetual co-creation that he experiences through feeding (on dreams, or sex, or both...like a lot of the supernatural stuff in this book, it's hard to tell). This definitely sets up a knotty, conflict-packed relationship; Abby is clearly horrified by the idea that being with Brystion forces him to change according to her will.
The secondary characters were all distinct enough to tell apart easily, but not vivid. They didn't quite pop. And the plot rolled along at a nice pace, with exciting twists and turns appearing at regular intervals, but I didn't get a real sense of tightening tension or momentum.
I'd say this is a 3.5 star book. I round up if I think I'll keep reading books by this author, and in this case I'm not entirely sure. I wouldn't mind, but I don't know if I'd seek the sequel out. So I'll stick with three. If you're on the lookout for an urban fantasy though, you could definitely do much worse. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I actually enjoyed this story as it was unique. I loved all of the different characters and creatures that we learn about in this book from the incubus, succubus, mini unicorns, faeries and angels. I especially loved the sarcastic mini unicorn. - he was a great comic relief. Abby was also quite sassy and quirky which added more comic relief here and there. Overall I would have to say this novel was a mixture of adventure and romance. From kidnappings and mismatched alliances to dream sequences and possibly true love, so many situations happen to Abby and her gang. For a bit, I thought I had things figured out, but a few surprises kept me guessing who-done-it. I think my favourite parts of the book were learning about how the Dreaming worked, all about Touchstones and the Midnight Marketplace. I think that everything that happens in the book combine to create a very interesting story that you won't want to miss out on.Abby grows quite a lot throughout the book, she goes from a young woman who is just barely functioning in life after a traumatic event and becomes a woman who learns she has a voice and is much stronger than she ever believed. And Brystion helps keep the romance and lust alive in this story - his romps with Abby are quite fantastical as some happen in the Dreaming. He's a pretty smoking daemon, who just might want to be more then he is for the one he loves.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5When I first looked at the book cover, my brain immediately processed two thoughts simultaneously: (1) Ooohh, pertty colors! and (2) Skank Alert! Admittedly, I had to reel in my somewhat judgmental side and read the story description before deciding for or against reading the book. Just because the cover model looks like she's been shopping at HOOKERS-R-US doesn't mean it's an accurate representation of the heroine. And if by chance it is, that might not necessarily be a bad thing either. I mean, hookers can be badass. Seriously. In my old neighborhood, a hooker managed to escape handcuffed from a cop and proceeded to steal his police car in order to make her getaway, which naturally resulted in a high-speed chase that involved helicopters & spotlights. True story.As it turns out, the protagonist, Abby, is neither a hooker nor a stripper and is only a little slutty. In an ironic, twisted sort of way, I felt a wee twinge of disappointment at this realization. Anyways, Abby is in actuality a sales girl at a mystical shop, and she's also a touchstone, which is basically a human magically (spiritually?) linked to a supernatural being like a faerie or a demon making it possible for that being to then travel freely between the human realm and the otherworldy dimensions. In order for the link to be established, a contract needs to first be agreed upon and signed by both parties. And as with any legally binding agreement in which one party is more privileged and/or powerful than the other, there's some crucial fine print that essentially equates to YOU ARE SO SCREWED.I liked the idea of touchstones and there were several other interesting, creative ideas. Unfortunately, those ideas weren't fully realized and fleshed out. Terminology, mythology, and rules were thrown around without much explanation. All sorts of supernatural beings popped in and out of the story at random and brief intervals. It was like walking onto a construction site where a building's framework stood incomplete and being told to finish it without being shown the blueprints. In other words, I don't think there was a solid enough foundation for the worldbuilding and not enough description for the ideas to come to life (at least not in my mind).Abby grated on my nerves. She was totally emo. If she wasn't lusting after Brystion while simultaneously completely denying it, she was throwing herself one big miserable pity party. It was all Woe, Is Me--I have a tragic past with lots of guilt and self-loathing, and I can't let anyone get too close to me; so I'll act tough and mouth off with lots of snarkiness to cover up the inner pain. I wanted to reach into the book and slap her...HARD. For the life of me, I can't think of any other aspect of her personality or if she did anything other than cuss, whine, cry, argue, flirt, and have seizures. Oh wait! Now I remember, Abby had big boobs. What significance this detail holds, I do not know, but it was mentioned repeatedly throughout the story.Brystion was talking, walking sex. Granted, he's an incubus, so the playboy persona, shameless flirting, and repeated invasion of personal space was partially excusable, but the guy didn't start developing a genuine personality until the second half of the book. The first half of the book was dedicated to him trying to get into Abby's pants, which she was quick to label Mission Impossible even though it proved to be rather easy. Sadly, just as I was starting to like Brystion, he too decides to go all emo and then proceeds to act like a jerk. Hey, at least at that point, him and Abby finally had something in common. Yay, true love!As for the pervy unicorn, well, I wish I could say I found him to be a source of quirky comic relief, but I can't. Quite the contrary. He made my inner child feel really, really sad and a little dirty for dressing up as a unicorn that one Halloween back in the day. The miniature four-hoofed lecher was obviously setup to be a funny sidekick, but I found his antics to be the equivalent of a fart joke.Lastly, another thing that bugged me about this book is the fact that it has been promoted as an Urban Fantasy when in reality it reads like a Paranormal Romance with water-downed sex. I'm not saying that PR is bad, but I was expecting something else and thus found myself disappointed and feeling a bit cheated.
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- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is awesome!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5So I found A Brush of Darkness as a group read in one of the groups I belong to on Goodreads and while I rarely participate in group reads I was searching around for something new to read so the timing worked :). I am a big fan of all things fae so the more I got into reading A Brush of Darkness the more I liked it. The heroine Abby has some issues both physical and emotional stemming from a car accident that had also killed her mother and ended her ballet career. Abby moves to Portsmyth and discovers the supernatural world of Others; Fae, Demons of all sorts and Angels. In order for these supernatural creatures to move freely throughout our world thy must form a bond with a human or "touchstone". Abby is a touchstone for Moira, the Protectorate, sorta the head of local supernatural government. Moira and some others have gone missing and Abby meets Brystion who has a sister also missing and the two try to find them.The characters for me definitely made this book, I adored Abby, despite being a former ballet dancer she was quite nerdy with lots of snark and WoW references. She wasn't the kick ass chick you tend to see in UF and she also knew she was in way over her head most of the time. Brystion, honestly....meh. Yes he was super hot and sexy but he was an Incubus he is supposed to be but honestly the angst I could have lived without. Phineas the mini unicorn is now my favorite side kick, he was hilarious. Picture a unicorn the size of Yorkie that humps your leg, sleeps in your pantie drawer, devours bacon and bites your ass when he wants you to wake up.This was a fairly quick read for me I read it in a day give or take so the plot moved along at a good pace. The world building could have used a little polish, the author created this fantastic world of supernatural characters and their interactions with the human world, but at times I found the whole crossroads and touchstone thing a bit confusing...the rules weren't exactly clear. I did thoroughly enjoy the book though and grabbed the next two in the series and I look forward to reading them.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Oh Abby, Phin and Ion I love you guys! Not only was this book steamy as all get out, but I could not contain the laughter reading the banter between Abby and Phin. I never will look at a unicorn the same way again...
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I have seen this book in the book store numerous times, and the book cover has always grabbed my attention. I love the cover art on this book, and I'm not really sure why, so when I received this book for review I was super excited. To start off the book takes a little while to jump into. It's one of those books that has a really complex world, and jumps right into it from the very beginning. I think I could have done with a little more explanation, because the beginning was a tad bit hard for me grab on to. That being said the world is delightfully complex. I like a world that is complex, because even though it is hard to write the first book, where the world building all essentially takes place, it leaves so much available for future books. I also like that once I thought I had everything all figured out about the world a new element or two would be introduced. I really like Abby, the main character. She is way over her head in what is going on with all the OtherWorld politics. But the thing I think that I enjoy the most about Abby, is that she is not one of those girls who just sits around a mopes at all of the bad things that have come her way, she fights for herself. I have to also say the other thing that I like about Abby is she has some "supernatural" power, but it's not something that she can really use to fight, but she's smart. I love all of the other side characters as well. They are all pretty well thought out. They are mysterious when they need to be, deceiving when they need to be, and all around just enhance the story. I appreciate all of their interactions with Abby. As well as the authors ability to make the reader really believe the words that are on the page. I also found some of the cultural references really amusing along the way. I love the enchanted iPod that plays anything you could want to listen to. And I particularly liked that in the middle of a fight scene a conversation took place about World of Warcraft, which made me giggle (maybe because I used to be a WoW player). Either way the cultural references were a good touch. I think if you like intricate worlds in your urban fantasy books, with tons of different types of "supernatural" characters, then this is definitely your book. I think in general most people who enjoy urban fantasy would enjoy this book, as well as the character Abby. And besides who can resist a miniature unicorn?
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Full of snarky and sexy characters that leave you laughing at their antics and crying with them through their pain.Opening Sentence: Cat piss and cabbages.The Review:A Brush of Darkness falls in a very small group for me: books I can’t get enough of. There is so much going on with this diverse set of characters that it leaves me looking for more. And it is the characters that make this story for me, not the world they are a part of. It’s Abby’s emotional armor and her way of dealing with stressful situations. It’s an incubus’s lack of morals but a strong sense of obligation and protectiveness. It’s an angel that swears like a sailor and a perverted unicorn named Phineas. It’s a boss that leaves her employee with so much responsibility but not the proper knowledge to deal with it. And that is just some of the characters we meet. How can one possibly not want to know more about them and what they’re going to do next?Abby Sinclair is the TouchStone of a powerful fae but does not know much about her job. TouchStones are ties for the OtherWorld folk to remain in the mortal world without restrictions. Two beings must enter a formal contract where each party is amenable to. Contracts are highly regulated so that OtherWorld residences do not take advantage of mortals. Not that she cares about all of that. All she knows is how to run her boss’s businesses while she is out of town. Of course, nothing stays easy for long. Brystion, a succubus, has come looking for help to find his missing sister, and Abby is the only one around. Not that Abby can do much, but she thinks that it’s the right thing to do even though she is scared. Many more women have gone missing, including Abby’s boss. But now they have stumbled upon something so much bigger, a plot to take over the Faerie Queen’s throne.Abby is, at heart, a coward. Abby’s past and the reasons behind her decisions are discovered throughout the story. But one thing remains true, Abby is haunted by nightmares and she is not strong enough to face them. I think if things didn’t happen as they did, she would not even have given them a second thought. She would have gladly stayed with her head firmly in the sand. Finding out that she is a KeyStone, a person that can become a TouchStone without a formal Contract, is a turning point for her. But will this give her the strength she’ll need in order to fight for herself and her friends? Or will she continue to allow her fears to rule her actions until it is too late?Brystion is a succubus. His kind are not known for their loyalty or honesty, nor are they synonymous with monogamy. The TouchStone bond he created with Abby was by accident, but it turns out to be a good thing for both of them. The intimacy they share through the bond leads them to become more intimate with one another in other ways. Brystion turns out to be just as emotionally stunted as Abby. The secrets he keeps from her become their undoing. Even when they risk their lives for one another, are they willing to risk their hearts as well?But the byplay between Abby and Brystion is not the main conflict in this book. The foundation of OtherWorld/mortal relations is in jeopardy when Abby’s boss goes missing. Moria is the protectorate, the one that enforces the rules for the OtherFolk in the mortal world. With her not around, there is no longer any guarantee that things will remain cordial. But is her disappearance related to the recent string of missing succubi? Can Abby and her friends’ rescue those kidnapped, or will they too become victims in the larger painting of deceit and sacrifice?Overall, Ms. Pang’s characters have both depth and realism that allow a reader to connect with them. These fantastic creatures all show dimensions of humanity. This blending of real world and imagination make for a heady combination. All of the literary and pop culture allusions give the conversations throughout the book an extra layer of understanding. It gives me reason to be happy about all those cult movie classics I’ve watched and classic books I’ve read. I feel a closer connection to these fictional characters that would not have been otherwise.Notable Scene:“Lok’tar ogar!” The daemon holding me pulled my head back, exposing my throat.“Victory or death,” I retorted at my captor hoarsely. “For the Horde. And for the record, shouting World of Warcraft battle cries kind of kills the whole ‘imminent death’ expectation.”The daemon paused. “What server are you on?” he demanded.“Blackhand.”“Righteous. Guild?”I couldn’t imagine what the hell that mattered at this point, but it was keeping alive so that was a bonus. I’d gladly spit out the rest of my Warcraft stats if it bought me a few more minutes. “Yeah,” I coughed. “ElfhunterBitches.”He blinked and then grinned, tapping himself on the chest. “No shot. I’m TartBarbie. Undead DeathKnight.”I stared at him. “TB? Seriously? I’m Baconator. Belf Warlock. You did a hell of a job tanking on that raid the other night.”“Yeah, I am pretty awesome.” He glanced over his shoulder, releasing me. “Look, if I’d known it was you, I’d never have agreed to this. Go on.” He nudged me with a leather boot. “I’ll tell them you got away.”I didn’t have to be told twice. “Thanks,” I said softly. “I’ll make it up to you, somehow.”“No worries.” He winked. “See you next Thursday.”The Abby Sinclair Series:1. A Brush of Darkness2. A Sliver of ShadowFTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books provided me with a copy of A Brush of Darkness. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tasty new urban fantasy novel. Faeries and incubi, oh my. looking forward to the Sliver follow-up.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I was thrilled when I got a chance to review an ARC of this - I always love checking out new adult paranormal releases. This definitely seems to be one of the most popular genres lately, so there are a lot of books to sift through. While this is not, by any means, my new favorite...I definitely do think it stands out from the pack.The plot constantly moves forward and was very original, the side characters were intriguing and added to the story...but what makes this book shine is the main character, Abby Sinclair. Allison Pang gives Abby a voice and a personality...I fell for her at first sight.I bookmarked a couple of quotes from the book that highlight Abby's inner voice and all it adds to the story:"If this guy was human I'd swear off bacon for a month.""I would have had to slaughter a horde of Avon ladies in ritual sacrifice to have skin that luminous and milky white.""I had a naked incubus in my bedroom. With a frying pan full of half-cooked bacon and a hard-on. And a unicorn bite on his ass. Christ, this was turning out to be a weird morning."Seriously guys, I love this girl. (There is also this awesome scene where she is saved from being killed due to her World of Warcraft addiction. Priceless.) Also, there is Phin, her miniature unicorn. He is a real piece of work, definitely not your typical rainbows and butterflies type. I want one.I don't want to say anything about the plot to spoil it. I didn't know anything about it going in and enjoyed the mystery and seeing things unfold for myself.So, if you're a fan of paranormal romance I definitely recommend reading this. Abby's character is very memorable and I'll definitely be following this series to see what she gets into next. The book will be released tomorrow (the 25th), so head out and pick up a copy!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Abby used to dance. Now she's a shopkeeper in a mildewy, less than classy bookstore. But it's a bookstore with secrets - and Abby hides more than a few of her own. Abby's boss has gone missing, the OtherFolk are showing signs of unrest, and Abby's nightmares are getting worse. When a tall, dark, handsome stranger comes knocking and the two share an intimate moment Abby's world goes from surreal to survival of the fittest in a matter of hours. Despite a slightly scattered and somewhat busy start, this is a decent read. Phineas the horny (pardon the pun) unicorn is a riot, and I suspect some of the rough edges will smooth out in future installments.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5When Abby signed up to be a TouchStone for the Faery Protectorate, she didn't anticipate her boss doing a disappearing act and leave her to mind the otherworldly bookstore. Her Contract also didn't mention anything about babysitting a unicorn with a teenaged-boy mentality or dealing with a hot-as-sin incubus in search for his kidnapped sister. What is a poor girl to do when things start to get ugly among the faeries, demons, and angels? What happens when the answers lie within Abby's nightmares? I have mixed feelings for A Brush Of Darkness at the beginning as I tried to piece the world together, especially trying to figure out what a TouchStone is. Maybe it's just me, but I would have liked a little more explanation. Beyond that, the story is pretty action-packed and very very steamy at certain points. Will I read the next book? Most definitely, though I am a little distraught at how A Brush Of Darkness ended! Boo to relationships!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyI swear my narcissism had nothing to do with my loving A BRUSH OF DARKNESS. Even if the main character hadn’t shared my name, I’ve would have enjoyed this smart, irreverent, and super sexy urban fantasy.There is so much to like in A BRUSH OF DARKNESS. Toping the list for me is Phineas (who graces the back cover). He’s an irrepressibly horny miniature unicorn who ends up moving in with Abby. He’s cranky and sarcastic and a huge pervert for such a little thing. Unicorns are always presented as dignified, wise creatures. Phineas is the anti-unicorn. Unicorns, incubi, succubi, angels, demons, werewolves, vampires, and mermaids. They all fraternize in A BRUSH OF DARKNESS with Abby caught in the middle. I’m always a fan of mixed worlds. Ones were numerous species co-exist. Abby has a basic handle on the supernatural world around her, but is still largely as naïve as we are when it comes to most of the ‘rules’ that govern it.Urban Fantasy heroines have it rough. We expect a lot from them. They have to be tough, yet still venerable enough to relate to. They have to be strong, yet still make mistakes. They have to be self-sufficient, yet willing to ask for help when they need it. Not all heroines make the cut, but Abby does. And she brings a wicked sense of humor with her.And I can’t forget Brystion. The incubus with a major insecurity complex that he tries to hide behind a blistering sexuality. His self-loathing is a pitiful thing, and something that keeps him from looking too closely at himself. He sees himself essentially as a whore and refuses to let anyone else convince him otherwise. It was fascinating to see that image crack.I know I didn’t fully grasp the mythology in A BRUSH OF DARKNESS with all the touchstones, keystones, dreamwalkers etc. It was a little confusing but not in a way that diminished my enjoyment of the overall story. I imagine more of this world will be explained in future books and I’m more than willing to wait for them.Sexual Content: Several graphic sex scenes. References to rape
Book preview
A Brush of Darkness - Allison Pang
Cat piss and cabbages.
It was the only way to describe it, really. Even on a good day, the bookstore smelled like a mix of dust and dirty feet. The AC had coughed its last an hour ago, leaving me the proud employee of an ad hoc sauna. A drip above the lintel had forced me to keep the door closed to avoid a miniature lake from forming on the warping hardwood floor. The remainder of the morning was doomed to be a soggy, stinky mess.
The weathered sign hanging from the shutter outside read PROSPECTUS INTELLIGENTSIA TABERNUS. I called it the Pit for short. Probably unkind, but God knows the place reeked like one this morning. Still, the stale odor didn’t seem to stop my steady stream of customers from leaving wet trails and dripping umbrellas in their wakes, though I suspected their visits were more of an effort to get out of the rain than driven by any great desire to find a coverless copy of a Dean Koontz novel.
The rain let up just before lunch and with it went the last of my customers, an old man waddling into the wet with a paper sack full of ancient sailing books.
Bliss.
Time for some retro Tom Jones. I loaded up my latest playlist on the silver iPod mounted on the counter and wriggled my way to the front window, tinny speakers blaring. Flipping over the CLOSED FOR LUNCH sign, I mock strutted my way to the minifridge in the storage room for a couple of Cokes and a sandwich, my hips swaying counterpoint. I was half a can and three verses into She’s a Lady
before the main door creaked open again.
The bells chimed in their plaintive way, somehow cutting through the rumbling growl of the music. A man drifted across the threshold. The grace of his movements caused the hair on the back of my neck to rise. He seemed a shadow, sucking up all the light from the room. The exquisite darkness of his ebony eyes swept over me, primitive and uncompromising. And overdone as all hell. Still. The silken fall of his hair just brushed the top of his shoulders and I’ve always been a sucker for good grooming and potential wangst.
What the hell. I’d bite.
What’s new, pussycat?
I purred.
I need to talk to Moira.
The timbre of his words pushed past me, heated and hollow.
I’m afraid Moira isn’t here.
His eyes narrowed, the line of his jaw shifting almost imperceptibly. The alarms in the back of my head suddenly went off. I’m not shy, but the thrum of desire that started beating through my veins as he approached the counter wasn’t normal or natural. If this guy was human I’d swear off bacon for a month.
I turned down the music in a futile attempt to distract myself from the elegant curve of his cheekbones and the smooth paleness of his skin. He glided toward me, each rolling step filled with a lazy arrogance. A faint shimmer of silver dusted his hair, fading in the damp light that trickled through the front bay window. I blinked.
He’d been traveling the CrossRoads. I’d never been there myself, but the silver snowflakes were a dead giveaway he’d been moving between worlds.
My smile was polite, but I couldn’t quite keep the stiffness from my voice. If you’d like, I can take your information and I’ll let her know you stopped by.
I tapped my pencil on the notebook in front of me. He’d asked for Moira by name, not her official title of Protectorate. I was under no obligation to answer his questions, and as far as I was concerned, the less involved I got in the offshoots of Faery politics, the better.
Truthfully, some of the OtherFolk freaked me the hell out, especially when they insisted on walking around in broad daylight like this. For that matter, I didn’t even know what he was. Looks aside, he couldn’t have been a vampire. Even vampires with TouchStones didn’t go walking around at noon. Not like that, anyway. Fae, maybe? Lycanthrope? Oh, what difference did it make? Usually the best policy was to just be polite and wait for them to go away.
That being said, I really hated it when they started trying to magic me up. It’s rude and nothing pissed me off faster than when one of them tried to get in my face about it. I knew they couldn’t always help it, but this guy wasn’t even attempting to tamp it down. Glamour oozed out of him, the magic rolling over me in soft waves of lust. Kinda pleasant in its own way, but distracting as all get out. My mouth tightened; I was suddenly very impatient.
A frown marred his handsome features, and he looked down as though seeing me for the first time. When will she be back?
"She’s not here," I repeated, a hint of annoyance creeping into my tone. I’m not exactly the most outspoken person in the world, but store clerk or not—human or not—I wasn’t some invisible piece of dog shit on the bottom of his shoe either.
I don’t know when she’ll be back,
I added. The truth of it galled me because I really didn’t. The Faery woman had left nearly four months ago and, except for that last note taped on her office door, I hadn’t heard from her at all. But this guy didn’t need to know that. Hell, none of them needed to know that. I could barely get the OtherFolk to give me the time of day as it was. God only knew what they’d do if they realized Moira wasn’t here to hold them in line. If you’d like to sample some of her . . . other wares, I’ll be reopening the shop around back from midnight to one A.M.
Will you, now?
He stepped closer and I shivered, the quiet power coiling behind the words dancing over my skin.
Sweat beaded on my forehead, cool and clammy. They don’t call it the Midnight Marketplace for nothing.
I thrust out my chin in subtle challenge, ignoring the rising panic that fluttered at the base of my throat. Piss him off, Abby. That will be brilliant.
His face was quiet and brimming with secrets like a Cheshire cat’s. You’re her TouchStone, aren’t you?
Of course I am,
I agreed pleasantly. And now that we’ve established the obvious, let’s get back to business. Who are you?
Tsk.
He waggled a finger at me, and I rolled my eyes. Something about the gesture was very familiar, but if I’d met him before I couldn’t recall. Then again, I’d only been Moira’s TouchStone for six months and I’d seen an awful lot, much of which had become a muddled mess of fancy sparkles and obscenely beautiful people. Anchoring an OtherFolk to the mortal realm wasn’t an easy—or straightforward—task.
Fine, I get it. Names have power and all that, but it makes it a bit hard to leave a message, don’t you think?
I pointed out.
A flicker of a smile showed on that perfect mouth as his gaze roamed about the bookstore. The store itself was fairly plain, but it had high arches, a giant stone fireplace with overstuffed cushions on the floor, and thick crown molding around the top where the paint was peeling off. I had told Moira the whole thing needed remodeling, or at least some fresh paint, but she insisted the place had character.
Shabby chic, maybe. Sounded like laziness to me, but whatever. It wasn’t my store. I just worked there.
The man wandered through the stacks for a moment. I seized the opportunity to take his measure, or at least attempt to stare at his ass, which was currently encased in delectable black leather pants. Or I assumed it was, based on what I could see below the fall of his duster. Had it been anyone else wearing it, I would have said they were trying way too hard, but he was working it pretty well so I gave him a pass.
The duster hung open, inviting an easy view of his chest, a white T-shirt sticking to the muscled ridges of his abdomen. Definitely my type. His dark eyes flicked sideways at me, the edges crinkling in silent laughter, and I shrugged, not bothering to hide the fact that I’d been checking him out. Hell, he’d probably been expecting it.
He lingered over a coverless paperback about a French vampire. It was one of those overblown stories that had been really popular about ten years ago, complete with ruffling white shirts, long dark ringlets, and outrageous accents. Even a duster or two, actually. I’d thought it marvelous and horribly sexy when I’d read it, my sixteen-year-old heart near fit to bursting at the idea of some dashing angel of the night feeding from my inner thigh.
The reality had been a whole lot messier. It didn’t involve my inner thigh either.
He blew the dust off the pages, snorting softly when he read the title. I’d always thought Moira had an absolutely craptacular taste in books. From the looks of it, he agreed. My opinion of him rose a notch.
It has a happy ending, you know,
I said.
His brow furrowed, lips pursed at me, before his attention flicked back to the book. Does it?
All the good romances do.
There are no happy endings. And vampires are overrated, bloodsucking tools.
Can’t argue with that.
I sighed. But the vamp in this one runs off with an emotionally constipated angel, so I suppose it all works out in the end. If you don’t like that sort of thing, maybe I can interest you in one of these great ‘how-to-massage’ books from the seventies. It has pictures, if that makes it easier for you to understand.
He ignored me, his expression cryptic. Very clever of her.
He tapped the book with his fingers.
Clever of who?
Moira. Hiding in plain sight like this.
His hand made an eloquent gesture as if to encompass the room. And all thanks to her little mortal TouchStone, so willing to throw herself away—and for what?
He pointed at me. Rumors of a magic iPod and seven years of agelessness?
I bristled. "Enchanted iPod, thank you very much. And what I’m willing to throw myself away for is absolutely no concern of yours." The barb had taken, however, and I looked down at the counter before that little sliver of regret could show itself.
He chuckled softly. Not as good as you had hoped, is it?
Neither is your outfit. Did you learn to dress that way in Leather for Bad Boys one-oh-one?
My upper lip curled in derision, suddenly bold in knowing my place. Sounds to me like someone doesn’t have a TouchStone of his own.
I noted the time with a little sound of pity. 11:57 A.M. How are those CrossRoads treating you?
I asked. At this time of day, any other folk traveling the CrossRoads sans TouchStone would have a helluva time.
Not nearly well enough, apparently.
His gaze met mine. Shall I show you?
I hesitated, watching those dark eyes flare gold with power. For a moment, I was pinned beneath them, drowning in the sudden promise of things best left to the protective shadow of night. It left me raw and aching; my hips trembled with the urge to submit to him. I blinked and realized he had moved closer.
Crap.
I stood my ground. Maybe if I didn’t move, he’d back down and I’d pass whatever preternatural bullshit test he was running.
Or maybe I was in big trouble.
His cheeks curved up in amusement as he reached out to run a lightly callused thumb over my lower lip. Pretty Dreamer,
he crooned. He leaned close to my face so that his exquisite pout lay within inches of my lips. An electric jolt shot from my breasts to my groin, sliding over my flesh with wicked intent.
Yup. Big trouble.
I swallowed hard, my eyes closing of their own volition. Inside, my brain was working overtime to come up with something—anything—to say, but all I could manage was a strangled groan. I was helpless against the rolling wave of pleasure pulsing low in my belly.
The room began to spin, and I staggered backward. My foot slipped on a loose pile of paper, and I grabbed the edge of the counter. The world tilted with a familiar lurch, and my jaw clamped down against the vertigo.
He captured my wrist, fingers digging hard enough to make the bones ache. Fire lanced all the way to my elbow as my eyes snapped open with a cry. The arrogant stranger lunged over the counter to steady me, his face ashen. Whatever he’d intended, this wasn’t it. The thought was somewhat comforting.
Hold on, Abby,
he whispered.
I had only a moment to wonder how he knew my name before my vision faded into blackness.
. . . his fingers were sliding down my thigh, his voice husky with whispered promises as his tongue slipped into my mouth. I spread myself beneath him in wanton desperation, filled with the ache of well-used flesh. He moved over me, inside me, through me. I was losing myself in the golden thrum of his eyes as he thrust into me. Somewhere in the distance was the chiming of bells, and my bones vibrated with the implication. I fell away, wrapped in his scent and the dim edge of twilight as something snapped into place . . .
Enough.
His voice reverberated like a thunderclap, abruptly breaking the . . . trance? Dream?
And here I pegged you as the shy, unassuming type.
I pulled back from him as the darkness receded, gagging at another wave of dizziness. Admittedly, I hadn’t taken my seizure meds that morning, but whether the reaction was caused by my condition or his influence didn’t matter. It hadn’t felt like a seizure anyway. Balance slowly regained, I glanced up at him, and slid my hands into my pockets to hide my trembling fingers. What the hell was that?
Surprise flickered across his face, quickly replaced by something a bit more appraising. I don’t know,
he said finally. It wasn’t supposed to happen.
His gaze lingered on me, somehow managing to be impudent and measured at the same time, but the overconfident cockiness was gone.
Wow. I find myself strangely not reassured by that.
I crossed my arms, hunching my back protectively. I was Moira’s TouchStone, by God, marked by a sacred OtherFolk bond that should be beyond contestation and this asshat had just violated every precept that I was aware of.
I was outraged.
I was livid, even.
I was hopelessly out of my league.
The golden edges of his eyes faded away. Are you all right?
The sudden change in his demeanor left me suspicious. Right as rain. Why the . . . you know?
I tapped my head and tried not to blush.
Side effect. I’m afraid I got a little carried away.
He eyed me cautiously, all peaches-and-cream polite. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.
Understatement of the week.
I reached out, clinging to the edges of the counter like a barnacle at high tide. And how the hell did you know who I was?
His mouth twitched. Name tag.
Idiot.
I shut my eyes, cheeks burning. Where’s a nice bottomless pit when you need one?
A sharp rap sounded from outside and I started. The figure at the door was young and female and far too perky for a rainy day.
Shoo,
I hissed at the stranger, uncertain of how much attention he would attract. Shouldn’t you be moving along now? The CrossRoads will be closing any minute.
He shrugged and leaned against the wall, a wolfish grin on his face. He raised a finger to his lips as he motioned toward the door.
I rolled my eyes. Leave it to me to attract the tall, dark, and obnoxious ones. I pointed at the sign in the window, hoping whoever it was would cut me some slack and come back after my uninvited guest had left. No such luck.
Wow.
A head poked through the doorway. It totally stinks in here. You should open the door or something.
Blond, top-heavy, and rather leggy on the whole, she looked like she’d wandered off the set of a Girls Gone Wild audition, wrapped up in denim cutoffs and Skechers. Her eyes were wide and imploring, the color of warm hazelnuts. Innocent.
Ah, yes,
I said, ignoring the soft snort coming from the corner. You know, we’re kind of closed right now.
Yeah, well, I need some information. Do you have any books on Celtic myths?
She breezed her way in and trotted up to the counter with the self-serving air of the young and stupid.
I chewed on the question, a low throb at the base of my skull signaling an oncoming headache. Or a seizure. Crapshoot as to which one was going to come first. I wasn’t going to get rid of the headache, but I could eliminate the pain in the ass standing in front of me. "There should be a copy of Lady Gregory’s Gods and Fighting Men back behind the mirror. It would be a good place to start. Unless you’re looking for something specific?"
"Well . . . uh. Actually, I was kinda hoping you might have something a little more . . . real?"
I raised a brow at this. Truth be told, I did; I had books that would damn near bite your nose off if you put them too close to your face. But those were locked away in the back, not for public consumption. Moira had drilled that into my head often enough, but I would have figured it out on my own. I’m lazy, but I’m not a moron.
Real?
I mimicked.
Yeah.
She leaned in so I could see the roots of her hair. Her voice dropped to a conspiring whisper. "You know . . . OtherFolk? She turned her head to take in the quantity of shelves.
You have a lot of books here." Her gaze became slightly unfocused as it slid past the corner, and I realized my visitor must be hiding behind a Glamour.
I’m not quite sure what you mean,
I said, deciding to play dumb.
Oh, I get it.
She winked at me. It’s okay. Brandon sent me. Said you would set me straight. Something about TouchStones?
Brandon,
I repeated, my voice careful and quiet. I would have to have a little chat with that sometimes furry bartender. I don’t mind helping out, but I didn’t have time for another one of his strays. And just how did you run into him?
I tried to get into the Hallows last night.
She flushed beneath my stare. Everyone knows this town is full of weird shit. Why shouldn’t I be a part of it?
Did you find your way there by yourself?
I phrased it casually, but my estimation of her slowly began to rise when she nodded. There was a pretty heavy Glamour on the OtherFolk nightclub, geared toward warning away an ignorant mortal public. If she’d had the determination to push her way through it . . .
Still. Even if she was right about people being aware, I wasn’t going to go shouting it from the rooftops. The OtherFolk guard their secrets well. Spilling them was a really awesome way to end up on someone’s private shitlist. And that didn’t even include the one currently laughing his ass off in the corner.
Listen, you don’t want to get involved with them. Trust me. It messes with your head and the only thing you’ll have when you’re done is a big pile of regret.
I held up my hand to forestall what would surely be a whining protest. However, seeing as Brandon sent you my way, I’ll throw you a bone.
I resisted the impulse to giggle at my own pun, though something told me the werewolf wouldn’t have approved. What did you say your name was?
Katy.
One perfectly waxed brow arched, daring me to make an issue of it. It would have been more impressive if the expression on her face wasn’t flitting between hope and suspicion.
How old are you, Katy?
Seventeen.
I glanced over at the mirror in the corner, as though to argue with my reflection. Seventeen. Jesus. Had I ever been that eager to throw myself off the cliff? I let my gaze go slightly fuzzy, the blue of my eyes fading into the glass of the mirror, the pale, freckled face curving away into some far-off piece of my past.
Yes.
My reflection stared back without blinking. The mirror itself had always given me the creeps. It was carved of black wood with silver gilt edges, on a curved stand with a wide base. There was nothing particularly ominous about it at the moment, just my face peering from its cold depths, familiar and smooth. I shook my head and turned back to the girl.
Girl, hell. I wasn’t all that much older than she was, but her innocence nearly overwhelmed me. I was jaded and weary standing next to her like that. Funny what a difference a few seconds can make on your outlook. One moment you’re cruising along enjoying the sweet carelessness of youth, and the next you’ve got a gimpy leg and a metal plate in your head, and everything you’ve ever known is in shambles. Life can be a real bitch, I guess.
All right. Come with me.
She let out a muffled squeal and followed me behind the mirror. Are there any here now? You know. Watching us?
My hand hesitated inches away from the book I wanted. The stranger’s merriment wrapped around me like a ribbon, and I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek. Oh, no. I don’t think so. It’s nearly noon, after all. They don’t like being caught out in the daylight hours.
I glanced behind me, avoiding the corner by the door. Her mouth twisted into a scowl of disappointment, and I gave her a wry shrug as I pulled out a volume of poetry. Believe it or not, in a lot of ways they’re just like us. It’s not like they’re hiding in your closet or under your bed.
I paused. Or at least, not most of them.
Her upper lip curled as she looked at the book. What’s this?
A book. And you’re going to read it.
I flipped through several pages, marking them with a couple of spare Post-its from my pocket before handing it to her.
She stared at me and then glanced at the first marked page. After a moment of silence she began to read aloud:
O see ye not yon narrow road,
So thick beset wi’ thorns and briers?
That is the Path of Righteousness,
Though after it but few inquires.
And see ye not yon braid, braid road,
That leis across the lily leven?
That is the Path of Wickedness,
Though some call it the Road to Heaven.
And see ye not yon bonny road
That winds about the fernie brae?
That is the Road to fair Elfand,
Where thou and I this night maun gae.
But, Thomas, ye shall haud your tongue
Whatever ye may hear or see;
For speak ye word in Elfyn-land,
Ye’ll ne’er win back to your ain countrie.
Her brow furrowed impatiently. Yes, yes, I know this part. I’ve read this before, you know.
Then you should have some of the answers you’re looking for.
She looked at me quizzically. I sighed and went on. How many paths are there?
Three. Duh.
I closed my eyes. Yes. What are they?
Faeryland, Heaven, Hell. Yeah, I get it. Light Path, Dark Path, and Middle Earth or whatever. What does it have to do with the CrossRoads?
Everything,
I said quietly. Thomas stood at the CrossRoads with the Faery Queen and he chose her. Not the angels. Not the daemons. The Fae.
And that means?
The Fae are in control. Or at least they have the most influence, the most to gain from TouchStones. They are the Keepers of the CrossRoads, the liaisons between the OtherFolk and us.
Thomas the Rhymer had been the first mortal TouchStone to record a Contract with the OtherFolk. And he had fulfilled that contract—for a full seven years—gaining the gift of Prophecy as a result. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on me. From his perspective, the Fae were probably the most amusing of the bunch. Heaven knew just about every angel I’d ever met damn near had a stick up his ass. And really? However pretty the daemon girls are, it’s almost always a guarantee they’re going to come back and eat your soul one dark night, and who wants to deal with that?
You can Contract with whoever you wish, of course, but the Fae watch over it all. Depending on who and what you choose, though, there may be political ramifications.
My mouth thinned. And if it goes badly, then the Faery Protectorate has to get involved.
She chewed on her lip thoughtfully. And what would my Contract with Brandon be?
I shrugged. I had no idea what sorts of things a werewolf might require of his TouchStone, though I could think of a few responsibilities she probably wouldn’t want to take on. Regardless of the specifics of each individual Contract, the mere fact that the two of you are TouchStoned will allow him to move between our world and the CrossRoads without waiting for the Hours. Aside from that, I can’t say. Each Contract is individualized.
Katy’s eyes darted toward the door. "So that’s what he meant. If he has a TouchStone, he doesn’t have to worry about being weaker in the daytime?"
That’s one part of it,
I agreed. Each Path has their own Hour, where traveling is easiest. TouchStones ease that transition. Something about having a soul, I suppose. The angels prefer Dawn. The daemons, Midnight.
And the Fae like Twilight, I suppose. What about noon? How does that fit in?
There’s a fourth Path,
I said, watching her try to work it out. Can you tell me what it is?
Um, no?
She scowled. It doesn’t say anything about a fourth Path.
Yes it does,
I said. Come back and tell me when you figure it out. It’s all in there, I promise.
Katy gave me a dubious look and clutched the book tightly. How much is it?
On the house,
I said, waving her off.
And if I do this, you’ll take me to the CrossRoads?
I can’t do that. Most of the Doors are hidden, so that’s something you’ll have to figure out on your own.
That, and the fact you’ve never been there, my inner voice said snidely. The Doors to the CrossRoads themselves were fluid enough—transitory gateways that opened and shut at the Hours—but finding them was another matter altogether. Truthfully, it’s probably best if you TouchStone to Brandon first. And take it from me—read the Contract and understand just what you’re getting into. Being a TouchStone isn’t for the faint of heart.
A fierce smile spread across her face. I’ll be back soon.
She squinted as she peered at my shirt. Abby?
That’s me,
I said dryly, pulling at my name tag. The eavesdropping man candy pointed at me and then tapped his head. I suppressed a sneer.
Thank you so much, Abby. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.
Katy beamed at me and I couldn’t help but feel like the wolf in Red Riding Hood’s story. The better to eat you with, my dear? But no, that wasn’t right, either. I recognized that determined look in her eye, and even though I was fairly new to the whole OtherFolk scene, there was a part of me that would have loved to have had help instead of stumbling through it like I was.
And fucking it up royally, even.
Will you be around tonight? You know, in case I figure it out?
I snorted. There’s enthusiasm for you. Not really. I’m going to an art gallery showing at the Waterfront. And I need to go get shoes for it first.
Small talk was not my forte, but I seemed to have momentarily adopted a friend.
Oh,
she said. Well, you should check out that new place on the corner of Canon and King. They’ve got some really nice stuff. And turn on the fan or something—it’s gross in here.
I’ll do that,
I said with a wan smile. She thanked me again and left, the door clinking shut behind her. I took a deep breath. It was entirely too damn hot in here. Of course, the main reason for that was still in the corner. Watching me.
I was going to have to remedy that soon.
"Well, this has been fun, but technically I’m working, so unless you’re going to buy something, you need to leave. Since you couldn’t be bothered to give me your name, I’ll just tell Moira that an extra from the porno version of Something Wicked This Way Comes was looking for her."
Extra? Hell,
he muttered. I’d be the star.
I coughed. Emphasis on the word ‘comes,’ of course.
The amusement rippled from him, rich and dark, but there wasn’t anything menacing about it now. I suppose I deserve that. Did you want that name?
Color me excited,
I retorted. "Seems only fair, though. Generally I prefer a handshake and a hello before I hop into metaphysical bed with someone."
I don’t.
He shrugged and held out his hand. Brystion.
He trilled the r sound, giving it an exotic rumble. Brrrist-e-on.
Just Brystion?
I let my hand slip into his, holding my breath as I waited for the mind roll to happen again. When it didn’t, I relaxed. His skin was warm to the touch, but somehow not unpleasant even with the heat of the day.
For now. And don’t worry about telling Moira, Abby.
Why?
My pulse jumped at the delicious way my name rolled off his tongue.
He smiled. Because she already knows, now,
he said gently, shaking his head at my ignorance.
Before I could ask him what he meant, he was gone. I craned my neck toward the window, catching a glimpse of his dark form striding down the street, heedless of the oncoming drizzle—or the dull thudding of my heart.
The woman in the painting was soft and pale and naked. There was a proud thrust to her jaw as she stared down at me, her dark eyes half-lidded and smoky with kohl. I would have had to slaughter a horde of Avon ladies in ritual sacrifice to have skin that luminous and milky white.
She was a flawless collection of curves, her nipples hard and rosy, one hand reaching up to run perfect fingers through a cascade of midnight hair. Delicate wings arched from her back. The feathers were stained a brilliant crimson and spread in guarded invitation. She was chained, bound