Wicked(106)

"I . . . I don't know either, to be honest." I walked over to my dresser and opened the drawer, grabbing a pair of shorts. "No one knows about him. Not even Val."

A shadow passed over his face. "He's a creature of the Otherworld, Ivy."

"I know." I pulled the cotton shorts on then grabbed a cami with a built-in bra. I turned to the side, tugging the shirt off, and quickly slipped the tank top on. I faced him and saw that he still hadn't buttoned his jeans. The cut of the muscles near his hips was extraordinarily distracting. "I haven't told anyone about him, and maybe one day I would've told you, but . . . he's a brownie and I know people like us would judge him on just that fact and nothing else."

Ren thrust his hand through his hair, causing the waves and curls to stick up. "How else are we supposed to judge them?"

I picked up my cardigan from the chair and slipped it on. All I could hope was that Ren would tell no one about Tink. Hoping for anything else seemed foolish. "I don't know? Maybe understand that not all creatures from the Otherworld are like the fae?"

He stared at me like I just flashed him a third boob.

"Maybe I should start at the beginning?" When he didn't respond, I sat on the edge of the chair. "I found him a couple of years ago, in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. He was hurt badly. His wing and leg were broken, and I don't know why I didn't finish him off like I knew I was supposed to, but I'd never seen a brownie before. Didn't even think any of them were in our world. I couldn't kill him. I know it's a weakness, but—"

"It's not a weakness, Ivy."

Hope that he'd understand everything sparked in my chest. "Anyway, I just couldn't do it, and I couldn't leave him there, so I took him home and healed him. He's been with me ever since, and he's never done anything to put me in danger or hurt me. Well, he does try to bite me every so often." I frowned and shook my head. "I think that's just a weird brownie thing."

"Do you have any idea how powerful brownies can be?" he asked as he glanced at the open door. He took a step toward me. "Do you have an inkling of what is living in your home?"

Tink was powerful when it came to ferreting out my passwords and ordering shit off of Amazon, but other than that, I think he got hit with the short stick when it came to having useful powers. "He's really good at cleaning the house," I said lamely.

Ren stared at me. "So you basically have a pet brownie?"

Thank God Tink wasn't here to hear that. "I wouldn't necessarily call him a pet." He was more expensive than a pet.

"Then what do you call him?"

I shrugged one shoulder. "I just call him . . . Tink." Pulling the ends of my cardigan together, I looked up at Ren. "He's my friend."

"And I protect her," Tink said from the hallway. He was peering around the edge of the door.

"I wouldn't go that far," I said dryly.

Ren looked down at the brownie. "Protect her from what?"

Tink was rebelliously silent as he marched into the room, creeping over to where I sat. He ended up clutching the leg of my chair, his body half hidden behind my leg.

"Brownies hate the fae, Ren." I fiddled with the buttons on my cardigan. "They aren't the enemy."

"Is that so?" murmured Ren, watching the brownie.

Tink cocked his chin up defiantly . . . from behind my leg. "They killed my entire family. There is nothing more I hate than the fae."

"The brownies have destroyed almost all the gates from inside the Otherworld. They've been doing more than what the Order has accomplished when it comes to the gates, and none of us ever knew," I explained quietly. "That's how I know about the gates being destroyed. Merle didn't tell me."

Ren's brows lifted. "It was him?"

Tink glared at me. "Oh, so it's okay for you to lie?"

"Shut up, Tink," I snapped.

Ren sat down on the edge of the bed, resting his elbows on his knees as he studied the brownie. I was relieved to see that he no longer looked like he wanted to murder the little guy, but wariness was etched into his features.

"I couldn't tell you how I knew. If I did, then well, I would have to tell everyone about Tink, and as much as I want to punt kick him across the room sometimes . . ."

"Uh," muttered Tink. "Love you too."

Ignoring him, I took a deep breath. "I will protect him with my life."

Ren's head jerked up and his crystalline gaze found mine. His lips parted, and I held my ground. "Please," I said. "Don't tell anyone about him."

A tense heartbeat passed, and then he said, "Well, at least it's not like you have a pet snake, because that shit would be weird. And I guess there are people who have more annoying roommates. I'll be honest, though. I don't trust the little shit, but I respect your decision."