Where the Devil Says Goodnight (Folk Lore #1) - K.A. Merikan Page 0,12

he’d met the previous night. Adam. Their time together had been brief, dampened by darkness, mud, and rain that had felt like icy needles biting into skin, but he still sensed the heat left behind by the sparks flying between their bodies as they rode on Jinx’s back.

Emil wouldn’t have called his gaydar amazing, but unless Adam was a psycho who literally wanted to feast on Emil’s meat, there was something to score there.

Only time would tell whether Adam was visiting Dybukowo in passing or if he’d stay at the parsonage for a few more days. Mrs. Janina Luty, the pastor’s housekeeper wasn’t fond of people, especially strangers, which made Emil wonder whether Adam wasn’t a relative of hers. If that were the case, he could kill two birds with one stone by seducing the old nag’s precious nephew.

But he was getting ahead of himself. There was a beautiful boy sitting on the back of his bike, and their time together was almost over.

“It’s no fun living alone,” he yelled over the noise made by his bike, referring to his friend’s comment about sharing an apartment with strangers.

Radek remained silent for a couple of seconds, but as Emil slowed down, approaching the bus stop across from the general store, the velvety voice teased his ears. “Maybe you could visit some time once I’m established there?”

He parked in front of the graffiti-covered bus stop, which really was just a glorified shed that stank of piss and puke, but since there was no bench, both of them stood by the motorbike and watched crows congregate on the nearby tree like the creepiest of Christmas ornaments.

Emil sighed and shook his head at the birds. They had followed him everywhere since he could remember, to a point where other children used to be afraid of spending time with him. Yet another reason to be ostracized.

The witch’s grandson. The boy with no parents. Guarded by jealous crows. And whether they saw the evil in his heart, as one girl put it, or were in love with him, as Granddad used to joke when he was still at Emil’s side, the consequences were all the same.

He lit himself a cigarette and leaned half an inch closer to Radek’s slender form. The staff of the general store would watch them at a time so quiet, so any and all displays of affection were out of the question, but with no one else waiting for the bus, they could talk frankly at least.

“Cracow is six hours away, if you’re lucky. There’s no one who could take care of the animals overnight.”

Radek groaned, for a moment looking much younger than his twenty years. Emil would miss him—the way his freckled nose wrinkled when he smiled, and the fiery red hair scattered over Emil’s old monogrammed pillows. “Oh, come ooon! Can’t you get a pet-sitter for a week, or something? I bet someone out there is dying to spend a few days in a thatch-covered house in Bieszczady, petting a beautiful horse. I could take some photos of the place next time I’m here.”

Emil took a long inhale of smoke, struggling not to raise his voice at Radek in those few precious minutes together. Everything seemed so easy for him. Maybe that was what happened when your family had money to spare for ‘pet-sitters’. Emil, on the other hand, was a flytrap for bad luck. If he asked someone to take care of his home, he’d surely come back to find his most precious things gone.

“Nah, the house is old and it’s got all these quirks, you know. It’s hard to handle for someone who doesn’t know it.”

“Airbnb it?”

Emil groaned. “What did I just say?”

Radek’s shoulders slumped. “Right. No Internet. This really sucks,” he said, and his hand discreetly rubbed its way down Emil’s spine. No one could see it, even through the large windows of the store. “But it would be great if you came over. There’s no other gay guy around here, right? I feel bad leaving you behind,” he said, exhaling as he looked across the empty road, at the store owner, Mrs. Golonko, who stepped out, still talking to someone inside.

Emil shrugged and put on a smile for Radek’s benefit. “I’m fine. You know I’ve got an eye for spotting thirsty tourists.”

Radek laughed and shoved at Emil’s arm. “You’re so nasty.”

“And you love it,” Emil whispered with a grin but lowered his voice when Mrs. Golonko adjusted her velvety jacket and stepped across a hole in