Page 47 of By the Fae

Taur nodded, his huge white horns cutting swaths through the air. He positioned the chair near the corner of the table, most likely so that his elbows wouldn’t keep smashing into Dima. Because of his size, the minotaur ordinarily sat on the opposite end to Mal, but this time he’d left it for his mate so that she could sit beside Holly. Taur offered Holly a friendly — possibly reassuring — smile and gave me a raised eyebrow. It said,What’s up with Mal?

“Sit, human,” I whispered, pulling out Holly’s chair for her. She obliged. I sat next to her.

“This smells wonderful,” Holly said, thankfully losing much of the jittering in her voice. Taur preened, and damn it if it didn’t give me a rush of dopamine to see my flatmate proud.

“We’re waiting on Dima,” said Sugar Paste. “He’s usually the last one here. He probably only just woke up.”

Holly’s eyes landed on Dima’s dish. A pint glass filled with a viscous, almost black liquid, and a stainless-steel straw. She drew in short, shaky breaths. Part of me wanted to squeeze her knee under the table to reassure her, but our relationship wasn’t like that. Should never be like that. So instead, I settled on jamming my elbow into her bicep.

She knew. She got what I was trying to do. Her chest deflated on a sigh, and she tried to flash me a smile, but I wouldn’t look directly at her.

With that, Dima waltzed into the kitchen, affecting a yawn, and rubbing his eyes with the heel of his palm. He still sometimes liked to playact at being human. Despite this, he had dressed in his usual wine-coloured tunic, black chinos, gilt-embroidered cape, and novelty pink bunny slippers.

“Vampire!” Holly whispered, stating the obvious.

I started to introduce them, “Dima this is—”

“Holly. I know. I’ve heard so much about you,” he said in his irritatingly buoyant manner.

Don’t. Don’t you dare, I told him.

He made no indication he’d heard me. “I’m Dima, your friendly neighbourhood vampire. I’m in love with your pinafore, by the way. Beautiful fabric.” He took his seat opposite me and lifted his glass to his nose. “Ooh, B positive. My favourite. Thanks, guys.” He tipped his glass towards Sugar Paste and Taur, and flashed his red eyes at Holly. “It’s what I drinkandwhat I do.”

Holly turned in my direction and mouthed, “Be positive.” An incredulous smile spread across her lips, like she was at church and was stopping herself from laughing during a sermon.

Oh no, I needed to find even uglier clothes for her.

“Tuck in,” said Taur, and everyone scrambled to retrieve their cutlery.

I chanced a peek at Mal, who was pointedly staring down at his food.

We began our meal with general rounds of, “This is delicious” and “Very tasty, Taur, well done.” Holly’s leg bobbed rapidly against my thigh. I doubted she knew she was doing it. I wanted to sellotape it to the chair.

“So, Hols,” said Sugar Paste, “How are you find—”

But I never got to hear the end of the question because Dima spoke into my mind.

She thinks I’m androgynously cute,he said. I like it. And she’s terrified of Mal.He laughed out loud, causing Mal to lift his head and squint his eyes at Dima.

What’s his problem?I asked.

It was the most un-Mal-like behaviour I’d ever seen from him. Usually, he embodied the role of outwardly-reluctant-but-secretly-super-proud parent to our little group. Like the father that got saddled driving his kids and their friends to wingball practice. But is actually the first one to dish out the high-fives and place all the trophies on his dashboard. He welcomed everyone he met with open arms. He always saw the good in someone. His hugs were legendary.

Seeing him behave with this new sullen, withdrawn demeanour was putting my nerves on edge.

She’s human,Dima said, as though it explained everything.

So? Sugar Paste is human too. He never had a problem with her,I countered.

Because Taur will only live as long as a human. Taur is not an incubus, or a vampire, or a fae.

Oh,I said.

The weight of the implication crashed down around me. Mal was worried I’d fall in love with Holly. And then have to watch her grow old, and die, leaving me a grieving mess for the next nine-hundred-ish years of my life.

I’m not going to fall for her,I said.Tell Mal that. I can’t fall in love with a human.

Dima was quiet for a moment. Obviously now talking into Mal’s mind. The only outward sign was Mal’s wings twitching. I scooped another forkful of curry into my mouth.

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