Page 92 of Don't Fae With Dragons

At that, Max’s eyes soften with emotion. “I worry about her. It makes me feel sick.”

I hum quietly in agreement. “We’ll get the fools for it, Max. I know it.”

Max huffs in determination and nods, then he dumps the bowl of potatoes and herbs into the hot oil of the cast iron. I bite back a smile at the sight of him, so domestic and capable, frying up potatoes for all of us.

He’s a lot gentler than he gives himself credit for. Sure, he can be a bit of a goof at times –but he’s got real heart. It’s one of the things I lo–er,likeso much about him.

I’m just about to wrap my hands around his waist, just to tease him a little bit while he tries to cook (I’ve learned hehatesbeing bothered while he’s cooking, which only makes it the more fun) just as Cory walks slowly in. He draws the curtains of the kitchen archway closed behind him and turns to the two of us.

Max raises an eyebrow in a silent question, and Cory shrugs.She’s alright, he sends wordlessly through the bond,but she’s been better. I sigh and nod, since I about expected as much.

Then Cory turns to peer through the curtains, apparently to see if Mili is still resting. “She’s sleeping now,” he whispers.

“What are we going to do, Cory?” Max blurts out quietly, more than a little concern coloring his words.

Cory’s gaze hardens and he motions for the two of us to come closer. Max rolls his eyes and stirs the potatoes quickly, but does step in towards the two of us after a second. Cory rests his hands on our shoulders –one on my left and one on Max’s right –and pinches his lips together.

“I’ve thought about it, and there’s only one solution that seems likely to work,” he says slowly.

Something in his words sends a chill down my spine. What exactly does he have in mind?

I must look concerned, or perhaps he senses it, because Cory turns to me with a small scowl. “I wouldn’t propose this unless I was certain it would work. The Black Lady isn’t some stranger like Kar –it’s Aurora at the end of the day, isn’t it? Clearly Aurora has some ... stray sentiments about Mili. We can use that.”

Max’s eyes shoot open with alarm. “Cory–”

“Stop,” Cory interrupts firmly. “Let me finish. Aurora has jealousy about the three of us and Milica. She wants Mili, still –I’m almost sure of it. The only way to get her where we can actually disarm her requires that Mili be the focal point.”

Max seems to know exactly what Cory’s proposing, and he looks like he hates it. Unfortunately, I still find myself a little lost. “Focal point, how?”

Cory sighs agitatedly. “We have to pretend like she’s giving herself up.”

“What?” I exclaim, forgetting Mili asleep in the next room.

The three of us turn to the living area as Milica gasps and shoots up from where she lies on the loveseat. “What’s happened?” she blurts out, rushing quickly to the kitchen. As she steps through the curtains, she wrinkles her nose. “Um, I think the food is burning.”

Max curses as he turns back to the potatoes, flipping them to see that they’re completely blackened on the bottom. As he mutters angrily to himself and scoops the pan’s contents into the compost, Mili laughs. Cory turns to Mili with a torn expression, though, and her face calls.

She turns to him and asks, “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Cory takes her hand in his and lifts her knuckles to his lips. After kissing them softly, I glance at Max to see him frowning anxiously. I have a feeling my own expression doesn’t look very different from his –nervousness for Mili’s sake prickles down my spine.

“You’re all being so quiet,” she says softly, her lips pursing in frustration and worry. “Someone tell me what’s going on.”

“Milica,” Cory starts slowly, “I have an idea for capturing the Black Lady.”

“You mean Aurora,” Mili snaps. “She’s being tricked by Kar, but she’s still my friend.”

Cory shoots a glance at me, and I shrug quickly back at him. He says to Mili, “She probably is, but she’s notherselfright now.”

Mili responds, voice not much more than a growl, “I won’t do anything that isn’t going to help her.”

“We won’t either,” Max pipes in, seemingly surprising himself. He stands taller, though, and looks to me for approval.

I nod back at him and turn to Mili, “He’s right. None of us want her to get hurt.”

Mili seems reassured by that, and sighs heavily before turning back to Cory. “What do we need to do, then?”

Cory hesitates, his hand lifting to brush a stray hair from Mili’s cheek. I see, then, how torn he is –he wants to help Ethelinda, but he has to put her in danger to do it. I suddenly feel a deep pang of sympathy for him.

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