Page 40 of Fairies Don't Fall

“Oh, I am,” she said with a cruel smile. She’d bumped me on purpose. Of course she had. How would a queen deal with this kind of conflict? She wouldn’t have come to a werewolf bar in the first place.

I cleared my throat. “What do you want?” I finally asked. She hadn’t sat next to me by accident. Maybe we could clear up our differences and part in peace.

She bared her teeth at me. “He doesn’t care that you’re making a fool out of him, but I do. Stop toying with the Alpha.”

I blinked at her. “I don’t know what you’re?—”

“You aren’t going to stay here in his world. You’re slumming it until you get bored and go back to your pretty prince. I know your kind.”

“Pretty prince?”

“Fairy boy, tall, blonde, with enough muscle to tempt even a werewolf. And so pretty. Almost makes your eyes burn, he’s so pretty.”

She was talking about Vervain. There was no other person she could mean. “How do you know the fairy boy?”

“I’ve seen him in the city, heard him asking about you. The alpha’s been fun, I’m sure, but it was never meant to last. Go back to your own kind.” She left, once again bumping me, but that time I was ready and didn’t let her spill my drink.

I was alone for two minutes, my stomach tying itself in knots at the thought of Vervain coming here to tell me how irresponsible I was to run away from my duty. I didn’t take the lady’s comments about me and Max seriously. Obviously. I mean, I was soaking up his strength, using him in that way, but he didn’t consider me some kind of…I looked around, trying to think of the right word. That couple there, smiling at each other, all coy and adorable, the way she brushed his chest, and he touched her hand. That was flirting. We weren’t flirting. He was sponsoring me. That was the word. Of course I was going back to Fairyland. As soon as I’d finished the terraform, and found out who the poisoner was.

Max sat down next to me, his scent spicy and rich, delicious in so many ways, making me want to taste him. That couple in the shadows were tasting each other. They weren’t the only people there. Making out. That’s what that meant.

“Princess Sparkles.”

I smiled brightly. “Literally today. Do you like my dress? I should say, does your beast like my dress?” I winked at him very badly. “I’d like to ask him personally.” I winked again, only I did it with both eyes instead of one. Blinking was its own challenge. Maybe the peaches drink was making me weird. I needed to get his beast to fund a hat shop before I got any more ridiculously tangled with a werewolf.

He studied me, his eyes drifting down to take in my sequin dress. “Very sparkly. You shouldn’t joke about wanting my beast.”

I put my hand on his arm, feeling the connection right away. “I’m not joking. I need to talk to your beast about a very delicate subject.”

“Delicate? Beasts aren’t delicate. Anyway, I am my beast. Tell me.” He gave me an intent look that made my skin prickle.

I pulled my hand back and shook my head. “No way. You’re nothing like your beast. You wear…” I gestured at his dark pants and slightly lighter shirt. “Your beast wears a vest and a hat in the woods.”

“I see. Actually, I don’t see. Are you drunk, or am I?”

I pushed his shoulder. “I’m serious. I need to talk to your beast. Let me have him, just for a few minutes.”

His jaw tensed and his eyes narrowed. “No. It wouldn’t be a few minutes, and it wouldn’t be you having him, but quite the reverse, I assure you. Tell me. That’s much safer.”

“I’m not worried about my safety with the beast. I fell asleep on top of him. I could have passed out from fear, but I’m almost sure that’s not what it was.”

He rumbled a growl that went through me, triggering fear and panic, but also something else, a shiver of delight that had my heart beating faster. “Sorry, Princess Sparkles. No. If you ask for my beast again, I’m going to have you wash the warehouse floors.”

I wrinkled my nose at him and took another drink of my peaches. The glass was full again. The bartender must be refilling it. “Max, you aren’t playing fair. I’ve had the worst day today, dealing with goblin officers and awful, horrible, terrible fairies who kill children. Of course, he had hardly any fairy blood, but it still makes me sick to think about it. Let me…” He covered my mouth with his hand and leaned close enough soI could see every striation of his golden eyes that flickered like fire.

“No, Princess Sparkles. I’m serious. Not tonight. Not in that dress.”

I sighed heavily and pulled his hand down. “Fine.” How in the world was I going to get my funding? I had to find out who and what had put the block on Shotglass, but of course I’d failed. I was just some stupid illiterate fairy living in a forms-and-contracts world.

“Tell me what you need.”

“No.” I turned and waved at the bartender, who was pouring a drink at the far side. She came over, looking between me and Max warily.

“What can I get you?” she asked him.

I thumped the bar. “I would like a glass of your most expensive drink. Lord Max is paying.” I thumped his chest for emphasis. Also because I wanted to. He was messing up my whole plan. I mean, I’d gotten this dress for him.

She turned to look at him. “Is that right, sir?”

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