Page 79 of Welcome to Fae Cafe

“I’m not going to kill you, Human. I’m not going to kill your grandmother, either, or speak your real names in the way required to enslave you,” Cress said. “There’s no point now. Killing you will only prolong my suffering anyway with how preposterously wrong everything has gone since we met.” His hand softened back to flesh, and he shook her wrist until the butterknife fell onto the carpet. “So, stop trying to stab me with everything.”

Kate’s gaze followed the knife where it rolled beneath her bed, out of reach. “Why should I believe you? I know fairies love to play tricks,” she said.

“Yes, we do. We love to play tricks, and meddle in human affairs, and hand out enchanted kisses. Unfortunately, our tricks don’t always bring the results we want.” He glared at her mouth. “But what’s done is done. I have larger troubles to deal with than hunting a pesky, repulsive human. You should stay away from the fairies from now on if you don’t want to get dragged into it.”

“I can’t just stay outof fairy problems while three of them are living in my apartment. And what about my grandmother?” Kate asked. “Won’t she get dragged into your troubles if you’relivinghere?”

Cress’s jaw slid to the side.

“Cress? Katherine? I thought you two were going to help me with the cookies!” Grandma Lewis’s voice boomed up the stairs. “You might be adults, but this is still my house. No boys in your bedroom with you, Katherine! Don’t you dare get into any handsy business up there!” she added.

Kate fought a blush, but Cress smiled. “You’ll never be so lucky,” he promised. He reached back, swung open the door, and stood aside to let her exit first.

Kate took one last sidelong glance at where the butterknife had disappeared below her bed. Then she strode out the door on heavy feet. “You have to leave this house,” she said as she passed him. “I won’t let you stay here.”

Cress sighed. “I agree. And since you refuse tostay out of fairy problems, I suppose I should just move in with my brothers.”

Kate whirled back to find a smirk on the Prince’s face.

“Thank you for the invitation,” he added.

“That wasnotan invitation—”

“Ah. Unlike my brothers, you haven’t enslaved me, Human. I don’t have to obey you. I do, however, have all the means necessary to enslaveyouif I wish it.” His gaze cut over to Kate as he reached the stairs. “So be very careful.”

The snow picked up as they left, and Kate stole a look at Cress’s t-shirt every few moments, visible beneath her late grandfather’s unzipped hunting coat. Tiny flakes tumbled down the thin fabric, melting at Cress’s collar where they touched his flesh. Finally, Kate huffed and passed the paper bag of cookies to her other hand. They walked through a quieter part of the city.

“You should zip your coat. Don’t you have a sweater or something?” she asked.

“Not anymore.” Cress stole a glance at the bag of cookies. “You’re going to share those, right? I helped make them, too.”

She released a grunt. “A fae with a sweet tooth. Interesting.”

“A human with a resistance to enchantments.” He glanced at her, turquoise eyes pointed. “Far more interesting.”

Kate stifled a snooty response, not coming up with anything good enough to say aloud. She chewed on her lip as they approached Hanes Street. “Your fae friends might not be at the café when we get there. I told them they could leave if they wanted,” she said instead as they rounded the corner.

Kate skidded to a stop in the snow and nearly choked when she saw a new, large wooden sign above the café door that said, FAE CAFÉ, in bold, burgundy letters.

People headed in and out the door, sliding past each other with to-go cups. From where she was, Kate could see notes written across the paper cups in swooping, artistic handwriting.

“My brothers won’t leave,” Cress assured. “It’s an excellent hiding place from…” His voice trailed off, and Kate glanced over at him when he didn’t finish.

“Hiding place from what?”

Cress didn’t seem to hear. His gaze darted over the street, and he did a slow, full turn. Kate tried to spot what he was looking for, but only the snow-dusted storefronts and nodding neighbours were around.

“Come with me.” Cress’s hand slid into hers, and Kate found herself being guided to the opposite sidewalk. “Don’t glance at your building as we pass it. Just keep walking like you don’t know it’s there.”

“Why?” Kate clutched the bag of cookies, expecting him to run. But he didn’t—he walked along casually, his hand in hers, swaying their arms a little. It might have been sweet if he wasn’t a cold-blooded fae assassin.

“We’re being stalked,” he told her.

Kate craned her neck to see behind them, but Cress tugged her arm, turning her back. “Don’t look around, Human. We’re going to pretend we don’t know.”

Kate held the cookies tighter against her stomach. “Well… what are we going to do, then?”

“We’ll go on a date. Like normal humans do on thatDating Tonightshow Thelma watches in the evenings. We’ll bore the stalkers to death if we must. But we cannot return to your dwelling where my brothers are hiding while we’re being followed.” Cress glanced into the storefront window of the sweets shop, seeming to eye the candy apples. He shoved his free hand into his pocket.

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