Page 17 of Faking with the Fae King

“Uh, problem.” Autumn jabs her cupcake toward me, dropping a piece of cereal into Skye’s cocktail with a tiny splash.

The other woman shrugs and takes a drink of her cinnamon crunch cocktail.

Undeterred, Autumn continues, “What’s with you needing to prove you’reworthy? I can’t believe anyone thinks you’re not worthy. You’re the hardest working person I know!”

“But he’s a fae. An utterly hot and magically powerful fae who can fly,” Skye says, sounding a little breathless. Then she winces, clears her throat, and her tone becomes serious. “And it’s so totally wrong that he says you’re not good enough.”

“It’s not him. It’s fae tradition. And winning the trials is about more than Severin and our feelings for each other.” Especially since there aren’t any. “Once we’re married, he can make the magical protections around the town permanent. Ferndale Falls needs this.”

“Girl, you need to get alife,” Jasmine says, and several others umm their agreement.

That stings a little. “I’ve got a life! Sure, it’s a little career focused right now, but someday—”

“There is no someday,” Autumn says, adopting what I call her ‘Yoda voice,’ which she uses whenever she’s trying to sound really enlightened and profound. “There’s only today.”

I open my mouth, ready to protest that I’m getting married, which is only something people with a life do, butit snaps closed. Even if most of the women don’t know the marriage is fake, I do, which means Jasmine kind of has a point.

But that’s a future-Hannah problem!

“I’m with my besties eating cupcakes and drinking yummy cocktails! Thisismy best life! Here’s to the Witch Bitch Spicy Book Club!” I lift my cup in a toast to all of them, take a drink, then bite into my cupcake, letting the sweet taste of buttercream and vanilla and chocolate take me to my happy place.

After everyone cheers and drinks, Skye looks up at me with excited eyes. “What was it like to fly?”

For a second, I’m back in Severin’s arms, wrapped in his shadows and strength. An electric tingle goes through me, and the butterflies in my stomach kick up their own party.

“Oh, my god! Your face,” Autumn crows, pointing. “You have to tell us absolutelyeverything.”

I grin and fan myself, making everyone laugh and lean forward, clamoring for all the details.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Severin

I wake after my first night on Earth amazingly refreshed. Sleeping with the vitality of the forest spread all around the palace has replenished something within me I hadn’t realized I lacked. Plant magic is an unusual power for a shadow fae, and I spent most of my life practicing my lesser magics, such as illusions and glamour. To finally be able to use my main power is heady.

This invigorating feeling makes me even more determined to finalize my deal with Hannah. I’ll do whatever it takes to remain on Earth. I willnotleave this realm.

I throw off the down comforter and leap from my bed.

No one scurries from the shadows to make it. For years, I kept a full complement of servants. Once the Dark God released us, they fled, and as part of my attempt to reform, Ilet them go. A sigh escapes me at needing to find new ones.

In the meantime, there’s magic. A flick of my hand sends my shadows spiraling outward to pull back the heavy velvet drapes covering the arched windows. Sunlight pours in, making the marble floor gleam and picking out the colors of the rich tapestries that adorn the walls. Another flick, and my bed is made, the heavy, brocade counterpane adding its own decoration of silver-shot blue to the four-poster bed.

After a refreshing swim in my bathing pool, I dress. The black leather pants and boots are familiar, since I’ve lived my entire life in leather, but the softness of the fine weave of the cloth shirt still surprises me as it slips over my skin like a caress. I button it only partway and cuff the sleeves. My shadows can slip through fabric—they do so every time I form wings—yet it feels better to leave some of my tattoos uncovered and ready to act. I shrug into a embroidered waistcoat and leave the crown behind. Today’s visit to Ferndale Falls needn’t be as formal as yesterday’s.

The palace hums around me as I stalk down its halls, full of the first group of shadow fae to visit Earth. I’ll soon acquire local currency for them so they can venture into town, but for now, they can be content with the beauty of the palace garden and surrounding forest.

It’s early, so I cross paths with only a few others, yet even those few look different than they did only weeks ago. Their eyes gleam with hope for the first time in years, and it stirs an unusual twinge in my chest. Perhaps remaining on Earth isn’t only about me. It will be good for my people as well.

My garden welcomes me, angled beams of morning sunlight painting the flowers with swaths of blazing color.The combined perfume of the various blooms is one of the most fragrant scents I’ve ever experienced, topped only by…

I jerk to a halt, the sweet smell of Hannah’s skin filling my mind so strongly that I take a deep breath. Alas, it’s only a memory.

My shadows stir restlessly under my skin, making my tattoos dance. I set them free and spring into the air as my wings unfurl, speeding me toward town.

Towardher, my enchanting little witch.

The trees of the forest call to me, and I dip low until my hands brush over the highest leaves. I send tiny pulses of magic into them, healing small hurts, strengthening branches and roots. Each use of my power not only aids the trees, it also binds this land to me, strengthening my claim. By the time my year-long marriage ends, no power in the realms will be able to banish me from this part of Earth.

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