Page 4 of Faking with the Fae King

Her light tan skin blushes a fascinating pink as she snaps her mouth closed and swallows. Her every thought shows on her face in the most fascinating fashion. After years surrounded by calculating fae, her candor is refreshing. This one will indeed be fun to dally with.

“You want me to marry you…” she says each word slowly.

“For a year and a day.” Exactly the amount of time needed for the marriage to be sanctified as official in Faerie.And an official marriage is the only thing that will satisfy the fae leaders of the other realms that the shadow fae can be trusted.

The marriage will also cement my claim to hold land on Earth.

My eyes flick past the witch to the trees I called into being, ash and rowan and a local tree, whose seeds sang to my magic from within the ground. Four-petaled white flowers cover its round shape in a profusion of blooms. The flowering bushes my magic conjured have blossoms the same rich pink as the witch’s vibrant blouse.

Earth plant life is so alive, so full of potential that it hums in my blood, a giddy song of growth and joy. Today is the first time I’ve used my plant magic to its greatest extent, and I’m drunk on it and in love with this place already. I set my palace down directly outside town, moving aside the plant life to create a denser barrier of forest around it. So many trees in such a small area! The feeling is heady.

It feeds a need inside me long starved. The Dark God made my elfin ancestors shadow fae even as he stripped our realm of sun and life. I did many evils in his service, yet knowing he deprived me of the natural world that should have been my birthright makes him the true villain.

Ineedto remain on Earth.

And this pretty little witch can give that to me.

If it comes to it, I’ll seduce her. Our history is full of tales of humans succumbing to our charms, and she’s bewitchingly attractive with her obvious blushes and expressive eyes. Perhaps I’ll seduce her for the pure pleasure of it, whether it’s needed to seal the bargain or not.

“You don’t even know my name,” she says.

“Then give it to me.” I step closer, loving the way her pupils dilate at the movement.

“Hannah.” She squares her shoulders. “Mayor Hannah Wylde, since you’re clearly into titles.”

“Hannah,” I murmur. The lovely name slides across my tongue like silk. Being a palindrome, it speaks of magic and games. How appropriate for a fae queen, even a temporary one. “You may call me Severin.”

“So, Severin.” She gestures to the surrounding buildings. “If I marry you, you’ll protect the town?”

Interesting that she speaks of her town first instead of herself. I can make use of that.

“When you said no one else on Earth could know about magic, I placed a magical shield around the town.” My main magical power might be tied to plant life, but all shadow fae have a range of abilities.

“You trapped us here?”

“No.” I scowl, horrified by the thought. After being forced to serve the Dark God, I’d never imprison anyone against their will. “No one will be trapped. You have my word.”

“We can’t lose contact with the outside world.” Worry stains Hannah’s pretty brown eyes. “But we also can’t let everyone know about all this magic.”

“Fae magic can be quite complex. Anyone not magical themselves or accepting of magic will see a glamoured façade that appears completely mundane.” I gesture to some of the people behind her. “It’s already happening.”

She turns to take in the rest of the townspeople. Several,many of them younger women, have crept closer to the garden I just conjured. Others have already begun to wander off, brows creased in mild puzzlement. I relax the silencing spell for a moment.

“Why did we go outside?” an old man grumbles. “I thought we were having a town meeting.”

“I think the young people wanted to look at the azaleas,” a middle-aged woman answers.

“Why?” He snorts. “Those flowers were here yesterday, and they’ll be here tomorrow.”

“I don’t mind,” the woman says. “Our Hannah has done a lovely job restoring the town green. It deserves to be enjoyed.”

As they move out of earshot, Hannah turns back to me, wonder brightening her gaze. “They think the town green’sbeenlike this? How the hell do they not remember that you did this only five freaking minutes ago?”

“Magic. In fact, everyone whocansee magic now thinks it’s completely normal for fae to be on Earth.” I smirk, wrapping us in silence again. “They also think we’re having an adoring lover’s chat right now.”

“What?” she shrieks, spinning to wave a hand in front of the face of a short, blonde woman with pale skin. “Skye! Talk to me, Skye!” Then she gestures at a woman with freckled, light skin and red hair. “Autumn?”

Neither woman reacts.

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