Page 41 of Faking with the Fae King

“I’ll rent one of the human apartments for you.” One of the ones above the jewelry shop instead of the pizzeria. I might be a shadow fae, but even I’m not evil enough to subject fae with keen hearing to the clangor of a flock of pixies.

“And we’ll need more human clothes,” Luna adds. “If we have to shift to our werewolf forms to fight, these will be destroyed.”

True. Their werewolf forms are far larger. “Done.”

As soon as I mention that Hannah’s inside Town Hall, the werewolves take off to make a circuit of the building.

Now that I know Hannah will be safe, the strangest feeling goes through me, one I’ve never felt in all my years.

Is this relief? Have I been worried about my enchanting little witch not only because of her place in my plans but also because I care abouther?

What a very curious feeling.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Hannah

I never knew having a bodyguard would be such a weird feeling. I barely see the woman, Luna, since she protects my cottage at night. But Rune has to stand there and watch me do paperwork all day. As much as I love my job, no one could ever think this part of it is thrilling.

“Are you sure you won’t sit?” I ask Rune for the millionth time.

“Sitting means relaxing, and—”

“—relaxing is the worst thing a bodyguard can do,” I say in synch with him, having heard it enough.

Rune looms beside the door to my office, all muscles and wild brown hair. His features are ruggedly handsome, with fascinating amber eyes and just enough scruff of beard to be sexy. He looks like one of those guys from an SUV commercial, the kind that tries to convince men that buyingthis specific car will turn them into competent, sexy outdoorsmen.

He’s very quiet and courteous with me, but every time I look at him, I get the restless urge to be outside. Maybe I’m projecting because I know he shifts into a wolf? Or maybe my magic can sense something about him.

That would be freaking fantastic if true, because I sure as hell can’t get it to do anything else.

I spent yesterday evening doing more research with Severin. We finished off everything else in his library, but found nothing useful. I’m touched by how much time he’s spending to help me. I know it also helps him, but even though we both get frustrated at not finding anything, he never gets impatient with me.

The loud clattering of someone running up the Town Hall’s wooden stairs in hard shoes echoes through my office door. Jared bursts into the room, his perpetually sunburnt face slick with sweat, his damp lycra cycling clothes clinging to him. “Hannah!”

In a blur of movement, Rune power slams Jared into the wall so hard the freaking building shudders.

“Hannah?” Jared croaks at the same time I yell, “He’s okay!”

Rune relaxes the arm he has barred across the cyclist’s neck but keeps pinning him in place.

Jared tries to push back, his massive thighs straining. Up until a few days ago, I would have said he was the strongest man in town, but Rune holds him easily.

Exactly how strong are fae compared to humans? How strong is Severin? A knowing goes through me, my bodyremembering how effortlessly he carried me through the sky, his arms unwavering.

Jared’s grunt of effort and irritation snaps me back to the present.

“Please let him go,” I say. “I’ve known him since high school.”

“Shadow fae can cast glamours, can make themselves look like anyone.” The werewolf bares his fangs at Jared, who hopefully can’t see them because of the protective spell. “Prove you’re who you say you are.”

“Why do you have fangs?” Jared’s eyes go wide. “Are you another of those flying guys?”

Welp, there goes that hope. But actually, it’s okay. If the protective spell is letting Jared see the fae for what they really are, that means he’s either a witch or friendly to magic.

I step out from behind my desk and set a hand on Rune’s arm. “He’s okay.”

As soon as he lets Jared go, I ask my friend, “What’s up?”

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