Page 55 of Faking with the Fae King

I cut my waffle in two and pour maple syrup on one half and blueberry syrup on the other. The menu promised everything’s made from real ingredients instead of artificial flavors, and I love both, so why choose?

“Okay, spill.” Autumn jabs her fork toward me.

“Witch stuff or guy stuff first?”

“Witch stuff, of course.” Skye looks up from pouring raspberry syrup across her waffle. “That way, we can spend the rest of the time talking about guy stuff.”

“I figured out my magic last night.”

“That’s amazing!” Skye beams at me.

“Congratulations!” Autumn says. “What is it?”

“I can talk to animals.”

“Tell them I’m still special.” Finn looks up from gulping down his burgers.

“Of course, bud,” I assure him, then turn back to my friends. “Finn wants you to know he’s still special.”

“Of course he is.” Then Skye’s voice goes dreamy. “I’d love to be able to talk to animals.”

“It sure would help with the goats,” Autumn says, then points her fork at me. “But how’s it going to help you with these bride trials?”

“I don’t know,” I admit. “But it’s got to be better than having no idea about my magic.”

“It definitely gives us a more focused topic to research,” Skye says. “That always helps.”

“Is there anything else we can do about the magic thing right now?” Autumn asks. When the two of us shake ourheads, she grins. “So on to the guy stuff!”

I take a big gulp of coffee. “Severin and I slept together.”

“What?” Skye shrieks right as Autumn lets out a stunned, “No!”

“That’s all I need to hear ofthat.” Finn bumps his head against my calf. “Find me on the green.” He weaves his way across the restaurant before bolting out the front door.

“I thought everything between you two is fake,” Skye says.

“It was. But now it’s… I don’t know.” I play with my ring—my freaking ginormous diamond ring thatshouldmean my fiancé loves me a lot. But it’s all for show. Severin bought this one because it’s makes our fake engagement look real. I shove a bite of waffle into my mouth, the sweet explosion of maple syrup making my tongue happy, even though the rest of me feels frustrated and confused. “Last night felt really special. He surprised me by bringing me here for a date, let me order our food, and talked to me… really talked, stuff about his childhood and life.”

“That sounds perfect!” Skye says. “What’s the problem?”

“We went out to practice my magic, but this time, our powers did this new thing where they combined, and it was all tingly and exciting, and we… well, you know.” I gesture. “But I don’t know if it was just the magic or if it’s something more.”

“What did Severin seem like?” Autumn asks.

“He enjoyed it, but he’s such a good actor. When he looks at me like he cares, it doesn’t look that different than when we’re faking for a crowd.”

“What if that’s because he always means it?” Skye’s eyesgo dreamy. “He might really be into you.”

“Maybe?” I poke at my waffle with the tines of my fork.

Autumn puts her hand on mine and gives me one of her serious looks, her red eyebrows drawing together, her freckled nose scrunching. “Do youwantthings between you two to be fake?”

“No,” I whisper, then clear my throat and speak at a regular volume. “But it’s not completely up to me, is it? Fake is all he wants. Or maybe he wants ‘fake plus benefits.’”

“Is ‘fake plus benefits’ even a thing?” Skye asks.

I give her a grimace-smile and shrug.

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