Page 58 of Faking with the Fae King

“Since the bride trials start from here, I thought you should practice in this location to become familiar with the assets available to you.”

“And by assets…”

“I mean animals.” He gestures toward the beautiful garden. “I want you to find me an animal.”

“This is why we left Finn at the town green, isn’t it?” Not that my familiar minded. He still doesn’t seem very keen on flying, no matter how many times I tell him it’s fun.

Severin nods. “I want you to focus on animals you don’t share a bond with.”

I spin in a slow circle. Birds sing in the trees, though I don’t spot any other creatures. But if the birds are singing, why am I not hearing words? I walk closer to a cherry tree caught in the height of bloom, even though it’s summer instead of spring. From what I can tell, Severin’s plants don’t need to follow strict seasons.

Closing my eyes, I focus on the birdsong, the high trill of joyful notes slowly changing from a tune into snatches of words. “I’m here! Chirp. Cheep. I’m here!”

“Hello,” I call up to the tree. “I’m here, too.”

“Hello.” A robin hops into view along a branch, its red breast puffed out as it tilts its head from side to side, eyeing me. “No wings can talk.”

Aww. Is that what they call humans?

“Yes, I can.” I’m doing it! I give a mental fist pump as I grin up at him, trying to look friendly. Then I realize a smile probably means nothing to a bird. I lift my hand, palm up. “Would you like to come here?”

“No.” Its head twists, the beak opening to preen along the top of one wing.

When my arm drops, Severin grips my wrist, maneuvering my hand back up into position. “Makeit come to you. That should be part of your magic.”

“Okay. Sure. No prob.” Only big prob, because the butterflies are back, and all I can focus on is Severin standingright behind me, so close I can feel the heat radiating from him. One tiny shift backward, and—

“You’re not going to improve unless you practice,” he growls in my ear. “And it’s going to take a lot of improvement if you want to win the competition.”

His words hit me like a cold shower, jerking me out of my tingly daze. Shit, he’s right. That amazing Ferndale Falls of this morning? I have to win one of the trials, or it goes up in smoke.

I stare up at the robin. “Come here.”

Ignoring me, it lifts its wing to dig into the feathers underneath.

I try over and over, getting more frustrated every time.

“You’re not tapping into your magic fully.” Severin steps even closer, wrapping an arm around me to splay his fingers over my stomach.

The butterflies throw themselves forward, as if trying to burst free to reach his hand.

“I’m going to call up my magic,” he growls into my ear and pulls me backward until our bodies are flush. “Feel it… let it guide you to yours.”

Oh, I feel it alright, but I’m pretty sure “it” in this case is his erection, and it’s short-circuiting my brain. Orgasms, my lady bits whisper to me. We really, really like orgasms. The butterflies add an excited “Whee!”

Then his magic swells behind me in a punch of power that steals my breath. Severin’s strength is staggering.

My magic stirs within my chest, blossoming open. I let it fill me, let it seep up my throat, let it coat my tongue with command. “Come to me.”

With a startled squawk, the robin falls from the branch, its wings snapping out to turn it into a controlled glide. Little bird feet tickle across my palm as it plops down, its tail feathers trailing down the side of my hand.

“No here,” it says and pecks at my wrist.

“Oww. Stop that,” I say.

It freezes solid, and I immediately feel bad. “You can move,” I blurt. “Just don’t hurt me.”

“Practice,” Severin murmurs against my ear.

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