Page 6 of Faking with the Fae King

“No.” I smirk, extending my hand closer to her. “That’s magic.”

“I’m so happy for the two of you.” Skye clings to Hannah’s arm. “This is so romantic.”

“Does he have friends?” Autumn eyes me speculatively. “He’s got that whole bad-boy thing working for him.”

“Boy?” I rear back, lips curling from my fangs in a silent snarl. How dare she? I’ve conquered realms! Thousands have cowered at my feet, begging for mercy. “I assure you that of all the various appellations I may be aptly called,boyis not numbered among them.”

“She meant it as a compliment.” Hannah narrows her eyes at me. “And I don’t care if you’re a king. You don’t talk to my friends in that tone of voice.”

Magic sparks from her, strong for a human, even if nomatch for mine. Yet I admire her willingness to stand up to me. Not many would do so. Her words also remind me of where I am,whoI am now. I’m no longer a warrior king, no longer a fighter. I left all of that behind once released by the Dark God.

I force my expression to ease and remember the part I’m meant to play. “I’m sorry, darling. I’ll try to watch my tone.”

Yells come from the green. One entire bed of tulips uproot themselves and run across the grass on root feet, waving their tall leaves like arms, their flower heads bobbing.

“Oh, god! Now we have flowers freaking running around? How can we explain them?” Hannah spins back to me, jabbing a finger toward the tulips. “Did you do that?”

“No,” I say.

Worry flares in her expressive eyes.

“Finalize our agreement, and I will protect your town.” I offer her my hand again.

Her shoulders go back, and her expression changes to one of determination. “Let’s do this.”

As soon as her fingers touch mine, a bolt of magic zips through me. My shadows leap from my skin, tendrils spooling outward to wrap around Hannah. My wings extend from my back, and I gather her into my arms.

She gasps as her human curves mold to me with bewitching softness, and the sweet smell of her fills my nose, something light and floral and as bright as sun striking water.

A chord thrums in my chest, an unusual feeling I cannot name.

My arms tighten around her as I leap into the air.

CHAPTER THREE

Hannah

Oh, god. Oh, god. I’mflying!

My heart races with a mixture of fear and excitement, like the feeling you get on a rollercoaster. His arms hold me close, magic tingling everywhere our bodies touch. Freaking shadow thingies emerge from the tattoos on Severin’s skin to coil all around me! The smoky-black tendrils are like nothing I’ve ever seen, but no matter how strange they are, their hold makes me feel more secure.

Wind whistles past, tugging on my hair and stroking over my skin, but his shadow wings are completely silent. Even in the fast-moving air, his scent surrounds me, leather and wood smoke and pine. It shouldn’t smell so good, but it does.

Clinging to his shoulders, I twist my upper body, my neck craning so I can see the town. Ferndale Falls lookspretty as a postcard from up here, the rectangle of the town green dotted with white and pink flowers. As we rise higher, more of the town comes into view, showing how Ferndale Falls doesn’t form a circle, like most towns. Instead, the residential area of Victorian houses and adorable cottages spreads south and west. To the north and east, the small downtown area butts up against forest, with the eponymous waterfall right in the center of the “do not build” area.

Or at least itwasall forest.

Now, a fairytale palace rises from the trees to the left of the waterfall, full of fanciful spires and heavily carved decorations, all made of white limestone. A detached outer wall circles the main building, creating an open area in the front and a flower-dotted garden in the back.

I sure as hell see why Jared came running to get me. There’s no way I can hide any of this without Severin’s help.

“That’syour home?” It comes out as a shocked whisper.

“It is.” Pressed this tightly to him, his deep voice vibrates through me. He dives, his shadows adjusting their grip as I tip backward.

I let out an undignified eep and cling to his biceps as my cheeks go fiery hot. Shit. I have the blush to end all blushes when I’m embarrassed, and his cocky smirk says he’s seen it. Not that he needs to—he can probably feel the heat radiating off me in waves of mortification like heat lines shimmering over sun-baked summer pavement.

Then I’m twisting again, eager for a view of the waterfall from this height. We flash past the falls, the water cascading down the rock face in a froth that breaks into a million sparkling diamonds where the sun strikes it. The pool belowspreads outward in a lovely blue, just waiting for summer swimmers to cool off on our handful of hot days.

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