Page 63 of Faking with the Fae King

She gives me the slightest nod back, her light-green face serious. Gnomes don’t mess around when it comes to precious metals. Ruby will give it her all.

If only there were some way I could help her…

My mind turns over everything I know about the trial, looking for weaknesses to exploit. All my years leading devious shadow fae stand me in good stead, because the idea comes, flashing bright, sharp as a lightning strike. Nowhere in the rules did it say I have to remain in the same place each time to accept the gem. Doing so is implied but not stipulated. Goddess, I should have thought of this before Hannah took her turn. If I’d done so, we wouldn’t be in this mess.

Cursing myself, I launch into the air and fly over to hang right in front of the waterfall, the gem only a couple of feet away.

Meloria’s cry of protest comes from behind me, but Varyn’s voice rises over hers. “There’s nothing forbidding it in the rules.”

Ruby drops to hands and knees, her hour glass tipping over. Palms flat to the ground, she opens her mouth and sings to it, a deep, throbbing song that should be impossiblefrom one so small. But the melody comes from her magic, not her body, and gnomes hold a power like no other.

Deep chiming notes rise from the ground, as if a giant swings a hammer inside a rock chamber far below.

Ruby sings again, a demanding tune, one fist thumping against the ground with a percussive beat.

The sand trickles down her hour glass. It feels as if an hour must have passed. Goddess, why isn’t the gnome going faster?

Hannah holds Finn to her chest and leans against Naomi, who’s got an arm wrapped around her shoulders. I’m struck again by my betrothed’s ability to form such strong connections with others.

Ruby slams her fist into the ground, her voice echoing like a gong.

I spin just in time. Rock punches outward from the cliff, shooting the gem out of the waterfall and straight into my hands.

A loud chime fills the air as I fly back to Hannah, and a new scroll appears in front of Varyn. “With a time of twelve seconds, Ruby has won the trial of strength!”

“There, see?” Naomi rubs her hand up and down Hannah’s upper arm. “No fighting.”

“Yeah, but no winning either.”

Hannah’s words stay with me as the waterfall fades from view to be replaced by my garden. All of us reappear around the bridal stone.

“Why are you doing this, Severin?” Meloria strides over to me, her shadow tattoos shifting as power rolls from her. “Think of how strong we are. Think of what we could dotogether. We could re-conquer all of the realms we gave up when the Dark God left.”

Her offer isn’t the slightest bit tempting. I made my decision the moment I touched a living tree for the first time—no more war, no more destruction. I wantedlife.

Now that I’ve lived on Earth these past weeks, I crave even more. Hannah has shown me the joy of having someone look upon me with admiration. I cup her cheek and meet her beautiful, gold-flecked brown eyes, so full of warmth I long to bask in them.

I face Meloria, scowl firmly in place. “Dead realms like Markan, you mean? What are those compared to this?” My slow gesture encompasses the beauty of my garden.

Meloria glances around quickly, then gives a dismissive snort. “Flowers, Severin? Really? We could rule all of Faerie!”

I send a shadow racing out into my garden to pluck a heavy bloom. When it brings the pink peony to my hand, I turn to Hannah and tuck it behind her ear. I say, “Flowers carry many meanings. They’re beautiful and sweet smelling. They also indicate a plant is healthy and ready to propagate. Flowers symbolize life and the promise of a future.”

Meloria sneers at my betrothed, her eyes flashing venom as her hand drops to the hilt of her knife.

I step between them. My shadows stir, ready to form a shield around Hannah.

The shadow fae makes a noise of frustrated disgust and leaps into the air, her startled minion flapping after her.

A cold truth burned in her eyes. I need to warn Rune and Luna to step up their vigilance. Meloria has practicedrestraint until now, because she assumed she would win the second trial. Losing has put her back up against the wall, making winning trial three more crucial than ever. She will make a try for Hannah in the next few days. I feel it in the blacker parts of my soul.

The realization trickles ice down my spine, spurring a new idea. The werewolves will not be alone.

I will also protect Hannah.

“Severin!” Surprise colors Hannah’s voice when I enter her office two days later. I’ve seen it from the window many times, having spent several days crouched there, watching over her, yet this is the first time I’ve come inside.

The room has high ceilings, crown molding, and an antique wooden desk so large it looks as if the room was built around it, because there’s no way it fit through the door. All of it’s suitably regal for her position as mayor.

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