Page 80 of Faking with the Fae King

Pepperpot bustles from the kitchen, a tray of raisin-dotted sweet buns held before her. “King Severin, was everything all right with dinner? You left before you said.”

“Dinner was excellent.” I tip my head in thanks. “I merely wanted to partake of your breakfast offerings as well.” It’s a lie. There’s no “merely” to it—I would do bodily harm to anyone attempting to keep me away.

She slides the tray into the sweets case. “What would you like?”

I pause. I’ll be happy with anything, but what will Hannah like best?

Skipping over the cookies and cakes for now, I focus on the breakfast offerings. “One of each.”

Pepperpot adds sweet buns, rolls, and pastries of various types to a paper bakery box. When she gets ready to fold the top closed, I say, “Go ahead and add an extra of the item you consider your best.”

“They areallmy best.” She spears me with her little brown eyes.

“Then I’ll take an extra sweet bun.”

I eat it on the flight back, unable to resist, still shadow fae enough to be unable to wait.

But Hannah laughs as I climb onto the bed and reaches out to wipe a bit of icing from the corner of my lips. “That good, huh?”

“The best.” I flip open the lid of the wide box, filling the room with the combined smell of the treats, heady and sweet.

Her eyes go wide as she scoots upright, tucking a sheetaround her as she reaches for one of the swirled buns. Taking a big bite, she moans, “Oh, god, this is the best cinnamon roll I’ve ever had.”

She glances at the box and must notice there’s not another of the same type, because she extends it toward me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hog it all.”

“It’s clearly your favorite.” Instead of taking the roll, I push her hand gently toward her mouth. “I want you to enjoy it. I can try one another day.”

She smiles and takes another bite, umming happily, unfazed by my actions.

Yet shock courses through me the moment I realize what I’ve done. I’ve schemed to get these brownie baked goods for weeks, and here I hand them over as if it’s nothing. When have I ever given up any kind of delight to please another over myself?

Never. Until her.

Sleeping beside her all night, holding her in my arms with no immediate thought of carnal pleasure, enjoying simplybeingwith her…

I didn’t think myself capable, yet now I have to wonder. This strange feeling in my chest, this joy I feel every time she smiles… is this love?

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Hannah

That evening, Naomi teleports Skye and Autumn to the bookshop a half hour before the rest of the witches are set to arrive.

The cupcakes and cocktail-mixers get set aside as they cram in around me on the longest sofa.

“Thanks for coming. I totally need an emergency bestie gab session.”

“Of course,” Autumn says, her tone saying, “duh.”

“What is it?” Skye asks, her blue eyes full of worry. “Your magic?”

“Yeah,” Naomi nods. “The last trial is less than two days away. It’s coming up fast.”

“I know.” Anxiety twists in my tummy. God, time’s been freaking racing! I’m almost out. “It’s kind of about the trial, but it’s so much more than that.”

Autumn widens her eyes at me, bestie speak for “get on with it already.”

“Severin took me on the most amazing date last night. He really went all out. He bought me an amazing Faerie silk dress from that new boutique in town. He got a top chef to make us dinner and arranged a romantic table for two on the green with a harpist and magical floating Faerie lights and everything!”

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