Page 82 of Faking with the Fae King

“You did?”

“Jared uploaded a video to the internet.” She holds out her phone, and Autumn snatches it from her hand, her mouth dropping open as she watches.

Skye leans over her shoulder, her eyes going wide. “You weren’t kidding when you said it was romantic!”

Destiny and Madison both start playing it on theirphones as well, and soon all of the Witch Bitches are watching.

“Where’d you get the dress?” Violeta asks. “It’s to die for.”

“It’s from that new boutique, Haute and Bothered. The fae who runs it tailored it to fit me at a single touch.” I grin. “Severin bought it for me, along with a makeover.”

Shocked gasps of awe.

“Girl,” Jasmine drawls, “you got the royal treatment last night.”

“I really did. He didn’t just pay people, either. He actually went out and arranged it all himself.”

“He’s got it bad,” Violeta says. “Any more hot, single fae kings running around?”

“Or princes?” Kayla adds. “I’d take an ousted prince traveling the realms to complete a big quest only I can help him with.”

I glance at Naomi, who shrugs and grins. “No idea, but if I bump into any, I’ll send them your way.”

“My perfect man will love books as much as I do,” Skye says. “He doesn’t need to be royalty.”

“I like ’em brawny and able to put in a good day’s hard work.” Autumn’s eyes flick to the window in the front door, which shows Rune standing guard right outside. “Someone I can picture helping on the goat farm.”

While the others chime in about their dream guys, I take Jasmine’s phone and watch the video of last night’s date.

It captures me and Severin in profile, zoomed in enough to show our expressions, even if you can’t hear what we’re talking about. He says something, and his lips quirk in quietamusement as I laugh. Then I look down at my plate to slice off another bite of pheasant, and Severin’s eyes remain glued to my face.

I never caught him doing it last night, but the video makes it clear: every time I glanced away from him, Severin watched me as if I’m the most fascinating sight he’s ever seen.

The intensity of his look steals my breath, giving me hope.

It catapults me right back to last night, to how special he made me feel. To think that a king spent his time planning and setting up such a perfect date forme.

Then the sex. Heckity heck, the sex was scorching. My toes curl just thinking about it. The excitement of hanging in midair, knowing Severin’s shadows were the only thing keeping me aloft. The thrill of him commanding me to ride his face while he held me bound. The delicious stretch of him stuffing me full of his cock and shadows.

The even more delicious night spent snuggled close to him until he slipped away to bring me breakfast in bed.

None of it feels fake.

We can have a future, I just know it.

All I have to do is win the third trial, and I’ll have a whole year of marriage to convince him that we should be together forever.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Hannah

Two days later, I’m sitting on that same sofa in I Touch My Shelf when my phone chimes a warning. Five minutes until I need to present myself to Severin’s palace for the third trial.

I spent all day yesterday working and then practiced my magic with Severin all evening. I kept busy today doing all the paperwork to finalize the opening of Ferndale Falls’s newest businesses, Haute and Bothered and Cake My Day. Then I had my yoga session with Autumn before coming here for a last-minute bit of research with Skye and Naomi.

Through it all, the ticking clock remained in the back of my mind, but as long as I kept moving, I could ignore it. Totally healthy coping mechanism. No prob.

Only now my time’s run out. I bounce to my feet, my tummy a bundle of nerves. “This is it, the third trial, my last chance to make everything right.”

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