Page 83 of Faking with the Fae King

“You’re the best witch because you’remywitch,” Finn says, pressing against my calf. “You’ll win this time, and I’ll help.”

“I hope that passage I found is useful.” Skye gives me a quick hug.

One of the books she brought contains an essay that says while witches might find things like spells and wands useful to direct their powers, magic doesn’t require fancy words or tools. Magic at its core, it claims, is instinct and intent. It sounds good, but I’m usually more of a give-me-concrete-action-steps kind of girl. But my friend doesn’t need to hear my doubts, not when she’s spent days using all her free time to research for me, so I say, “I’m sure it will be.”

“You got this.” Naomi stands and takes my arm with one hand, her other wrapping around the tip of Finn’s tail. “You ready?”

I try to smile, but it probably looks more like a grimace. “Let’s go.”

Varyn waits for us at the palace’s main doors, speeding us through the grand foyer and into the throne room in haste.

Shadow fae walk past in a blur of unfamiliar faces. They must have done their weekly change-over of people again. It’s yet another thing that will be better if I win. More shadow fae will be able to visit Earth and get a break from their slowly recovering realm.

Right before the door to the garden, Varyn stops and turns to me. “He wouldn’t want me to say this, but I’m going to, anyway. Severin is a friend, but he’s lived a somewhat isolated life, due to his position. You’re the first person I’ve ever seen make him truly smile.”

My heart skips, emotion thickening my throat.

“I know you want to win for the sake of you and your town. And I want you to win so I can live on Earth.” Varyn grips my shoulder. “But Ineedyou to win for Severin.”

I swallow and rasp out, “I’m going to give it my damndest.”

He gives me a sharp nod and reaches for the door, throwing it open and letting in sunlight and the sweet scent of flowers.

Severin’s garden looks as lovely as ever. All of the other contestants and their representatives are already here, and the bridal stone stands waiting to start the trial.

My gaze skips past all of it to find Severin. God, he’s gorgeous. It’s more than his perfect cheekbones, emerald eyes, and unbelievably perfect hair. It’s that he’s patient and thoughtful. It’s the way he holds me, wrapping me in his arms and shadows and strength.

He’s gorgeous, because he’s the man I love.

His eyes warm as he spots me, his long legs eating the distance as he strides over. The silver crown flashes in the sunlight as he bows over my hand, pressing his lips to the knuckle right below his ring. “My betrothed.”

“For about ten more minutes,” Meloria snarks.

Totally over her mean-girl shtick, I spin to face her, hands on hips. “Would you get over yourself already? Sure, you’re beautiful, but you’re not all that. I just walked past at least ten fae easily as attractive as you.” I hook a thumb back toward the palace.

“Watch yourself, human.”

“Or you’ll what? Try to cheat some more?” Ithrow my hands up in the air, careful not to let slip that I know she sabotaged me during the first trial. I don’t want to get Severin in trouble. But I’ve got plenty of other blame to lay at her door. “Like you started that bogus bar fight to try to hurt me. Or how you tried to break into my house twice in the middle of the night and into my office another time.” Luna and Rune stopped her, but they wouldn’t have needed to if she hadn’t tried to start shit to begin with.

Her icy eyes narrow as she pulls out a knife.

I gulp. Okay, more like a mini-sword. Just how freaking long does a knife need to be, anyway?

Severin’s shadows leap from his exposed forearms, forming a shield in front of me that he immediately replaces with his body. “If you want to stab someone, stab me.”

I have to stand on tiptoe to see over his broad shoulder.

Meloria sneers before sheathing her knife. “Fine. I’m tired of wasting my time. I have a trial to win.”

Why? Can’t she see Severin hates her? Even if she wins—which, dear god, no!—she has to know he’ll pick Ruby or Elowen instead. Then it hits me. Her winning the trial means Severincan’tpick me. He won’t get to stay on Earth like he wants. Is that what all of this is now, a vindictive way to hurt him? I can’t imagine wanting to do that to any of my exes, even Darren, who turned out to be a total asshole.

I can see a bit more of what Varyn was talking about. If Severin spent his time with her, was that the kind of life he had before? One surrounded by spite and hate instead of love?

No wonder he’s worked so hard to make Ferndale Fallsan even more wonderful place. All the cute little shops. The pixies, the gnomes, and the orcs making new homes. And the bakery! Dear god, the brownie bakery is enough to warm the heart and feed the soul.

Varyn’s right. I need to win this for far more than me. I need to win this for everyone who calls Ferndale Falls home.

Starting with Severin.

---