Page 16 of Dark Sun (Wicked Lovely 6)

“Just . . . leave me alone,” Katherine muttered, turning and taking a step away from him. “Seriously. I won’t bother you. You don’t bother me. Okay? Pax. Peace. Truce. Whatever.”

Gina returned then. She held out a bottle of water and can of some sort of carbonated fruit juice. “Everything okay?”

“Mmm.” Katherine affixed a not-at-all-convincing smile. “I thought I . . . recognized your friend. Sorry.”

“Uri?” Gina grinned. “He’s not exactly forgettable, is he? We met when—”

“Gina.” Urian interrupted. “Katherine obviously knows a few of my relatives, so she was caught off-guard by my presence. Shesawme for what I am.”

Gina’s eyes widened. “For real?”

Urian nodded. “She knows what I am.”

“You can see faeries?” Gina practically breathed the words.

“No,” Katherine started. “Not really. Faeries are a myth, and I think it’s probably best if I just leave and—”

“Can you reallyseethem?” Gina blurted. “The faeries? I mean, I believe Uri and all, but as much as I look for them, I never see anyone. I try, but it’s knowing they’re out there isn’t the same as having the Sight and . . . we can’t make the ointment.”

“Youwantto see faeries?” Katherine’s voice was thin and breathy now, barely a whisper in the dark desert, as if she’d been exercising at length, and Urian had a flicker of longing to hear her sound that way for reasons other than fear.

“Can I tell her the rest?” Gina asked Urian. “Please?”

Urian shrugged, watching Katherine’s expression with interest. She was completely unprepared for their secret to be exposed. Most fey were. They had been taught to hide, as if there was some shame in being greater-than-mortal.

“Urian is an exiled faery prince,” Gina announced in a squeaky voice.

“He’swhat?” Katherine took another step backward.

“A faery prince.” Gina stared at Urian with the sort of awe that made him reconsider whether or not he needed to move on.

“Ha. Faeries aren’t . . . real.” Katherine’s tone was drawn in pain now. Her hands were clenched in fists, and a thin sheen of sweat had her looking like she was glowing in the firelight. She might be able to lie, but, apparently, it wasn’teasyfor her to do so this often.

Reluctant respect filled Urian.

“Faeries can’t lie, Katherine. Surely, you’ve heardthat, at the least,” he teased. “I am exactly that. A faery prince. Exiled. A man without a throne. . .”

Gina sighed.

“Uh huh. And I’m a talking chihuahua trapped in a human suit,” Katherine drawled.

Urian smiled at her. “Join us. We’ll talk awhile, and you can learn all about the fey.”

She shook her head.

“I know it seems impossible,” Gina started. “Here in the middle of nowhere. A real live faery prince!”

“You’re drunk,” Katherine whispered. This time she didn’t wince because she was looking at Gina and the others, whowererather intoxicated.

Drunk or not, they were also truthful—and she knew it.

“Gina.” Urian opened his arms, inviting the mortal girl to his side. She came easily and happily. They always did. “Let Katherine go for now. Perhaps she just needs time to think. Not everyone is as eager to believe as you were.”

Both Gina and Katherine looked crestfallen at his reply, and Urian felt a foolish flicker of hope that Katherine’s expression held jealousy at seeing Gina in his embrace. She likely didn’t, but she’d be much easier to manage if she did.

Silently she turned and walked away, not once looking back. He wondered if she still wanted to run, and that was why it was so difficult to let her leave--or if the urge to chase her was simply because she might be the ally he’d sought. Either way he was far from done with Katherine.

And he was fairly certain that she realized it, too.

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