Page 44 of Fake Fae-Ancée

The Witch leaned back into the cushions, enshrouding herself in more foggy white smoke. "So what? Nobody needs to know that."

Yuri

Aunt Yli-Pekkala was indeeda weird old hag, but she was fundamentally right about one thing. In the Bear kingdom, prophecies were serious business.

A harder currency than gold or diamonds.

Prophecies broke dynasties. They caused wars. Destroyed empires. The only reason being that the stars had proclaimed it so. I, too, could not escape. The old belief was engraved in every fiber of my soul. The words of Sankta Polina were true north for my kind. Fate determined our path. Fate was our law.

Kai was arguing with Aunt Yli-Pekkala for some time now. I had known things would go down like this. The old Witch was as stubborn as a pack of mules and used to things going her way.

So was Kai.

It was like watching two storm fronts having a mental box fight.

"That's the stupidest story I've ever heard, and I've got quite a bit of experience with stupid stories!"

Kai’s face was flushed red. She yelled. She’d been yelling for a while now. Wherever a pin-sized person like her was getting the volume from.

"You want me to pretend we’re the happy couple," Kai pointed at me, "So all the Bears will think the prophecy is coming true and their rightful king has returned?"

Yli-Pekkala nodded impassively and sucked on her pipe.

Kai scoffed.

I watched the repartee with my breath held.

Kai’s taut expression betrayed how much it must grate on her that she was suddenly weak. And how much she must hate it.

"Once Nox is off your trail, you won't need the protection of the ring," the Witch now said with a sly grin. "The Spell will fade as soon as you no longer need it. And your powers will return."

Kai threw up her hands in frustration.

"If you hadn't blocked my powers with your mumbo-jumbo spell, I'd take Nox down myself and all this fuss wouldn't be necessary at all."

"Devushka," Auntie said coldly. "Nox almost finished you off singlehandedly. With your powers still active, mind you. Like it or not, you're no match for him. The ring and my spell will protect you. And the prince, of course."

Kai opened her mouth, probably to yell some more. She couldn't think of any retort, apparently, because she closed her mouth again and scowled at me instead.

"How about the prince finally joins the conversation?“ she snapped, her hands on her hips, cheeks flushed red with anger.

I weighed my words carefully. I knew Auntie Yli-Pekkala was right with everything she’d said. I could spin this in my head any way I wanted. The only option was to go forward and roll with the punches.

"It would be a ruse," I said slowly.

Kai glared, nostrils flaring, her eyes glimmering with dangerous purple fire.

"Yeah right. You and I pretending we're engaged. As if anyone would believe this."

"It is really easy," Aunt Yli-Pekkala went on. "You pull yourselves together for a few weeks, make a grand entrance at the Ball of Falling Stars, be the royal dream couple for one night, dance the Star Waltz, and make the Bears think you're head over heels in love with each other. Put on a good show, convince the Bears that the prophecy has come true."

Kai scrunched up her face.

"So, I' m supposed to play your devoted little fiancée?"

My stomach twinged with burning anger. Her damned insolence did it every time.

"If I agree, and I'm not saying I do," she said, "I want you to sign those damn papers."

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