Page 8 of Fake Fae-Ancée

Once upon a timethere was a handsome prince who had lost his kingdom. He had to hide in a faraway country and protect his fated princess. But alas, he had married the wrong princess, because she was too damn headstrong, constantly bickering and yelling at him, never listening to a damn word he said, so he accidentally ended up strangling her.

The end.

Or something like that anyway.

Kai was just so lucky that fairytales weren’t real.

Bear growled, prowling under the surface of my mind, all bristling fur and bared fangs, demanding to come forward, grab this stubborn woman and push her up against the next wall. I had to muster all my strength to rein my creature in. We were both fed up with her insolence. Sooner would hell freeze over before Kayleen McKenn would just do what she was told.

"Calm down and listen to me," I said now, trying to sound as reasonable as possible.

"What have you done to me!?!?" she yelled.

See? No obedience whatsoever. A miracle how she had survived service in the armed forces. Let alone her job.

And of course, I hadn’t done a thing to her, I had explained it to her, years ago, when things had been less complicated — I couldn't harm a hair on her head, even if I wanted to. And right now, I would have bloody well wanted to.

"Sit. Down." I forced my voice to sound calm. Bear bared his fangs and let out a low growl only I could hear.

"The hell I will," she hissed, making me wince despite myself. Insubordination was one thing, but that nagging ingratitude that Kai had raised to an art form over the years almost pushed me over the cliff of my patience.

"Sit down, McKenn," I repeated slowly, taking a step closer. She shot to her feet, tiny fists raised.

"Leave me alone!"

I rolled my eyes. Really, she wanted to have it the hard way? Now? After everything that had happened last night? She was treading on thin ice. And I was sick and tired of being patient with her. Didn’t she see? Without me she would be very much dead now.

"That sword of yours looks pretty heavy," I said pointedly. "Did someone maybe lose their powers last night?"

A mean little part of me rejoiced at the terror flittering across her face. Okay, it wasn't my most diplomatic approach to smooth this over and get her to listen. Being unable to lift her own sword must plunge her into an outright existential crisis. Even more than losing, Kai hated being weak.

"Looks like you’re outmatched," I said, coming forward. Cold-hearted bastard that I was, I just had to poke my finger into the wound.

"Stay where you are!" Kai puffed herself up, using her agent voice now, authoritarian and official. They had drilled that voice into her during her years at Hunter Academy. It was the same voice Officer McKenn used when arresting Category 1 Breachers and other lowlifes, pushing their heads down when she shoved them into the squad car.

Cute of her to think this would impress me.

"Or what," I grinned. "Do I have the right to remain silent?"

I took another step toward her. She retreated, eyes widening. She probably realized at the same moment as I did: on any normal day, she and I were evenly matched adversaries.

But not today.

Something in the back of my mind snapped like a twig. Bear growled some more as I stalked closer. Kai retreated, until her back was against the wall, fists still raised. I shouldn’t have reveled in her pissed off expression so much, but I did.

The ring sparkling on her finger was right where it belonged, if anyone asked me. For the past five years, ever since she had thrown it back into my face, I had carried it with me, tucked away in my pocket. Right until last night. When Baba had urged me to put it back on Kai’s lifeless finger. For her own protection, mind you.

It wasn’t just any ring.

It was an heirloom, centuries old. Mother had given it to me when I had returned from the forest, the initiation rite for every young Bear. Walk into the forest a boy, return a man.

I had returned a man, alright, the garbled words of the prophecy I had found in the forest — that damnable prophecy that was to blame for the whole clusterfuck — still ringing in my ears.

And Mother had gifted me with two rings from the family treasures, putting them into my hand with the words: "For your queen, once you find her."

My queen, however, was now trying to melt me with laser eyes she didn’t have.

"Stay where you are!" she yelled.

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