Page 23 of Fairies Never Fall

“I should get back.” Ezra gets to his feet. My heart sinks. I don’t want him to leave, pathetic as it is. His hand comes down, and I stare up uncomprehendingly until the meaning dawns on me.

I take the proffered hand, my face hot. It’s warm and dry, his grip firm. Fire bursts in my veins. I meet his eyes unwittingly only to find his gaze curious and penetrating.More. I want more.My heart sings. It’s been so long — years since I’ve felt anything more than a fleeting brush of a feather, claw, or shadow. At the same time it’s never been like this, leaving me hot and cold all over and feeling strangely exposed.

He lifts me to my feet as easily as if I were made of cloth and my wings flutter with foolish eagerness. His smile fades to faint creases under his eyes, his gaze becoming searching. To my deepregret, he lets go of my hand when it all becomes too much and I cut my eyes away.

“See you around, Lysander.”

Ezra disappears back down the stairs, leaving an eddy of warm, cinnamon-scented air in his wake, and I stand there like an idiot.

“Crah!” the crow mocks from the weathervane.

“I know,” I huff under my breath.

I don’t know what scares me more when he looks at me like that — that he won’t find what he’s looking for, or that he will.

11

EZRA

Syril books out a public pool for the competition. Apparently he does this every year, and we’re not just here to splash around. We’re here to paddle board. I’m not the most athletic guy, but Idoknow my way around the water thanks to long summers spent at the lake when I was a kid. I may also be a teeny bit competitive.

I’m no pro, but I can show them what humans are made of.

It’s weird to imagine monsters outside The Sanctum, even though I know they’re around — I always leave my amulet off when I’m away. That first night, Plato chastised me for hiding the amulet from Lysander.If you’re part of our world, you have to be open about it. Build trust.

I got his point. Now it feels a little weird to wear it in my ordinary life. What if I encounter a gargoyle at the grocery store, or spot a minotaur on the rowing machine? Is there a secret nod? Do I pretend not to notice? Easier just to avoid it altogether.

The changing room is empty by the time I get there — I must be the last one in. I change into my trunks and put on the amulet, a frisson of excitement running down my spine. I have no clue what to expect.

What I get is chaos.

The bleachers are full of monsters who’ve come to watch, and their excitement rattles the rafters. Competitors mill around poolside. Nymphs chase each other around the pool, harpies are climbing — or hanging off — the diving boards, a gargoyle, a minotaur, and a naga lounge in the deck chairs, and a few fauns are clustered off to the side awkwardly. Heads turn when I enter. A ripple of interest goes through the room. I hesitate by the door, suddenly aware that a lot of the gathered crowd are bigger than me, in some cases stronger, with claws and teeth and the kind of muscles you’d usually only find in magazines.

“Human!” Antoinette, a brindled harpy I’ve only met a couple times before, hurries over and thrusts a lifejacket at me. “Put this on. Everyone has to wear one.”

I glance around the pool and confirm my initial impression, which is that no one is wearing one.

“I don’t need one. I can swim.” I try a smile, but Antoinette gives me a ferocious stare in return, clutching her clipboard. Her cheek feathers flare dangerously.

“Everyone. Has. To. Wear. One.” She plasters the lifejacket to my bare chest. “No exceptions. And you need to sign this waiver stating that if you drown, your family won’t sue us.”

“Uh, sure.” I take the lifejacket and the clipboard. Probably not a good time to argue.

After I sign the waiver, Antoinette points me toward the deep end of the pool, where I spot a familiar set of horns among the crowd. “Get a board from him. If you must,” she finishes, ominously.

I hurry away.

“You’re here!” Plato grins. “Thought you might’ve ditched us.”

“Nah. I wouldn’t miss it.” Plato’s wearing swim trunks that barely contain his enormous ass — and other bits, not that I’m looking — and expose sturdy thighs dusted with light brown furand legs that end in cloven hooves. A whistle dangles from his neck. “Playing lifeguard today?”

“I’ve got my license, so Syril asked me to supervise. Mara’s the other lifeguard, she’ll be on the far side. Glad to see you joining in!”

“It’s for a good cause. I think.” Though I’m not so sure about it now — I feel a bit exposed, what with my small, mostly-naked human body.

“It’ll be fun,” Plato says brightly. “Make sure you wear that lifejacket, though. Poor Antoinette will have an aneurysm if you get dragged under and drowned just because some riiga couldn’t hold their instinct in check.”

“Is their instinct to drown me?” I eye the assorted company. A nearby humanoid who looks pretty damp gives me a wink and a grin, needle-like teeth flashing. She’s completely nude. I look away quickly.

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