Page 110 of Welcome to Fae Cafe

“Yes.” He mumbled it. “But I curse the day I met you, Kate Kole.”

That brought a smile to her face. “How sweet.”

He grunted and tugged Kate to the coat rack. “Human—”

Kate cut him off. “Yourfiancéeseems like a real gem with that ‘hungry hogbeast personality’. I can’t imagine why you left her to come here for even a moment.”

Cress’s turquoise eyes darkened a little.

“She must be happy you’re going back. That is, if you’re still planning to go back,” Kate remarked, hugging her arms to herself. Cress didn’t contradict her, and Kate released the breath she was holding. “I was sort of hoping that kiss thing had changed your mind. But I guess we’re still at square one. Lucky her.”

Cress’s jaw slid to the side. “I cannot articulate the joy and merriment it will bring me if you’re jealous,” he said. And there it was—the first hint of a smile. He smothered it away though and hardened his face.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Kate said.

“I don’t need to do such a thing, Human. You’re doing it for me.”

Kate shook her head in disbelief. “You’re the worst.”

“You’re irritatingly immune to tricks.”

“You’re astoundingly self-absorbed,” she stated.

“Yes, well, I’m a prince. It’s only natural. Now, for the next two days until the human Christmas, you’re mine, Katherine Lewis.” Cress reached for her coat and handed it to her.

After blinking at it, Kate reluctantly took her coat and slid it on. “Where are we going?”

“On a human date. And I’m going to buy you something that will make sure you remember me long after I’m gone.”

Kate made a face. “You meanI’mgoing to buy something—”

“Call it whatever you like. Let’s go.”

The air was cold but even so, the walk to the subway felt short. As did the ride to the mall.

When they came in, Christmas carols hummed through the aisles and the smell of cinnamon buns wafted from a baked treat kiosk. Stores were filled with sale signs, frantic retail workers, and rushing shoppers.

Cress took his time. He slid his fingers between Kate’s as they walked hand-in-hand like their last date.

Kate thought of the calendar back at the café that was haunting her days and nights. Her grip tightened around his knuckles. “What did you want to buy?”

“Something that will distract you once you meet a human male in your happy life. Something that will catch your eye every time you walk past it and remind you that you liked me before you liked him. Somethingbig.”

“What makes you think I like you?” Kate chuckled.

“Oh, come on, Human.” Cress’s wide grin said it all. “I’m handsome and powerful and you’re a weak human who can’t help herself.”

“Tell that to the last two enchanted kisses you tried to give me—”

“I don’t want to talk about that.” His smile fell. “I’m bad at fairy tricks because I avoided them as a childling. That’s the only reason,” he assured, veering Kate into a store of framed prints and paintings.

Artwork hung on the walls like a miniature museum. Cress scanned the pictures one by one.

“Human art is horrendous,” he remarked, and pointed. “Look at that one.”

Kate pushed his hand down and fought a blush as a sales worker walked by and heard everything. “Well, you don’t have to buy me art. Why don’t you just get something small? Like a pair of earrings?”

Cress’s nose wrinkled. “No. It’ll be something big. Something you must put right in the middle of your new house.”

---