Page 124 of Welcome to Fae Cafe

The Prince leaned back, a smile forming over his mouth when he realized what it was.

HIGH COURT OF THE COFFEE BEAN, it read.

Cress scowled at the horrendous title, then smirked, because deep down he liked it more than he would ever admit to his human mate.

The door to the room flung open, and in marched Mor. The inches of his exposed skin glistened with cuts still healing, but he looked otherwise as healthy as a fresh-born crossbeast.

“Cress,” Mor said when he saw that Cress was awake.

Shayne and Dranian appeared in the doorway at the same time, both trying to push in first. The ruckus made Kate stir, and Cress lifted a finger to his lips to hush them. But he looked from one fairy to the next, sure there were no words to express his relief to see them—even for a remarkable poet and writer such as himself.

As Mor smiled and tiptoed over to shove Shayne and Dranian back out of the room, Cress leaned against the chair-bed and dragged the manuscript over his lap.

He read until he was insulted by Kate’s use of adjectives for the fae Prince. Then he smacked his hand down on the top page to startle her awake so he could give her feedback.

44

Kate Kole and Book Release Day

The café kitchen got warm in the spring. Shayne set up fans on the counter by the oven, but he seemed more interested in posing in front of them with his hair blowing and taking selfies than actually working.

Kate and Mor sprinkled chocolate shavings and gold pearls on the freshly iced red velvet cake Cress had spent the morning baking. They watched as the white-haired fae puckered up for the camera across the kitchen and poked the button a dozen times. His phone would run out of space soon. He’d probably ask Kate to buy him more storage.

“I’m sure he doesn’t realize we’re watching him,” Kate said in a loud whisper.

“I’m sure he does.” Mor reached to get the cake lifter from the top shelf.

“Mor,” Kate asked, brushing the sprinkles off her hands and turning to face him. The fae raised a brow. “What’s a forever mate?”

Mor fumbled the cake lifter, and it clattered over the counter into the sink. “I… um…”

Kate watched with wide eyes. She’d never seen Mor flustered. “You don’t have to tell me if it’s going to give you a heart attack,” she muttered.

“Well… Human… It’s a fairy thing.” He blushed—Morblushed. “It’s when a fairy bonds to someone in a way that can’t be undone. It’s an unbreakable tether… It essentially means that a fairy’s heart has fallen for a person they will chase forever.” Mor shifted his footing as he plucked the lifter from the sink. “It’s exactly how it sounds. Forever-mate.”

“Hmm.” Kate tapped a finger against the counter as she thought about that. “How does it happen?”

Mor cleared his throat. “Well, it starts with a fairy crush—”

Cress marched into the kitchen, and Mor slammed his mouth shut. He didn’t move a muscle as Cress walked around the island. The Prince glared at Shayne taking pictures for a moment. Then he nudged his way into the shot, moving Shayne aside with his hip so they could both fit, and flashed a gorgeous smile for the camera.

“I guess that’s all you’ll tell me right now.” Kate smirked and lifted the platter of cake. “Time to go!” she called to the fae modelling at the fans. “Bring the Fairy Post!”

Mor grabbed the stack of freshly printed newspapers from the counter where articles with magic fairy recipes, warnings of common fairy tricks, and short folktale stories filled the columns, along with aNews for the Fairy Folksection where he wrote messages to all the fae hiding in the human realm—if there were any others. Mor had even created his own crossword puzzle of fae words that ranged fromdeathtouchtopixie dusttohandsome. “I’ll hand these out myself,” he said.

Cress and Shayne rushed around the island, meeting Kate at the same time. Shayne’s finger came dangerously close to stealing a lob of icing off the cake before Cress slapped it out of the way.

“Touch it, and I’ll cut your finger off!” Cress threatened.

Shayne grinned as he grabbed the kitchen door. He swung it open for Kate to carry the cake through, but Cress stopped her first.

“What is it?” Kate asked, noting his peculiar smile.

“I’m proud of this book we wrote together. I will ensure every human in this realm reads it.”

“You mean you’re proud of the book I wrote,” she corrected for the hundredth time. “You just fixed some things up.”

Cress’s smile turned slightly snarl-like, but he nodded. He planted a light kiss on her mouth. “I helped though.”

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