Page 53 of Welcome to Fae Cafe

Kate Kole and Lattes with a Side of Thunder

One minute, the sky was blue. The next, gray rolled in, and cold rain fell upon Toronto faster than Kate could blink. Water splashed over the sidewalks as cars plunged through roadside puddles, soaking Kate’s jeans. She yanked off her pink sweater and pulled it over her head to shield herself from the freezing water pellets.

The change in her pocket jingled as she jogged for the corner store. “What a bunch of babies,” she grumbled, thinking of how long the fae assassins had gone on about not having any warm milk.

Lightning cracked across the clouds, and a deep thunder rumbled through the air. Kate’s feet came together. The rain pounded down like glass bullets, seeping through the cracks of the knit and soaking her hair. Suddenly she felt a vast space open around her like a monstrous, hollow throat. She felt like she was falling into it…

The rain stopped pelting her skin. She blinked the water from her eyes as she came back to her senses. When she looked up, she realized an umbrella was above her head.

“Thatis an interesting sweater.”

The fae Prince looked almost serene without his mean smile. Still, Kate tried taking a step back. He tilted the umbrella to trap her in, and her back came against the metal spokes.

“If I scream, will your assassins come running?” she asked. It came out hoarse and she cleared her throat.

For a moment, the Prince stared at her—differently than the last times they’d met. After a few heartbeats, the meanness returned to his smile. “Not to worry, Human. My assassins have not let you out of their sight since you left your dwelling. Shayne is currently perched on the rooftop across the street with his crossbow aimed at my heart,” he said.

Kate’s eyes widened and she turned to look, but the Prince’s umbrella was in the way.

“It’s the only reason I haven’t killed you yet. It’s why I haven’t so much as touched you since our encounter in the academy library,” he added. “But I’ll find a way around it.”

“Why are you here now then? Do youwantto get your butt kicked by your friends?” Kate tightened her fingers around her sweater.

“We need to have a discussion, Kate Kole,” he said. “Just a few words.”

“No thank you. I’m fully aware you want to trick me,” she said. She leaned sideways and stole a look at the building tops behind her, but she couldn’t spot the fae assassins.

“Of course I do.” The Prince smiled, but his turquoise eyes darkened. “However, first I want to know what in the faeborn-cursed world you’re doing making my assassins wash dishes.”

He was worried about the dishes? Kate could have laughed.

“Honestly, I think they sort of like it,” she said, abandoning her hunt for the fae in the street.

“They donot. I assure you. And they will get revenge.”

“We’ll see.”

The rain picked up again, pattering the umbrella with shallow thuds. Only Kate was shielded because of how the Prince had the canopy tilted. Rainwater saturated his silky hair, running down his face in clear beads. Kate tried not to stare, but she was sure there wasn’t a face in existence as symmetrical as his. With his pretty eyes, he looked like he was in a luxury perfume commercial, and the rain was staged. Kate cleared her throat and dropped her gaze to the sidewalk.

A loud boom of thunder made her jump. Her back slammed the umbrella, nearly toppling them both over, but the umbrella scooped her up before she could fall. The Prince’s hand was out, his fingers dangerously close to touching her arm like he’d been about to catch her. He tore it back and shoved it in his pocket.

Kate hid her own trembling hands beneath the damp sweater, and an odd look crossed the Prince’s face.

“That’s right,” he said more to himself. “You’re afraid of the sky’s anger.” His voice seemed bored, but there was a strange edge to it.

“What?”

Even though the Prince was a cold presence, Kate’s skin turned warm when his gaze travelled up from her hidden arms to her face. It was a sensation she’d never felt prior to him showing up in a police uniform in the café.

She scratched behind her ear. “Listen, I’ll release your assassin friends from their chores if you all promise to leave here and never come back.” She quickly raised a hand. “Actually, if I could just keep them for one more week though, that would be great.”

The Prince laughed, deep and sweet. Joyous and twisted. It reminded her of the sound of a deep classical bass string being plucked. Kate set her jaw.

“Stop doing that,” she said.

“Doing what, Human?”

“I don’t know—whatever it is you’re trying to do with your soft kisses, and your warm stare, and your deep laugh.” She hugged her cold arms tighter to herself, and the Prince blinked in surprise.

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