Page 83 of Welcome to Fae Cafe

Kate stepped onto the escalator, and Cress took her waist to balance as he hopped on after. The ride to the second floor seemed to drag on for hours. Kate fought the impulse to look back and see if the fae were following them up.

“Your hands tremble when you’re afraid,” Cress said from behind her. “They’re trembling now.” A pause. “Also, these moving stairs are terrifying.”

They reached the top and Kate turned to face him the moment she stepped off. “I want to go back to the café.”

Cress looked her over. “Why?”

“Because Mor, Shayne, and Dranian are there.”

“You don’t think I’ll keep you safe?”

“You’re not compelled to protect me. They are,” she said. “It’s just common sense.”

People grunted and swerved to walk around them as Kate and Cress crowded the space at the top of the escalator.

Kate expected him to refuse to lead the stalkers to his brothers again, but instead Cress nodded.

“You go back to them. I’ll lead the Shadow Fairies off.” Cress took her hand again and turned back toward the escalator. Kate’s eyes widened as he stepped onto it and began shoving people aside as they rose up.

“Um… hold on…” Kate started mumbling apologies as Cress pulled herdownthe ascending escalator. He nudged and shoved to make a path. It took way longer than the ride up.

“The magic stairs want to trap us here,” he muttered when they finally leapt off. “How outrageous.” He slid his sunglasses back on.

“Should we split up?” Kate asked.

“Not yet, Human. I’m planning a large distraction. You’ll know when it’s best to run.” He pulled something out of his back pocket, and Kate recognized the sword handle with the tiny gold and silver wings. She blanched.

“Not here—Cress!”

But the blade forged out of nothing, sending a buzzing sound through the mall aisle. He turned himself toward the pair of stalkers by the clothing store.

The two fae looked him over, icy expressions donning their faces. They drew weapons, and soon three long swords were shining beneath the mall lights. Bystanders stopped what they were doing. Some people clapped and cheered like this was part of a theatrical performance. Shoppers pulled out their phones to film it.

“Aren’t you worried you’ll get hurt?” Kate whispered as she backed away.

Cress grunted. “I’m insulted you’d ask.”

“Why?”

“Because there’s only two of them. Run now, Katherine.” Cress tossed over her grandfather’s coat and the bag of cookies.

Kate bumped into someone as she scrambled away. She couldn’t take her eyes off where the fae stalkers marched across the mall aisle toward Cress who waited, staring back at them through his expensive, brand-new sunglasses.

The stalkers split up and prowled around the Prince. They leapt from both sides, and Cress spun—his sword sliced the air, catching them both in one swing. Kate shrieked, but the crowd gasped and clapped.

Kate didn’t stay to see the rest.

She raced from the mall, bursting into the frigid cold and leaving footprints in the snow. It took her minutes to reach the subway. She was out of breath as she scurried on—a second before the doors swished closed. Nothing followed her in.

Her chest pattered the whole ride.

At her stop, she slipped out of the subway car, jogged up the station stairs, and rushed through the streets to the café with her grandfather’s coat in her arms.

She was panting and covered in snowflakes when she got there. She waited, trying to wipe the worry from her face as a few customers came out with drinks nestled between their fingers.

Kate grabbed the door before it closed, and another hand came above hers on the glass, holding it open. She nearly screamed when she looked up and saw Cress there. His sunglasses were broken in his other hand.

“How did—you get here—so fast?” Kate asked through pants.

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