Page 84 of Welcome to Fae Cafe

“What do you mean? What took you so faeborn-cursed long?” he said back.

Bloodstains covered his new, overpriced coat, along with a large cut through the fabric, and Kate glared. “Seriously?!”

“I’m fine, thank you dearly for asking. It was just a regular midday squabble,” Cress said with ample sarcasm. But he snatched her fingers and dragged her inside like he had something important to say. The café door slammed shut behind them. A few people filed nearby tables—some of them set their coffees down to stare.

Cress cleared his throat. His nostrils flared as he inhaled to catch his breath.

Kate waited.

He released his heavy lungful of air. He opened his mouth, but he took in another deep breath instead of speaking, and Kate made a face.

“Seriously, just say it,” she said.

“All right.” Cress cleared his throat and stood tall again. His hand tightened ever so slightly around her fingers.

She sighed and scratched her head as he took an absurd about of time to collect himself. People were still watching.

“I need a new coat,” Cress finally said.

Kate gaped.

He held up the hem of his coat where the rip was like he thought she didn’t believe him. He waved it a little.

A mug fell to the floor by the counter, smashing into a dozen pieces. Dranian stared with round eyes at Cress’s and Kate’s hands. Coffee pooled at the fae’s shoes.

“Aw,Cress!” Shayne ripped off his apron and hurtled it onto the counter. “Why’d you have to do that in front of us?!”

Cress tossed Kate’s hand away with a moan-growl. “Oh, for the love of the sky deities!”

Kate huffed in disbelief, still glaring at him for the coat comment. “I’m going to take a shower,” she stated, shaking her head as she marched off, leaving them to sort out whatever fae nonsense they were freaking out about. She strode up the stairs, into her apartment, and went straight into the bathroom. The lock of the door clicked behind her, and she rested with her back against the door until she could think straight again.

“What a crazy grand opening day,” she muttered as she went to the shower and cranked the lever for hot water.

28

Prince Cressica and a Royal Beating

Cress released a gritty sound into the alley. “That one washard!” he snapped as Mor shook out his hitting hand. Shayne and Dranian held Cress’s shoulders tight, stopping him from racing off.

The alley behind the café was empty, but occasionally a human couple hurried on by or a frail female shrieked and ran away.

“Since we’re together again, why don’t you tell us why you’re covered in fairy blood?” Mor suggested as he wound up for another hit with the wrath of the sky deities.

“Fine.” Cress grunted as he took Mor’s punch right in his beautiful faeborn cheek. He slid his jaw back and forth to ensure it wasn’t broken. “I was being followed by Shadow Fairies. There were only two of them—Ugh!” Dranian kicked him in the shin.

“I thought you weren’t going to start a war with the Dark until after you had a day to think,” Mor said. “Those wereyourwords, Cress.”

“I provoked them so the human could get away. Now for the love of the sky deities, at least hold your faeborn-cursed punches!” Cress complained.

“Well, that explains it.” Mor nodded. “I’m relieved you were just protecting your fairy crush like any weak-minded, irrational, possessive male.” Pure and fresh sarcasm. “I was worried you were trying to take on the whole Dark army by yourself like a fool.”

Shayne smacked Cress on the back of the head with an open hand. Cress glared at him, and Shayne grinned. “Sorry,” the white-haired fairy said with a shrug. “That one was petty. But I enjoyed it.”

“I still might,” Cress replied to Mor. “But we’re best off to hide until Bonswick requests an audience with me. If there’s even a small chance he’s not here for us, we should avoid provoking him. There’s no point in starting a war over nothing.”

Shayne tapped his chin and looked between Cress and Mor. “What are you two hiding from us? I know you were whispering fairy secrets the other night when you made Dranian and me leave.”

When Cress didn’t answer, Shayne smacked the Prince across the back of the head again. “Dranian and I are risking our lives for you, too. You need to tell us what’s going on, or I’m going to trot back into that café and kiss our human right in front of you.”

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