Page 21 of Fake Dating a Human 101

But then…

“I’m going to kill you,” Shayne whispered.

Lily’s mouth parted. She slid back a step until Shayne’s stare fired over to Dranian instead and she realized he wasn’t talking to her. “You’re dead.”

A second ago, Dranian’s lips had been quirking upward like he was enjoying watching Shayne and Luc fight over him. But now, his eyes grew big. He sprang back when Shayne reached for him.

Mycra appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Shayne’s hand and twisting it at an awkward angle, halting Shayne’s assault attempt. She edged her way in between the two, her bright eyes pinning Shayne more securely than whatever pain she caused his body from her limb wrangling.

Shayne’s lashes fluttered for a moment. He teetered slightly.

Luc stared at it all with a completely uninterested expression. Yet, still, he said to Dranian, “Hit him back, you fool.”

Dranian looked from Shayne to Luc. To Mycra. Back to Shayne.

His mouth quirked up at the corners again.

“Unreal,” Lily said. “Put an end to this like a normal person, Dranian. They’re not all fighting overyou.” Though she actually wasn’t sure.

“Nope.” Shayne’s arm flew up; he held a finger before Lily’s face, but he didn’t look at her. “No, you can’t talk, ugly Human. You aren’t here, and therefore, you can’t speak.”

Lily shoved his finger out of her face. “I’m here, Shayne. Deal with it.”

Shayne dragged his thin-lipped face around to look at her once and for all. “Do you know the kinds of horrible things fairies like to do to humans,Human?” he asked. He took a fast step toward her, tugging himself from Mycra’s grip. “Do you have any idea what will happen to you if you’re caught here?” The purpling ring around his eye looked worse close up.

“I can take care of myself,” Lily promised.

Shayne threw his head back and laughed. He laughed until he nearly lost his balance. Then he winced and inhaled sharply, grabbing the wall for support and clutching his midsection.

“There’s a pool of healing water a few feet into the woods,” Mycra said. “Go toss him in there for a while,” she said to no one in particular. But then she glanced over her shoulder at Luc.

Luc raised a scarlet brow. “I’mnot doing it.” He looked at Dranian after he said it, his glance falling to Dranian’s arm. His gaze fired over to Lily next, and his nose wrinkled. Finally, he looked Mycra up and down, eyeing her slender frame. He released a heavy, annoyed sigh and marched across the space.

Shayne still stared at Lily, even when Luc reached for his arm.

“No.” Shayne swatted Luc’s fingers off the second they touched him. “I need to punish this human first for doing something as foolish as coming here.”

Shayne looked ridiculous with his bruised face, wild white hair, teetering body, and eyes full of accusation. Lily fought an unexpected smirk. The second it appeared, Shayne’s eyes widened and his hand smooshed over her mouth.

“There’s no smiling allowed either,” he said. “You’re not really here, and therefore, you can’t smile.”

Luc huffed. “Whatever,” he said, reaching for Shayne. Lily didn’t realize he was reaching for her too until the fox had her wrist. She was sucked into a tunnel of whipping wind and smeared colours. A second later…

Her body splashed into a pool of water. She gasped as she caught her balance and glanced down at her drenched police hoodie. The water came up to her belly, but she could hardly see it past Shayne’s hand still over her mouth. He remained staring at her through the droplets running down his face, and she realized his other arm was wound around her waist, holding her.

“Let me go, Shayne,” she said through his fingers.

“Absolutely not. I’ll never let you go, Lily Baker. You can’t leave my side now—and don’t blame me for it; you signed up for this the moment you decided to pitch your human brain into oblivion and set foot in the Ever Corners.” Shayne released her mouth and reached around to clasp both hands behind her back instead. He hoisted her against him tightly. “Foolish human.”

Lily didn’t realize Luc was there, hunched forward on the grassy area around the pool with his hands on his knees, until his panting filled her ears. He stood tall and gazed down his nose at the two of them. “You’re all insufferable to watch. What a gong show,” he said. “And don’t you know how difficult it is to carrytwopeople through the air at the same time?” With that, he turned and headed back through the trees toward the cottage, patting off his sleeves as he went.

“Let me go,” Lily tried again, pushing against Shayne’s chest this time, but he tightened his arms and shook his head.

“Nope.”

“How are you even—” She gritted her teeth and attempted to use her weight against him. She even smacked his shoulder, but he wouldn’t budge. “—doing this?” she finished in one exasperated breath. A minute ago, he’d seemed too injured to stand on his own two feet. Now it was like his arms had turned to tungsten.

“These waters work quickly—that’s something I know because I’m from the Ever Corners andyou’renot—and I’m suddenly feeling as if I possess the strength of a thousand elven bulls. Which is rather convenient since I plan to hold onto you like this until I get you back to the human realm where you belong.”

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