Page 25 of Fake Dating a Human 101

“Yes. And in order to do that, we need a little more power, don’t you think?” Luc tapped a finger against his chin. “Oh dear. I think that means it’s time for my backup plan.”

Flickering shadows rippled over the hill, and Lily looked up. Her jaw dropped asthousandsof flapping birds filled the sky. Only they didn’t appear quite normal; they looked… flat and bright red.

“They’ve spotted us,” Mycra warned. She gazed at the sky warily. “We should run, Shayne. I can’t… I don’t want to go back there.” Dranian’s attention snapped to her and stayed there, even as one of the birds fell from the sky and spiralled down, landing at Shayne’s feet.

Shayne stooped to pick it up, showing the birds were made of paper when he unfolded it and studied the sheet. A muscle feathered in his jaw.

A second later, a bird fell at Luc’s feet, too. Luc snarled at it a little, but he reluctantly snatched it and unfolded the paper. “For the offense of executing Lord Kahn-Der, son of Lord Hans-Der of the Silver Castle High Court, you have been established as an enemy of the House of Lyro and our allies. Surrender or die.” Luc grunted, then to Shayne, he said, “What does yours say?”

Shayne crumpled his and stuffed it in his coat pocket. “Nothing important. I agree with the obnoxious fox. Let’s fight.”

Lily couldn’t believe her ears. Only a second ago, Shayne had been determined to run. She watched his gaze flicker up to the crimson birds in the sky circling like a swarm overhead.

“I have a present for you, North Fairy,” Luc said to Dranian now. “I’ve been keeping it with me for insurance.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out something almost too small to see. He held up a nut—or half of one at least.

“What is it?” Dranian asked, brows furrowing.

“It’s something that will save us,” Luc returned.

Lily was a breath away from calling Luc crazy when Luc tossed the nut to Dranian. Dranian fumbled to catch it.

“Eat it fast,” Luc instructed.

“Wait—” Mycra reached for Dranian’s hand, but it was too late. Dranian popped the nut into his mouth and swallowed it like a pill.

“Do you really think that’s a good idea rightnow?” Shayne asked Luc with articulated words.

“You would think so if you knew who ate the other half.” Luc’s broad smile returned, and a twinkle lit his eyes.

Shayne blinked. He grasped Luc’s shoulder and shook it. “Who ate the other faeborn-cursed half, Foxy?”

Lily glanced at the darkening, bird-filled sky as she asked, “Am I seriously the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on?!” When she dropped her gaze back to Dranian, she found him shaking. Her eyes widened and she stepped toward him. “Dranian…?”

Luc seized her arm, holding her still. “Wait,” he instructed. In the same second, Shayne reached across and smacked his hand off.

“Keep your fox paws to yourself. She hates being grabbed!” he snapped.

Lily watched as Dranian shuddered. She brought a hand over her mouth, her mind racing with all the training she had to aid someone experiencing a panic attack. She realized Luc was smiling—like this wasfunny—and her hands balled into fists. “If we get out of this, I’m arresting you the second you step back into the human realm…” Her words caught when she looked back at Dranian.

No. Not Dranian.

Lily blinked. “Cress?”

For a second, she thought she woke up from a strange dream and was back home in the café.

Cress stood there, looking down at his clothes. His arms. His hands. He wore an expensive looking navy suit complete with a collared shirt, a jacket, dress pants, and a strangely familiar grouchy expression.

Shayne’s jaw dropped. He whirled on Luc. “Cress?! You fed the other half of the walnut toCress?”

“Yes,” Luc returned. “And without him knowing it, too. Poor Cressica. I wonder what he’ll do when he realizes he’s trapped inside the body of a three-legged guard dog at home.” He shrugged.

Cress—or, Dranian-in-Cress’s-body, if Lily was understanding—muttered, “He’ll make me eat rocks.”

Shayne suddenly laughed. He almost lost his balance as he tried to collect himself. “Queensbane, Cress is going to be furious,” he said.

“I hope so. He did kill me, after all. And I always get my revenge.” Luc sliced Shayne a look as if that was a promise. Then, to Dranian-in-Cress’s-body, he said, “Welcome to the fight, Dranian. Now you have the powers of flight, faestone, past peeping, icy weather, and whatever other magnificent gifts the mighty Prince of the North possesses. Let’s fight.” He pulled a ruby from his pocket and rolled it over his fingers. He lifted something else out of his pocket too; it looked like a crumb of bread. He stared at it for a moment, then he flicked it into the grass.

Red poured over the hills in the distance, and Lily’s mouth parted as she beheld the giant antlered beasts carrying fairies in red coats that looked like Shayne’s. They moved so fast; she realized Luc was right—they wouldn’t have made it far even if they’d tried to run.

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