Page 42 of Fake Dating a Human 101

“What do you mean, you’re getting thefeeling? You know I am.” Shayne stuffed his fairsaber away and got a better hold on the sticks.

Luc smiled and said nothing else. He gathered four more sticks. Then he said, “Check your pockets, you fool,” and he disappeared.

Shayne blinked at the empty space by the cliff. He looked down at his coat. He shimmied the wood to one arm so he could stuff his hand into his pocket, and he stilled when his fingers grazed a papery texture. His fingers folded around the shape as he drew it out and lifted it slowly. He stared in disbelief at the origami crane.

All the sticks fell from his arm and bounced over the ground. Shayne used both hands to open the note, and when he saw it, he stifled an airy sound of disbelief.

His own letter.

Luc had been bluffing. He’d burned his own note. The nine tailed fox had no idea why Mor and Cress shouldn’t be in the Ever Corners, no idea what would happen to the unprotected humans back home. He hadn’t known anything—until Shayne had just told him. And now Luc had all the answers he wanted.

Shayne released an old fairy curse and trudged back to the creek by himself.

Shayne watched Luc guzzle fresh water from the creek. It didn’t seem fair that one person could have the ability to do so many tricky things in one faeborn-cursed lifetime. Sure, Shayne was grateful Luc had saved his life. But he wanted to march up behind Luc, shove him face-first in the shallow river, and hold his head down for a while.

“What’s going on with you?” Mor asked.

Shayne’s gaze darted up. He hadn’t even heard Mor come over.

Mor pulled off his jacket and sat down beside him. “And why in the name of the sky deities are you spitting daggers at Zelsor with your eyes?”

“I’m thinking about stuffing a handful of rash weeds down the back of his coat while he’s sleeping,” Shayne admitted, rolling a handful of berries between his fingers. He extended them toward Mor. He wasn’t hungry.

Mor took the berries and flicked one into his mouth. “He’ll only become a bigger pest if you let on that you’re riled up, you know. You of all people should understand how that works.”

Shayne tapped a finger against his knee. “Why haven’t you demanded an answer?” he asked, changing the subject. “I lied and came here instead of going to fun-filled-Florida with Greyson. Cress hasn’t even punched me for it yet.”

Mor’s brown-silver eyes turned sharp, and Shayne wondered if he shouldn’t have brought it up. If maybe Mor was the one who’d be handing out the punches. If those punches were about to come this minute.

Shayne looked off toward the horizon sinking from pink to deep red and orange. The day was slipping away, and every minute passed too quickly. Soon it would be night. Soon it would be ‘one day left’.

Mor huffed. “When I refused to take away your memories, Shayne, I didn’t realize the alternative would bethis.” He nodded to the forest at their backs. “Now we’re all here—some of us not by choice.”

“I had my reasons for asking,” Shayne said.

“It doesn’t matter now. We’ll go home in the morning.” Mor tossed the rest of the berries into his mouth all at once.

Shayne closed his eyes and tugged on his hair. “Mor…” Mor was quiet as he waited. “Things are never simple here, are they?” When Shayne opened his eyes, Mor was frowning. “I think the first thing you should do when you get home is pay the Sisterhood of Assassins a visit. Bring them a cake or something. Try to get on Freida’s good side for once.”

Mor bristled. “Disgusting,” he muttered. “And why are you speaking like you won’t be there?”

Shayne angled toward where everyone was milling about, warming their hands at the fire, cooking roots, eating berries. He would miss Cress’s temper tantrums. He would miss Dranian’s moods. He would miss Mor’s quiet insight. He would miss Kate’s scolding, and Greyson’s coolness, and Violet’s observations. He would miss seeing Lily’s pretty face. And her stink face. And her surprised face. And her annoyed face. And herquit-getting-in-my-faceface.

Shayne shouted over the camp, “Just for curiosity’s sake, if I tell you all to leave, as your rightful King, would you go home right now?” Then he added, “Without me?”

A series of expressions and grumbles lifted from all directions along the lines of:

“I would never leave my forever friend behind.”

“That is preposterous!”

“Are you crazy, Shayne?”

“What an idiot.”—That last one was Luc.

Shayne found a weak smile and looked at the ground. That was answer enough.

No, he couldn’t tell any of them what was at stake. He was lucky Luc was keeping his mouth shut. It was clear Shayne’s real brothers would try to stop him once they realized his predicament, and his one and only solution would be destroyed before he could even try.

---