Page 46 of Fake Dating a Human 101

“Where’s Shayne?” Dranian’s murmur barely sailed into the conversation, but it made everyone look around. Lily watched them as they realized, way too late, that Shayne wasn’t there. She saw Mycra turn and gaze toward the landscape. She was the only one who didn’t look surprised.

Lily couldn’t believe her eyes.

Mycra? The psycho stranger?Shealready knew?

Fresh frustration burned through her that Shayne didn’t tell any of his assassin brothers what he was doing. That he snuck off in the night like a thief. That he didn’t say goodbye to Mor, Cress, or even Dranian—he wouldn’t have said goodbye toherif she hadn’t caught him in that cave.

Mor dropped to a knee and untied the sweater from Lily’s wrists.

“Careful,” Luc warned. “She’s a flight risk.” He dug into his coat and pulled out a red paper bird. Lily watched him hand it to Mor. “But I have exactly what I need to ensure she comes home.” Mor turned the bird over in his fingers. He exhaled a sigh of annoyance as he opened it.

“Mor knows we can’t go home without Shayne,” Lily objected, climbing to her feet. “No origami craft is going to change that. You’re un-real, Luc!” she said. “For a minute, I actually thought maybe you were on our side. But it’s pretty clear to me now that you’re just crazy. Dranian is wrong about you!”

“Lily…” Mor’s low-toned voice made Cress and Dranian look up across the firepit. He stared at the note in his fingers with an expression that turned something in Lily’s stomach. Then he said, “We’re going home.”

Lily’s mouth parted.

“What?” Cress demanded. “We are? We haven’t even had breakfast yet.”

“Yes.” Mor handed the paper bird off to Cress, and Dranian huddled in to read it over his shoulder.

“Without Shayne?” Lily asked as Cress’s face paled.

“Without Shayne,” Mor agreed. He looked off, working his jaw, and folded his arms.

“It might not be goodbye forever,”Shayne had promised. But nobody promised something like that unless there was a chance itwouldbe forever. Lily had collected enough evidence over the last few days to determine that there was a good chance that kiss last night had been the last one he ever planned to give.

Lily released a sound of disbelief. “What is Kate going to say when we show up at home and Shayne isn’t with us?” she said.

“Katherine is in trouble,” Cress said through his teeth. He held up the note and waved it in front of Lily’s face. “I’ll not stay here another faeborn-cursed moment! Get your things, Human! We’re leaving now!”

Lily’s arms fell back to her sides. “What did you just say…?”

Kate?

Her gaze flickered across the camp to where Luc had found a comfortable spot leaning against a tree with his hands in his pockets. He hadn’t said anything about Kate being in trouble.

Lily marched over to Cress and stole the paper crane. She read it.

“Give Cress his body back, Dranian,” Mor instructed. “He’s going to need it.”

From the corner of her eye, Lily saw that Dranian’s fists were balled. His borrowed turquoise gaze was aimed at the woods across the creek. He looked like he might run for it.

“Dranian,” Mor warned.

Dranian turned his scowling face to Mor. Then to Cress. He reluctantly dropped his shoulders and nodded.

His hand came out slowly toward Cress.

“It’s about time, you fool!” Cress snatched Dranian’s hand out of the air, and they both shuddered. In the blink of an eye, they switched places.

Cress inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly, patting himself on the chest. “How exhilarating to be back!” He even raised both arms and flexed his muscles. “Look, Mor. I’m gorgeous again.” But his excitement vanished, his turquoise irises turning cold and sharp. “Now, let me go deal with whoever shows up at the café today.” He swallowed.

Lily lowered the note. It slipped from her fingers in a gust of wind and sailed into the creek.

They were going… back?

Kate and Greyson were in trouble?

---