Page 64 of Fake Dating a Human 101

“I came here to implore you to make our game fair,” Shayne said in an effort to change the subject. “Isn’t it cowardly to ask your spy about me when I have no spies to ask about you?”

Cosmo stared for a moment, his green eyes not moving a fraction. Then he smiled and huffed in disbelief. “Did you torture someone?” he guessed, tapping a finger against his chin. “A delivery fairy, maybe?”

“I came by the information on my own. Now all that matters is that I know you have an unfair advantage, and unless you want me to announce it to the whole House, I think we should make a new bargain.” Shayne uncrossed his arms and presented them pristinely on the armrests again.

“All the nobles of the House already know about my spy. You were the only one out of the loop,” Cosmo stated.

“Still. Humour me.”

Cosmo’s gaze flickered down to Shayne’s arms, and Shayne’s mouth tugged into a grin.

“What do you want exactly, Lyro?” Cosmo asked.

“Write a message to your spy-friend. Tell him to start a rumour in the Lyro House that I’m here. That I’m allied with the High Lord of Riothin. And that any actions they may wish to take against me will only stir up this House and threaten war.”

Cosmo cast Shayne a doubtful look. “That’s not true at all. I don’t expect the High Lord to defend you if your family crosses you.”

“Doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. Tell your spy to start the rumour immediately.” Shayne cringed as he waited for Cosmo’s answer. Some of the birds began to growl outside and try to beat their way in through the glass. One flashed its teeth.

Cosmo leaned back against the sofa, his lip curling into a snarl. “I suppose it would only benefit me,” he thought aloud. “If you’re telling the truth about why you’ve come, it would be nice to brag to your family that you’re with us now. If you’re lying about your reasons for being here, if you really are a spy for your House, then your father won’t react with surprise to the news when he’s informed of your whereabouts, and that would be grounds to have you executed here.” Cosmo chewed on his lip. “But why would I help you? I don’t care whose side you’ve flipped onto, you’re a Lyro by blood, and I hate that you’re still breathing.”

Shayne brought his hands together and clasped them tightly. He ignored the menacing cries of the birds at the window, and he leaned forward to look Cosmo in the eyes so the fairy would know he wasn’t lying. “If you do this, I will surrender this game to you. You will be the winner of the household, and I will be the next Yule fool to entertain the Riothin House. Just imagine how satisfying it will be for you to drag a Lyro around for your own entertainment.”

Perhaps he could spare a human one evening of torment, too. It was worth it on both counts.

Cosmo didn’t blink for some time. The questioning look in his eyes morphed into something else—hunger, maybe. Want.Need. Everything Shayne needed him to feel, even though the look made Shayne’s skin crawl.

Shayne smiled and extended his hand. “I’ll even make a bargain so I can’t get out of it. If you stop hunting humans, I’ll be their replacement here.” He expected to have to use the other arguments he’d come up with, to spend the whole morning trying to convince Cosmo of this deal, but to his surprise, Cosmo’s hand slapped against his, and Shayne found his fingers gripped tightly.

“There’s no getting out of this one, Lyro,” Cosmo warned. That strange look in his eyes darkened, and Shayne stifled a shiver, refusing to think about how far Cosmo might go. “You’re mine when the eve of the Great Yule Morning comes.”

Shayne shook Cosmo’s hand, and the deal was sealed. “How long before your letter reaches your spy?” he asked.

Cosmo’s eyes glittered as he replied, “Just half a day. I should have a response by tomorrow.”

Tomorrow.

Shayne held his breath so he wouldn’t let out his sigh of relief. Half a day, and the House of Lyro would know not to mess with Shayne anymore. They’d know better than to send someone against Fae Café, and Shayne could live the rest of his days here under Cosmo’s cruelty until he married Meave and made Cosmo regret every decision he’d ever made.

It was difficult to avoid Meave, but Shayne managed.

Of course he was going to wed her. Of course he would tell her as much. Of course all was well.

But he perhaps wasn’t quite ready to celebrate it yet. To sit through the engagement parties, be showered with presents, and have news of the betrothal travel to the surrounding Houses.

To have Meave lead an uprising with Shayne at her side and possibly ruin everything.

Shayne spent most of the day pacing. He wandered the gardens outside, stuck his feet in the stream around the manor, and avoided attending every meal of the day. At dusk, he ventured down to the kitchens to find himself something to eat, but he was surprised to find them empty. So, he gathered himself some figs and leftover rice, and he spent the afternoon in the drawing room painting for no reason. He wasn’t even good at it. He tried to do a portrait and discovered his art skills were akin to that of a childling without hands.

Perhaps he would save the portrait and give it to his new wife once he was wedded. It was a lovely reflection of how he truly felt about her. The likeness was uncanny.

At midnight, he rolled up his horrendous artwork and tucked it beneath his arm, then headed down the hall to go store it in his guestroom. He shuddered thinking about having to share a room with Meave in the future, and he glanced down at his blue Riothin coat. Only today had he been presented with such a garment by the beautifiers claiming it was a gift from Lady Meave and that he belonged in this colour now. Never in his faeborn life had he dreamt he would wear the colours of a Riothin. What a strange turn of events he’d created for himself.

The lights flickered as Shayne reached the end of the hall and entered his room, sliding the portrait from his arm and setting it on his dresser.

He almost screamed when he turned around and saw someone standing there. The dagger was out of his boot and pressing into a fairy’s throat in a heartbeat.

A young, female servant looked up at him with wide eyes. “Please don’t hurt me!” she begged.

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