Page 87 of Fake Dating a Human 101

The beast stopped in its tracks. It stared at Luc. Then it shrank and released a quiet whimper before backing up a step.

“That’s right. Shoo, cow.” Luc flung his hand at it.

The beast snarled as it turned and headed into the woods. Lily watched it until it disappeared into the shadows of the trees. She realized she was gripping tight to the grass.

Luc crouched, levelling himself with her. “I need you to stay alive because of a promise I made, dear Lily, not because I’ve started to like you or anything,” he stated. Then, he added, “Just so there are no misunderstandings about why I’m here.” He stood and extended a hand.

Lily eyed him. No one would come rushing like that just because of a promise.

“What about Shayne?” she asked. She unclasped her fingers from the grass and reached up to take his hand. He took a step forward so she didn’t have to reach so far.

“He’s not really a part of my promise,” Luc admitted.

Lily stopped. She jerked her hand back. “What?!”

“I’m just being honest.” Luc shrugged. “I said I’d bring you and Dranian back to the human realm. I said nothing about him.” He nodded toward Shayne. “Besides, with that ring on his finger now, it’s not like he can come back anyway.”

Lily’s gaze snapped to Shayne lying peacefully in his purpled clothes. A large gold ring hugged his forefinger. She’d been dizzy back in the Riothin ballroom, but she did recall the whispering fairies talking about Shayne like something had happened to him. They’d called him ‘Heir’.

“I can’t go without him,” she said, not sure if she was speaking to herself or Luc.

What did it mean that Shayne was ‘Heir’? Why did a ring have the power to keep him from staying with her?

Luc released an exasperated sigh. “Ughhhh, you humans. Fine.” He folded his arms. “I’ll fix his problem too, since I’m fixing everyone else’s at the moment. You’re all so needy, do you know that?”

Lily was still thinking about the gossip from the ballroom when a fairy materialized beside Luc, making her jump. The fairy wore a similar black coat. He tore down his hood, and Lily’s chest swelled at the sight of Mor. “Lily,” he breathed in his low voice. Mor’s hands were balled to fists at his sides, his face contorted with worry.

Lily wanted to cry, but she sucked back her tears as she tried climbing to her feet. Her legs shook, and Mor stepped forward, lifting her until she was balanced.

“Ah, there you are. I was wondering how long it would take you to catch up,” Luc said to him.

“Lily…” Mor said again. “I would have come—” Out of nowhere, Luc pushed him out of the way and took Lily’s hands.

“I was here first,” he said. “At least let me carry the pretty one.”

Mor frowned. “Not a chance.” He shoved Luc back and yanked Lily to himself. In an instant, she felt the world around her slip away. Mor cradled her head against his warm chest.

It felt like only seconds before everything stopped moving, and Lily’s feet were set on solid ground. Cold grass curled over her heels, and wind filtered through nearby trees. Mor kept a firm hold on her arm, keeping her balanced. When Lily turned around…

She saw Cress.

And Dranian.

She even saw psycho Mycra. There was something familiar about the woman, and Lily settled her gaze on her for a moment, wondering if they’d spoken recently. Wondering why she remembered Mycra’s voice in her head.

Luc arrived with Shayne a second later and practically dumped him on Dranian’s lap.

Lily wasn’t sure what to say to everyone, but at the sight of them in arm’s reach, and with Mor a shield at her side, every one of her tense muscles unspooled. She collapsed into the deep, peaceful sleep she’d been craving for weeks.

Luc’s voice sounded like a sweet song, even when he was complaining.

“So, let me get this straight. Now we’re being chased by the House of Lyroandthe House of Riothin, and on top of that Cressica has revealed his identity to the whole Ever Corners and will certainly stir the North High Queene to chase after him, and on top ofthat, it’s too dangerous for any of us to return to the human realm, even though at any moment the Lyro House could send spies to burn Fae Café to the ground, and the only ones watching over your humans there are the yarn-covered females whom I nearly destroyed all on my own this summer?”

Luc chuckled after his long list of grievances. It stirred Lily awake. She didn’t know how long she’d been sleeping, but it had to be almost a full day because the air was cool again. She saw treetops fluttering overhead in a soft breeze, and the blue sky was starting to turn grey.

Luc clapped slowly. “Well done, everyone. How embarrassing.”

“Am I the only one who wants to punch him?” Mor murmured to Cress.

---