Page 90 of Fake Dating a Human 101

Luc grunted a laugh. “Don’t worry, you two. The rest of your High Court will be coming soon. We weren’t that far from the border—I imagine the sprint will only take them a few minutes,” he said. Then he turned to the rest of the fairies, and he said, “Prepare yourselves.”

“Mor…” Lily whispered. “What’s happening? Were we just betrayed by Luc?”

Mor’s throat bobbed. “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “I don’t think so, but truthfully, I’m finding it hard to tell.” He climbed to his feet and pulled Lily up with him. Lily watched his fingers slide into his back pocket and pull out his fairsaber handle.

Someone broke through the trees. Cress’s pinched face was focused as he raced over the black line in strong, even strides. He skidded to a stop and tipped forward with his hands on his knees a foot away from Mor and Lily. “Ah, yes.” He nodded, though his face was red like he was going to faint. “I knew I was the fastest,” he said.

Mycra and Dranian came next, half carrying Shayne as he limped. “Just trust me!” Mycra shouted at the other two as if they were in the middle of an argument. “Hurry!”

The three of them stumbled across the black line, and to Lily’s amazement, none of the Shadow Fairies rushed in to capture them. Lily jogged forward in her wobbling heels to help Mycra and Dranian, but Shayne pushed their hands off.

“I’m fine!” he stated. He marched away from them and met Lily halfway. “Did he do anything vile to you?” he asked her with a scowl before scouring the clearing. “Where is he? I’ll kill him.”

“I do hope you’re not talking about me,” Luc warned. He shook the dirt off his Dracula coat and wiped off his sleeves. “It would be rather tragic if you’re really threatening me in front of all these witnesses.”

Shayne’s jaw tightened. He took a step toward Luc just as hundreds of hunters in red flooded through the trees. They scattered down the line, their bows drawn, their blades forming, and Shayne grabbed Lily instead.

Lily’s heart squeezed in her chest as she recognized faces. She spotted Jethwire with his flute in his hand, resting high upon a reindeer. He made eye contact with her, his gaze icy, and Lily found herself gripping the back of Shayne’s coat. Fuzzy memories spilled in; Jethwire nudging her face around, his commands for her to eat, the fairies with him laughing. The dizziness, the sore feet, the dancing in circles… all before Shayne’s father; Hans-Der.

The middle-aged man sat upon a reindeer, too. He stared at Shayne darkly. Lily had never seen him furious.

She realized just how vast and strong the Lyro army was as it took several moments for them to assemble their lines. Lily’s shoulders dropped as the warriors seemed to keep coming forever. There would be no fighting her way out this time. They would take Shayne. They might take her, too. She bit down hard on her lips at that thought.

Hans-Der slid off his reindeer. He kept his attention solely on Shayne as he stepped forward. He came to the black line of ash and moved to step over it…

“Uh oh,” Luc said.

Four Shadow Fairies appeared around Hans-Der with their blades out. The Lyro army raised their bows in reaction, but Hans-Der hesitated. After a moment, he lowered his foot back on his side of the line. He raised a hand, and the bow-wielders of his army lowered their weapons.

Luc sauntered forward with his hands clasped behind his back. He sighed and shook his head. “I thought the House of Lyro wanted toavoida war, not start one,” he said. As he moved, a dozen Shadow Fairies in black armour inched along with him.

“Who are you?” Hans-Der asked, his lip curling in revulsion as he took Luc in. “Aren’t you the fool who killed my oldest son?”

Luc put a hand against his chest, feigning shock. “Oh dear,” he said. “I think I’m offended. First—your oldest son had it coming. Second—I don’t think that’s any way to address the King of the Dark Corner of Ever.”

Lily felt Shayne flinch past the fabric of his coat. His hand tightened on her arm as his brows furrowed. He tilted his head as if taking in Luc for the first time.

“Speaking of which…” Luc looked around. “Someone should really get me a crown.”

Hans-Der’s face changed from disgust to surprise, to curiosity, then to doubt. “Nonsense…” he uttered.

The Shadow Army all raised their weapons at once, aiming for each and every fairy in red across the line of ash. One of them parted from the hoard and lifted his sword at Hans-Der. He said, “How dare you address His Royal Majesty with disrespect. Surrender to be tortured for it, and we shall let your army live.”

This time, Hans-Der spoke through his teeth. “What?!”

“Hand over our prisoners,” Jethwire interrupted. His gaze cut back to Shayne. “And our heir. Then we shall leave peacefully.”

Luc tapped a finger against his chin. He took a while to deliberate, glancing over at Cress first like he was considering it, then at Shayne, then at Lily. Finally, at Mor—who’s face was heavy with different emotions. One of them was definitely accusation.

Luc scrunched his face at Mor’s expression, and he turned back to Hans-Der. “Nah,” he finally said. “Mostly because I don’t want to, and therefore, I don’t have to.” He marched forward and stood before the High Lord of the Lyro House. “You see, the thing is, I’ve been black marked by the House of Lyro. I was threatened byyourown paper crane. And what a wicked and foolish thing it is to black mark a High King with an Army the size of mine.” Luc’s silver eyes blazed. Hans-Der shifted his weight as murmurs trickled down the line of Lyro allies, and for a moment, Lily thought Hans-Der might actually apologize.

But Luc wasn’t finished. “I demand justice. Either we go to war, and you can fight the entire Shadow Army right now with your measly handful of hunters, or you sacrifice the heir of your household to me. Only the age-old custom will suffice. I demand blood for blood—as you have vowed to take mine. Black mark for black mark. Your highest seat for the throne you threatened.” His words were cutting and dark, making the leaves throughout the forest shiver and tree trunks groan and snap. Some of the Lyro army drew several steps back from the line of ash.

Hans-Der opened his mouth, but he closed it again. He glanced over at Shayne, only this time, it wasn’t with a glower. In fact, a strange smirk crossed his mouth. “You wish for my son’s blood?” he asked.

Luc’s smile broadened into something truly evil. “Desperately.”

“And this will erase any transgressions from my household toward the Dark Corner throne?” Hans-Der took a slow step back from the ash, like his army.

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