Page 2

“Now, tell me—who was that dashing human you just met inside?” Shayne asked, seeming in no hurry to stop sandwiching her between himself and the building. “I don’t feel threatened, which means you must not be growing a crush for him. But there is something toiling in my fairy feels…” He glanced off, tapping the barrel of Lily’s gun against his lip in thought.

“Jealousy?” Lily guessed.

Shayne squeezed an eye shut like he was thinking harder. “That can’t be it.”

She huffed. “Seriously, Shayne? Is this why you’ve been looking so tired lately? Because you’ve been following me around at night?” She tried to squirm out of his hold, but he flashed a smile, watching as she failed to escape.

“Why don’t we say it is?” he said, and she stopped her fleeing attempt.

“For real?”

Shayne snorted a laugh, dragging the handle of the gun across his eyebrow to scratch it. Lily’s skin tightened as the gun’s barrel aimed toward his head, his heart, his everywhere else.

“If I look tired,Lily, it’s because you’re exhausting to fake date.”

She grunted. “It’s not my fault we’re doing this. I keep telling everyone at the station we broke up, but then you show up the next day with coffee and assure everyone we’re still together. Why is that, Shayne?”

“You’re happy when I do,” he stated.

She raised an eyebrow when he didn’t elaborate. Then he laughed at himself.

“Your pupils dilate whenever I walk into your workplace. Your cheeks turn a smidgen pink. Your breathing even changes. You might hate my guts most days, Human, but I think I accidentally became yourhappily ever after. You miss me when I don’t show up at the station—admit it.” He grinned too much, and Lily made a face.

“I’m not admitting that,” she said.

“Admit it. Do it.”

“No!”

“Why, Human, why?”

“Because I’m not a liar, Shayne.”

He tilted his head in thought. “See, that sounded like a lie to me.”

Lily sighed and rubbed her temple. “I don’t need a happily ever after, you weirdo. Those are just in fairytales.”

“Did you forget what I am? And everyone wants a happily ever after,” he objected. “Sure, we all think Cress is obnoxious every time he opens his mouth about his wedding, but he’s right about one thing—and that’s being happy. It’s why my brothers and I chose to stay here. This is where happiness is.”

“Yeah, well…” Lily shook her head in disbelief “…I always said I’d never get married. So stop telling me what I want, and grabbing me like this, and following me at night,” she said.

“Hmm.” Shayne eyed her. “I suppose only time will tell whether you’re a liar or not. And you like it when I grab you. Let me walk you home.”

“No way. I have two legs and I’m perfectly capable of walking myself home.”

Shayne rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes. We all know you’re a hero on legs. Now stop saying such sassy things with that curvy mouth of yours. It gets my insides all feely.”

The last of Lily’s papers took flight off the sidewalk in a gust of wind, creating a ruckus and disappearing into the city of Toronto where she’d never find them. She watched them soar away. “I’m pretty sure you’ve really lost your mind,” she muttered. “Which one of your clueless brothers let you becomeKingof theHigh Court of the Coffee Bean?”

Shayne sucked in a deep breath, and she caught him staring at her lips when she looked back. His mouth was pinched as he chewed on the inside of his cheek. Lily couldn’t imagine what he had to ponder so hard about, but she failed to find her voice to ask when his grip on her tightened. His hand suddenly felt warmer against her back.

Out of nowhere, he shook his head like he was clearing it. “Go home then,” he said. “Go to bed and stop making fairy guns and instigating other midnight mischiefs. You should remember that if you keep throwing rocks at fairies, eventually you’ll hit one.” He leaned in and whispered, “Thenallthe wicked fairies will come for you. Not just me.”

He released his hold on her waist and pulled back, setting her free. The cool night spilled over Lily’s body, making her wonder how he could be so warm in this weather in just a t-shirt.

“You want me to leave while you still have my gun?” she asked in disbelief.

“Yes.” His eyes dropped back to her mouth, briefly. “Before thisbrainless Kingdoes something he’ll regret and leaves you enchanted for the next two days.” A wide smile returned to his face. “I’m sure I don’t even have to use magic to do that.”