Page 34

Hannah

When Severin picks me up for our date that evening, he’s wearing the fanciest waistcoat I’ve ever seen over a white shirt made of silk.

The soft material gapes open, exposing a lot of gorgeously muscled chest, the sleeves rolled to the elbows to show off his delicious forearms. Even his already-perfect hair looks somehow better , which shouldn’t be physically possible.

Those razor-sharp cheekbones, those kissable lips…

I want to lick him.

“I didn’t realize we were dressing up.” I glance down at my blouse and jeans. My clothes are nice but nothing fancy. “I’ll go change.”

“No need.” He extends his hand. “I’ve taken care of it.”

As soon as our fingers touch, an electric tingle shoots up my arm, thrumming through my chest and waking up my butterflies.

His shadows coil from his tattoos, reaching out to wrap around me as he pulls me into his arms. His scent, smoke and pine and leather, surrounds me as he launches into the sky.

The cool air of evening flows around us, but I’m plenty warm, snuggled close to his firm heat.

My tiny cottage soon disappears from view as the last of the residential area slides by and we near downtown.

One of Severin’s shadow tendrils glides up my cheek and slips over my eyes in a blindfold.

“I have a surprise for you,” his deep voice growls in my ear, sending shivers racing through me as my butterflies whirl with giddy joy.

“Okay,” I say. “I trust you.”

His arms tighten around me, and he tips us back to vertical, coming down for a landing.

Distant conversations come from all around, along with the rustle of wind through leaves. We’re on the town green.

Instead of setting me down, Severin scoops me into his arms in a bridal carry and strides forward. His footsteps strike pavement, and there’s the sound of a door opening. It closes behind us, cutting off the sounds of outside.

The shadow tendril slides from my eyes to show—

Shock makes me gasp, “Where are we?”

“Ferndale Falls’s newest shop, opened only today,” he says. “We’ll finalize the paperwork on Monday.”

I nod, spinning slowly in place. Dresses surround me, the most beautiful dresses I’ve ever seen.

They come in every color of the rainbow, but all of them share a single trait: they’re all made of Faerie silk.

One whole corner of the shop glows with white fabric, filled with wedding gowns made out of dreams.

“Welcome to Haute and Bothered.” A shadow fae woman steps forward, tall and beautiful, with tan skin and flowing light-brown hair. She wears one of the shop’s dresses, showing it off better than any mannequin ever could. “I am Valena. I will assist you this evening.”

Severin sets me on my feet, his arm lingering around my waist as he says, “I’ll leave you to it.” After a kiss to my knuckles, he exits the front door, heading back to the green, where the walking tulips immediately surround him.

“Do you have a favorite color?” Valena asks.

Like most people with a spring skin tone, I wear a lot of bright colors.

But this evening, something pulls me toward the blue dresses.

My fingers drift across the rack, luxuriating in the feel of the Faerie silk, soft as a caress.

I halt, pulled to a dress the color of the summer sky right before sunset, a lovely rich blue.

It’s the color I see every evening when Severin takes me flying over the forest to practice my magic. “This one.”

“Excellent choice.” She waves her hand, and magic tingles over me. In a flash, I’m wearing the dress and matching silk slippers, my clothes piled on the counter at the front of the store. Another flick of her fingers, and the fit of the dress adjusts, becoming custom tailored to me.

Valena touches my cheek, and my face tingles. Then she runs her hands over my hair in another rush of magic.

When she pulls me over to the shop’s standing mirror, I’m shocked to see my make-up redone, with smoky eyes and blue eye shadow. My hair flows around my shoulders in flawless waves, looking better than it ever has in my life .

And the dress! Oh, god, the dress is utter perfection. Gauzy layers of the thinnest Faerie silk drape my body and fall in flattering waves from my hips down to swirl around my ankles.

“I’m not sure I can afford this.” There aren’t any prices on the dresses, and you know what they say: if you have to ask…

“King Severin has already paid for everything.”

Oh! Pleased surprise ripples through me.

I probably shouldn’t accept such an expensive gift.

After all, this isn’t like the engagement ring—a fancy dress won’t make our fake relationship look more real.

But I’ve never worn anything so beautiful, and it’s so thoughtful of him to have arranged this for me.

“I love it,” I say. “Thank you for your help.”

“It is an honor to serve the future queen.” She dips her head. “You are to remain here while I let King Severin know you’re ready. I’ll be but a moment.”

I turn to watch as she leaves the shop, but there’s a haze in the air, and I can no longer see the town green. It takes me a moment to realize it’s Severin’s shadows, purposefully blocking my view. What can he be up to?

He’s going to so much effort for tonight’s date. It certainly makes me feel special. But it’s got to be part of the act, right? He’s putting on a good show, so people think we’re in love. So why does it feel so real every time he touches me?

God, I’m so confused. What’s fake? What’s real? I know I want more, but what does he want?

I grab my phone from my clothes and text Skye and Autumn on our three-way chat. Help! Severin’s taking me on this really fancy date tonight, and I’m so confused.

Confused how? Skye asks.

He’s putting in a LOT of effort, and I keep hoping it means something…

Autumn types, But you’re worried it’s all part of the fake thing.

I like her message with a “100%” emoji.

Do you like him? Skye asks. Like-like him?

Yep.

Ask him what this means to him , Autumn responds. You’re already emotionally invested.

What she said , Skye adds. I know you. You hate uncertainty. So ask him, so you can stop worrying.

This is exactly what I’ve been thinking, but it’s still good to have it confirmed. Thanks! You two are the best!

We sure are , Autumn types.

Skye texts, Be ready to spill all the deets tomorrow at the next Witch Bitch Spicy Book Club meeting!

I add a laughing emoji and put my phone away right as Severin steps into the dress shop.

His green eyes heat as they scour over me, eating me up. “You’re so very beautiful, my betrothed.”

The butterflies pound espresso shots and go wild, fluttering so hard my heart skips.

“Are you ready for our date?” He offers me his elbow.

I slip my hand around his arm, enjoying the feel of strong muscle flexing under my fingers. “Yes.”

Yes to the date. Yes to like-liking him. Yes to whatever tonight may bring.

Just all the yes.