The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(4)

“Alicia wants to know where we’re going for lunch, you know, in case my parents call while I’m out,” Cassie said to Deveron as Alicia paced across the bathroom tile floor.

She had no shirt to cover her at all now and was stuck in here until the fae and his friends left.

“She’s not going with us?” Deveron asked, his tone of voice surprised.

Why would he be surprised? She knew he hated her for what she’d done to him. And surely he didn’t want her to tag along. Or did he?

Sure, for revenge after what she’d pulled. After all, he was a royal fae, and she was certain not too many would have risked insulting him by dousing him with very ice cold sodas.

“Well, I thought that you wouldn’t care for her to join us,” Cassie said. She sounded irritated.

“No, have her come along, too. I have a friend who will meet us at the Mexican restaurant.”

A friend. Hmpf. Another fae.

But then again, if she went with them, she could try and keep Cassie safe.

Only she had to get rid of Deveron for now so she could put a shirt on.

Cassie knocked on the bathroom door. “Did you hear that Alicia? Do you want to go?”

“Sure, but have Deveron...” She almost slipped and said something about his companions. “Have Deveron step outside of the room so I can get dressed.”

“Oh, oh, sure.”

With a voice as smooth as heavy satin, Deveron said, “I’ll be waiting in the lobby.”

“Okay, fine,” Cassie said, sugary sweet.

When the door clicked close, Alicia yanked the bathroom door open, intending to get a change of clothes—and nearly died.

Standing in the center of the room watching her, was the first golden-haired fae she’d seen on the beach. His blue eyes narrowed as she faked looking right through him. And pretended to herself she was totally dressed and not exposing her bra-clad breasts to an immortal faery.

Jeez, her whole body heated with embarrassment.

They had no earthly feelings, she reminded herself. He sees you as nothing more than a dumb dog.

She dug through her garments hanging in the shared closet as goose bumps covered her arms, and her heart beat rapidly. Did the dark fae realize she knew they existed and this one was left behind to test her?

She was certain that was the reason.

This afternoon, she would have to put on the performance of a lifetime. Unfortunately, acting wasn’t something she was good at.

As nonchalantly as she could, she pulled out a simple blue dress, smiled at Cassie, then stalked into the bathroom and shut the door.

“I was surprised he wanted you to go with us,” Cassie said as she leaned against the door.

“Yeah, well, you heard him. He has a friend who needs to be entertained.” The thought soured her. Sure he figured she’d be totally entertaining. Watch her squirm as she tried to pretend she couldn’t see the other fae.

When she walked back into the room, the fae was sifting through her undergarments in one of the drawers in a chest.

She could have screamed. And she knew that’s just why he was rummaging through them—to get a reaction from her.

He looked up in the mirror at her. Again, his eyes narrowed.

She quickly leaned down to slip on a pair of heeled sandals.

Grabbing Cassie’s arm, she said, “Ready to go?” She worried her face appeared as red as chili peppers because her cheeks were so hot.

“Hungry?” Cassie asked as they stepped into the hall. Then she closed the door to their room.

Alicia had been, but for now, she was way too keyed up to be hungry at all. “Sure.”

Footsteps sounded behind them, but she refused to look back. If whoever it was proved to be the fae, he’d realize for certain she knew he existed because she could hear the movement of an invisible fae, when she shouldn’t be able to.

When they arrived at the lobby, palm tree and ferns nearly hid the fae from her sight. In fact, when she saw the dark fae, she imagined he felt right at home among the lush greenery.

Deveron’s gaze took in her blond hair, blue dress, and strappy sandals as he crossed the white marble floor to greet her. He barely looked at Cassie. Was he already trying to form a rift between Alicia and her friend?

He glanced at the fae she imagined stood behind her as she could feel his warm breath touching her bare shoulder.

Deveron smiled.

Had the blond-haired fae told Deveron using some kind of facial expression that she was indeed startled to see him in her hotel room? Could they telepathically communicate?

Maybe going out with Deveron and his cohorts wasn’t such a great idea after all.

He motioned to the lobby doors. “Your carriage awaits, ladies.”

He stepped in between Cassie and her, only his hand rested on Alicia’s lower back as he guided them outside. She resented it, but when she tried to step away from him, one of the golden-haired faeries drew close so she couldn’t move in any direction without running into him.

An invisible fae could slip right through her, giving her a strange tingling feeling like when her foot would fall asleep. She avoided bumping into faeries for that reason.

But when the fae began to speak, she blinked hard. She’d never heard an invisible fae speak before. Was he doing it for her benefit? To see her reaction?

“I believe your concern is warranted,” the fae said, not speaking to Alicia, but to Deveron, though his blue eyes studied Alicia as he walked backward in front of her.