Spin the Shadows (Dark and Wicked Fae #1) - Cate Corvin Page 0,12

box and pulled out a muffin. “It was the last one. I’d really hate to eat it alone, but if you dislike them that much…”

Sylvaine made a killer banana walnut muffin. I twitched my fingers. “Hand it over. I get the first bite since I almost choked to death.”

Gwyn complied, his grin widening.

It was a heavenly muffin. I gave him the other half and realized I hadn’t smiled this much in a while.

Not even since before Ioin had ditched me for the sylph. I’d always been on my toes, trying not to make him feel lesser than me for not being Fae in Avilion. Everyone kept humans at arm’s length, unless the human had lived here for years and was part of the fabric of life.

It felt nice to not have to pretend anymore.

“Why did you get me breakfast?” I asked. There was something about Gwyn that told me he wouldn’t be upset about a Lesser Fae questioning the motives of a Gentry. He might’ve been Unseelie, but he felt… warm and open.

He polished off the muffin and looked over, giving me a slow once-over that made me feel completely exposed. It wasn’t an entirely unwelcome feeling.

“I took the last lemon twist yesterday,” he finally said. “You were stuck with apples. Ugh.”

A snort escaped me. I was really in top form this morning. “Well, thank you. I’m sorry I walked on your toes.”

“And ran into my chest.” He looked down at the broad expanse. “You could’ve broken my ribs.”

“You should be glad you didn’t catch an elbow. They’re the most dangerous part of me.” I waved one around. I could kill a man with one of these bad boys.

“They’re pretty pointy, yeah.” Gwyn scooted the box onto the wall between us. “But somehow I don’t think your elbows are the most dangerous part of you.”

He was looking at my mouth when he said it. I was convinced I was halfway to becoming a tomato by now, my face flaming.

I looked down at the box, at the street, anywhere but at those dancing eyes. “Right. I’ve also been told my head’s as hard as a brick, so you should watch out for that, too.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.” Was it my imagination, or had his deep voice gotten… silkier? “If I ever run into your face, I’ll do it gently.”

When I looked up, his grin was wider than ever.

“You’re a bad man, Gwyn,” I told him, but it was impossible to hold back my own smirk.

“But you’re smiling.” He raised an eyebrow. “So how bad am I, really?”

I glanced at his arm, and the vine of wolfsbane inked around his wrist onto the back of his hand. “You tell me.”

He saw where I was looking and shook out his hand, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his thighs. His hands hung between his legs where I couldn’t see them, but his smile had dimmed a bit.

I felt oddly guilty for putting a damper on a moment that had felt like sitting in the bright sun after months of rain. “Well, you got me tarts, so I’d place my bet at… no more than twenty percent bad. The rest of you must be sugar and rainbows.”

His grin came back in full force, and I exhaled. I’d been worried that I’d driven him off.

“And spice, and everything nice.” Gwyn raked his hair back, sending it spilling down his back. The easy movement revealed a black leaf of hemlock tattooed on his neck.

I wanted to touch his hair. The thought confounded me; I didn’t like Gentry Fae. They were rude and haughty.

Except Gwyn. It’d been sweet of him to care if this morning was better than yesterday’s.

But I was Lesser Fae, and he wasn’t; this was just an inexplicable act of kindness, nothing more. I pulled my eyes away and caught sight of the clock on the building across the street.

“Blessed Branches, I’m late for work!” I jumped to my feet and brushed crumbs off my bare legs, praying they didn’t stick to the body glitter. The last thing I needed was swarms of midges following me down the streets. “Thanks for breakfast, Gwyn.”

He handed me the box. “Tart for the ride?”

I started to shake my head, but he jiggled the box. “Mmm. Blueberry. So delicious.”

A laugh burst out of me. “When you put it like that, I can’t say no.” I took the box, suddenly feeling shy again.

He stood up to his full height, towering over me. I ignored the butterflies that