Page 3 of A Touch of Iron
Alec shrugged. “Would he? We don’t know what the King wants with the fae who created you. He’s probably been keeping quiet out of a sense of self-preservation.”
“Then … when he pushed me off the cliff, was he really trying to kill me?” I asked warily.
Alec eyed me but didn’t answer. Almost as if he was afraid to answer.
His silence was answer enough. Kazimir tried to kill me.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” I stumbled back toward the bed and sat down heavily. “This is so messed up.”
“We have to be careful, Vi.”
But if Kazimir was really an enemy … why did he come to me before the public showing and convince me to become the dragon? His motives didn’t make sense. What was his plan?
2
ANSEL
The look on her face would haunt me for all eternity. She knew from the moment her gaze landed on her mother that I was the one who brought her to the Fae realm. There was no sense denying it because I was the only one who knew her location. I couldn’t meet Violet’s hurt stare, I was so ashamed. And I would carry that shame with me for the rest of my life.
“It’s okay, Ansel, she’ll forgive you,” Tessa, Violet’s mother said as she sat on the sofa in the living area of my bedroom.
The King had allowed me to take her instead of leaving her in his care, which was part of the deal I’d negotiated earlier. The deal the others didn’t know about.
“No, she won’t.” I took a seat across from her, covering my face with my hands.
“I’ll speak with her,” she offered. “She’ll understand.”
“How?” I looked up at her, distraught. “I’ve betrayed her in the worst way possible. There’s no going back from this.”
She was torn. “What if we just tell her? She’ll understand if we explain—”
“No!” I said adamantly. “He said she couldn’t know.”
Tessa’s brows furrowed. “I hate that he’s helping us.”
“He’s our only hope … to get you and Violet out of here safely,” I whispered.
A stillness came over us until a knock sounded at the door. I quickly stood to answer it. Before opening it, I called out, “Who is it?”
“It’s me, asshole,” Alec answered from the other side of the door.
I sighed, then straightened and hesitantly opened it.
Alec pushed his way inside but paused when he saw Tessa sitting on my sofa. “So now you’re shacking up with her mom?” he asked derisively, practically quivering with indignant rage – misplaced though it was.
I grimaced. “Don’t be crude. This is the only way I can guarantee her safety. Unless youwanther staying with the King.”
He waved his hands. “No, no, by all means, stay attached at the hip.” Ignoring me, Alec approached Tessa and extended a hand. “Hello, Ms. De La Rosa. My name is Alec. It’s a pleasure.”
Tessa glared at his hand and then up at him. She didn’t accept his hand, which he retreated gingerly.
“Well then.” Alec wiped his hand on his pants. “I guess the pleasure is all mine.”
“Clearly,” I deadpanned as I pushed past him. “What are you doing here?”
He scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Your girlfriend is ready to barbecue this place if she doesn’t get her mother back. You better have a plan there, little brother.”
My eyes widened slightly, but I composed myself. “I have a plan, but you don’t have to worry about it.”
