Page 11 of The Iron Fae
“Never.”
He tilts his head with vigorous laughter, pulling the reins and digging his heels into the animal. We lurch forward. Every muscle tightens and I grip the horn tightly, my thighs clench down. Every step the horse makes, I can feel the meat of my body bounce. I’ll be lucky if there isn’t some sort of nip slip on this trip.
“If you can’t relax, I can slip you some Reminints.”
“I am relaxed.” I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to focus on releasing the tension with little success.
“Are you?” He leans to the side for a better look at my face.
“Yeah!” I say it with too much force and Kai has the nerve to look smug.
“Yeah.Yeah.Yeah.” He tastes the word over and over again. “I both love it and hate it when you say that.”
I’m too scared to respond. The horse’s muscles roll underneath us and every movement threatens to pitch me off the side, I swear. Kai’s arms cage me in. He’s relaxed enough for the both of us.
I focus on my breathing, still trying not to look like I’m nervous. The horse gently trots off toward the valley where the others who wait for us to join finally coming into view.
“Prince Kai, nice of you to finally join us.” A man with black braids smiles with brilliant white teeth. He sits on top of a chestnut brown horse who exhales loudly, looking more beastly than tamed.
“What do you have here?” The other man, with his head completely shaved sports a black tattoo made of crescents, much like the one on the back of Kai’s neck, circling his scalp. Muscles bulge beneath his form fitted top. He slows his cream-colored stallion as he approaches, looking at me with a suggestive smile.
The Fae breathe in my scent together.
“Human?” The first snickers.
“Her name is Briar. Isn’t she lovely?” Kai says plainly.
Both men bob their heads.
“Briar, the goon on the brown horse is Michael. The white one somehow manages to hold up Nicholai. Both are Dukes”
“Lovely to meet you.” I smile.
“Oh, and she has manners.” Michael raises his brows. “I thought humans were dang near barbaric.”
“They have to be, to get in bed with Kai,” Nicholai chortles. “She is very pretty. Maybe I’ll take her for a spin when you’re done.”
I can’t help but lean back into Kai as Nicholai speaks. I may be here under the pretense that I’m Kai’sspecialguest but I am by no means going to be whored out to any other Fae men.
Kai drops a hand to rest on my thigh, his grip lowers toward my knee and he squeezes gently. A show of affection but also a bit of reassurance for me.
“You know I don’t share,” Kai coos.
“Well with a girl like that.” Nicholai bits his lip. “I’ll give you time to reconsider when you’re done with her.”
“It’s unlikely that I’ll change my mind but you can keep trying to persuade me. I’m partial to bribery.” He laughs.
The others laugh with him while I watch with little interest. Kai clicks his tongue and their laughter ceases.
“Very well. What are we on the hunt for today lads?”
“White panther. Seen the beast roaming the wood on multiple occasions as of lately. He has a den nearly dead center. I suggest we split and meet in the middle. If we come across him before we hit the den, call out.” Michael steers his horse forward.
A panther. We’re hunting a fucking panther.Well he conveniently left that out. I thought I was out for a stroll in the woods while we spy for deer and squirrels. What sort of situation did I just get myself into? Maybe Violet and Rowan were the less deadly option.
“Lovely. Meet you there.” Kai smirks at the men, letting out awhoopas he yanks the reins and kicks at the horse. We surge past the men and my hair blows behind me.
It’s oddly freeing on top of this animal, even if every bump vibrates through me in not always the most pleasant of ways. Kai only slows the gallop as we ease into the woods.
