Page 15 of The Iron Fae
“What if there was a war between them?”
“Most realms are blissfully unaware of the others. Ours is one of the few that actually allows crossover, which is why we have Shadow Fae. Though you have to be careful when you’re traveling around. Portals exist that take you to the Lost Realm, where no portals exist to take you back.”
My nose crinkles as I toss him a dubious look over my shoulder. “There has to be a portal to take you back.”
“How?” Kai chuckles.
“How else would you even know about the Lost Realm?”
His body freezes as he churns over the thought. His eyes glaze over and he looks off into the distance. “Never thought of it that way. But I’d assume a seer somewhere is how we know.”
I shrug.I’m not the expert on Fae realms.
The horse walks calmly to the back of the castle. I eye the many balconies that protrude from dark stone walls. Behind it’s plain, not-particularly-welcoming front half, is a much more appealing backyard. The back of the castle has one long balcony, I can only assume belongs to the King and Queen, then below it, hedges pathed in a knee height maze. Blue flowers poke off the bushes. Their sweet scent fills the air. Honestly, I’m surprised when I can’t find any traces of a Reminints tree.
“Where isyourReminint’s tree?”
I watch the maze with interest, admiring small statues of what I’d call cherubs but their ears come to a point and their mouths are open to reveal shark-like teeth. Whatever they are, perhaps I don’t want to go to their realm.
“Reminint’s is a drug that has been banned in the Iron Court.” His voice is rough.
“Oh is it?” I scoff.
“Yes, well sometimes it pays to be the prince. Fae tend to turn their heads from my less than respectable actions.”
An array of trees, filled with colorful fruits, zigzags through the yard beyond the maze. We trot along through them. I breeze in the citrus, my stomach growling.
Kai doesn’t seem to mind the silence when it does settle between us. I wonder if it’s because he was raised to show a level of respect to others, whomever he’s deemed his peers like a mortal queen. I’m quite content letting the sun warm my cheeks, though his oversized jacket still hangs on me making my body warm faster.
I stay quiet as we round the castle again. A door is propped open with a few servants chatting on the few steps that lead inside. As they see their prince, they quiet and bow. His arms pull gently at the reins slowing the stallion to a stop. He drops from the horse. His boots meet the grass with a quiet thud and he lifts his arms to me.
Both servants watch with piqued interest as I let him wrap his hands around my waist and lower me to the ground as if I weighed nothing more than a penny.
Honestly, the fact that someone can be strong enough to move me without effort is mildly attractive.
“May I?” Kai offers his elbow. It’s then that I notice the baldric on his chest is empty.
“You left your short sword in the panther.”
“Ah, the Dukes will be kind enough to return it, I’m sure.”
I smile at the servants, pulling down the skirt of the dress. As if that does a lick of good. God above, what have I gotten myself into?
Arm in arm, we enter the castle. The door leads us into the kitchens, where staff are busily preparing the meal. Servants bow as they catch the prince in passing. Their eyes quickly shift and linger on me.
“How often do you bring guests home?”
“Not often.” He reaches for another door. “I think my last guest was, perhaps, somewhere in the range of one hundred to two hundred years ago.”
I have to pause long enough to totally register if I’ve shit my pants or not. The lifespan of the Fae is almost unfathomable. And it’s no wonder I’m gaining attention from others if Kai doesn’t make a habit of bringing lovers home.
“And… how old are you?”
“Does the age difference scare you?” He smoothly avoids the question.
The door opens into a large dining room with purple velvet wallpaper clinging everywhere the eye can see. The room would feel dark if it wasn’t for the line of chandeliers above the long metal table. Rowan is leaned back in a seat, his dusty boot resting on the table's edge. Violet lounges in a much more proper way, admiring the length of her nails.
“Sneaking through the servant’s entrance?” Rowan picks at his teeth.
