Page 2 of The Iron Fae
“I didn’t give you four options.” A blatant and brilliant smile lifts his cheeks.
“I’m making a fourth option.”
“And…?”
“And maybe I’ll be the sun. Maybe I’ll shine so bright, so hot, so persistently that my heat will evaporate what was meant to drown the beaches.” It’s my own shameful attempt at a metaphor. Stupid, I know. But it feels right in this moment. It feels like somethingKai will understand.
His tongue runs over his white teeth and his smile returns more devilish than moments before. “That’s my girl.” Flat against the iron doors, he presses his palm and the door eases open.
No light greets us in the long empty hallway. Not a single book either. I sigh, flooded with relief. Not the pocket realm. I’m not trapped.
Underneath Kai’s icy blonde ponytail I can see the ends of his iron crescent tattoo on the base of his neck peek out. His steps make no sound as he moves but mine are clumsy, annoyingly human, and embarrassingly loud as they echo. Still no guards.
Unlike the pocket realm, these halls are made of black painted stone. Or maybe they are not painted… but charred. The occasional window is tinted purple, casting its glow onto the black and white checkered tiles. Kai turns the corner and the long stretch of hall ends in a curtained balcony. What sort of view would I have if I stood at its ledge?
A shadowed figure slinks out in front of us, all curves and thin pointed features. For two tense seconds I’m worried it’s their mother. But the low snickering laugh that hisses from her lips instantly suggests otherwise.
“Violet,” Kai says bitterly. “Why? Why must you always hide in the shadows like some sinister feline?”
“The Mortal Queen,” She half seethes, half sings. “I knew Rowan was darting around the halls like he had a secret to hide. What are we telling Mother?”
“We weren’t going to tell Mother anything.”
“You weren’t going to tell me anything either but if I could figure out that the two of you idiots are prancing around the castle trying to hide the object of Cordelia’s obsession then I’m sure Mother can too.”
Kai lifts his chin. His hands tremble at his side and he reaches into his pocket, no doubt stroking the bottle of Reminints.
I step around his side, eyeing the Princess. She eyes me back. Her slender body is fitted with the slip of a sheer grey dress. Her nipples and bikini area are only covered by the tiniest pieces of black fabric underneath. My attention lingers too long. Not on the perfection that is the Princess’s form but on the strange idea that this woman’s vagina is near nonexistent. If I wore that, one of my lady lips would we waving out the side of those panties. I didn’t know coochies that small existed. I suppose in this perfect Fae world they do.
Damn, I want a Fae vagina.
Violet hums and places her hands on her hips. “Human girl. Mortal Queen. What are we doing with you?”
Hide me. Train me. Help me release my powers. Teach me about your family. An endless list comes quickly to mind. My lips part to respond, to let her know that I haven’t a clue where to start. But Kai jumps in.
“Cordelia found a seer who can delve into the darkest parts of her mind.”
Violet’s eyebrows reach for her hairline. “You mean into Lincoln’s mind.”
“Right.”
“She’s here to protect Lincoln.” She drops her arms, spinning on her heel. “Why didn’t you just say that?”
“She’s here to protect her too. If Cordelia found out exactly who she was she’d be next up on the public chopping block.” Kai starts down the hall again after his sister.
“Don’t you think she’ll put two and two together now that I’m not around at all?” I interject.
“Obviously. But she wouldn’t dare think to come for you here. To suggest that we have you at all would be an utter insult.”
“Plus, Mother would never knowingly allow you.” Violet’s bare feet are but a whisper against the floor. It feels purposeful, as if she’s making herself less of what she is so that I would feel less unsteady. Surprising considering how unnerving she can be. “What are we telling her?”
“I found Briar on a trip to the human world. She… intrigues me.”
“Ha,” Violet coughs. “How does it feel to be passed off to our Mother as Kai’s human play thing? Don’t let Lincoln know, I doubt he would enjoy the thought.”
“Play thing,” I say slowly. A puppet on his string?
“Fae don’t bring humans here for fun unless it’s for sexual favors,” she continues, “Don’t get caught by Mommy or she might make you prove that’s why you are here.”
