Page 20 of The Iron Fae
Two empty chairs wait in front of his desk, plush and inviting. I shift my gaze to them before escorting myself forward. The fabric is velvety, reminiscent of the dining chairs. It brushes against my skin in a comforting way, a warm way. Kai’s office actually has a chill to it. I’d assumed it was the tiny article of clothing I wore last time I was here. Though… I guess this one isn’t much better.
“Would you like me to talk to him?” Kai’s voice is dull, but he arches a brow.
“Would you?” I try not to gush. “I mean, if you could.”
“Or you could tell him yourself.”
I frown at his suggestion.
“I have. I’ve told him I’m not interested.”
“Perhaps he is just confused then by your mixed signals.”
My jaw drops open. My mixed signals? Do these Fae think I’ve done anything to lead Rowan on? No. Not a chance.
“Mixed signals?” I finally force myself to regain my composure.
“You kissed him. At the Lavender Lounge if I’m correct.” Kai tries to blink his eyes open to really look at me.
“I was high.”
“Do you often make it a habit of kissing men you don’t like when you’re high?”
What sort of question is that? My hands curl into fists. Heat rises to a blush that creeps up my neck.
“I was. I am in a confusing time. Collin and I broke up. I’ve been thrown into this new realm with… withmagic.It’s a lot to process.”
“Damn. Maybe you should be getting high.” He shrugs, saying it as a joke. Yet, my gaze still drifts to his jacket where I know his bottle of Reminints waits. “Do you… want some?” His words are slow and drawn out.
“No.” I wave my hand and look off at his bookshelf littered with knick knacks. But my attention drifts back to it. I could use a moment to just relax. And Jase suggested it was comparable to alcohol once and I’m not an alcoholic so this... this should besafe.“Maybe.”
“Oh, Briar Anders. How scandalous,” he gasps, but the dramatics are muted by his drugs. He slips his hand into his jacket and pulls out the small vile. “Just a few. Then no more for you, light weight.”
“Do not tell anyone… anyone that I did this.”
“Secrets safe with me, dear.” His cheeky grin does little to give me confidence.
“Promise.” I hold a hand out for him to drop a few sparkling petals into.
“Promise,” he repeats, extending the bottle toward me. “Wait, you’re not going to try and kiss me when you get high, are you?” He pulls the bottle back with a laugh.
“Not a chance.”
“Wow, maybe don’t say it with such certainty next time.” He shakes some petals out.
They fall softly into my palm. I’m still, watching them glitter from the light that covers us. Am I really about to get high with the Prince of the Iron Court? Yes. And I think Lincoln would want me to. They all harped on it often enough when I was in the Shadow Court, that I needed to relax, to release all my pent-up energy. Well this isn’t sex but it’s as good as it’s going to get. Before I let myself think any harder on the subject, I place both petals on my tongue. They melt like a chocolate, dissolving in the sweet sensation of static against my cheeks.
Reminints are a curious thing. So delicate. So delicious. So… relaxing. My posture, most immediately, slumps into the chair. I let out a long breath.
“Now, don’t you feel better.” Kai closes his eyes, resuming his position with his feet propped on the desk.
“These are fast acting.” My eyes flutter close.
Before where the room felt suffocatingly small, the walls always pressing in on me no matter how large the room physically is, now it’s like a swimming pool. The hairs on my arms rise. My limbs are light, swimming in the air where I can feel every shifting wind created by the large ceiling fan above us. I’d say half my body is numb, that near unmovable feeling, but I’m aware of everything. I just no longer care.
Kai and I sit quietly together, letting minutes, possibly hours, move by us without a worry. Somewhere in the back of my mind I wonder if Rowan will come looking for me. If he’ll be pissed when he finds me. Yet, those thoughts are too far away from me to actually grasp. Not that I even want to think about them. So I let them drift off.
My lips buzz with a smile as I picture Lincoln and the exited but guarded smile he’d give me if he saw me in this state. We could have a lot of fun together with some Remininats. He’d probably remind me I’m a queen and there are better things I should be doing with my time. Maybe I do understand Kai’s addiction.
