Page 21 of The Iron Fae
“You know,” I start, “Everyone keeps telling me I’m a queen. I’mthequeen.”
“Mmhmm.”
Neither of us open our eyes. I snuggle lower into the chair.
“But, like, I don’t feel like a queen.”
“You weren’t raised,” he pauses, “with the idea that you’re to be looked up to.” His words are sluggish, and said with every effort to produce a coherent thought. “So I could see how… odd it would be to all of a sudden be getting pushed into leadership.”
“It’s not that.” My head lulls to the side.I could take a nap right now. Maybe I will. I’m sure Kai would like a nap.
“No?”
Both brows rise as I try to remember where this conversation was going and what exactly I had said. My thoughts echo a jumble of our dialogue back to myself.
“…no.” I clear my throat. “Aren’t I supposed to be powerful? My dad was Fae, yet I’m so… so…so very human.”
“You’re high right now.” Kai laughs.
I can’t help but chuckle too. “So are you.”
Our laughs settle comfortably between us. So much so I consider my nap again. But a nagging need still whispers back to me.
“Kai, I have a necklace.”
“Mmm, did Violet pick it out for you? You didn’t really seem like the excessive jewelry type so I didn’t bother asking for an arrangement for you.”
“No. I brought it with me from the Shadow Court.”
The prince shifts. My eyelids flutter open to find him watching me with mild interest. The pink in the whites of his eyes has faded but not by much.
“Is it from Lincoln?”
“Ah, Lincoln doesn’t seem like the romantic gesture type.”
Kai scratches at his head, letting his arm fall with a loud thump against the arm of his chair. “You’d be surprised. Though it’d be awfully daring of him to give someone like you a gift like that.”
Maybe I want Lincoln to be daring like that. Maybe I want there to be a little spark of fire in his veins that fights for me. For us.
“It’s from my aunt, Jase’s mother.” Even with the effects of the calming drugs I feel my pulse pick up at the thought of it. Without the Reminints I imagine I’d be light headed or sick to my stomach with anxiety. Lincoln told me not to tell a soul, not to let anyone get their hands on it. “I think, I think it contains my powers.” I finally admit.
“Oh.”
“Lincoln said so.”
“Lincoln is… smart enough to know so.” Kai folds his hands into his lap, his attention never falling away from me.
“Do you know how I can get my powers? How can I become like you?”
“Yes, um, items like that.” He chews on his lip. “That’s a good question.” Kai shakes his head. “Um, you need a powerful seer to help you unlock them. I can pull some strings for you.”
“You’re doing me all the favors today, huh?” I give him a faint smile.
“Well, it’s the least I could do for my royal guest.” He nods his head.
“Do you feel like you could fall asleep right now?” I yawn, stretching my arms above my head, careful to watch my chest so that my boobs don’t lift right out of the gown. Strips of fabric have fallen off my thighs, leaving my legs exposed.
“I’m on my way off the Remininats, I don’t think I could nap now if I wanted.”
