Page 22 of The Iron Fae
“How sad,” I practically purr. Kai had put my worries to ease so quickly. The prince is nothing if not accommodating and gentlemanly.
Just as I let my eyes close once more the door bursts open with a gush of air. Rowan cocks his head looking from me to his brother, a large bundle of flowers, perfectly arranged, clutched between both hands. Kai looks from me to his sibling, pursing his lips.
“Rowan, hi.” I wave.
“I’m not high. You are.” Rowan accuses.
I start to feign offense, my hand rising to touch my collar bone. As I frown, my lips fight the urge to point upward and a sputtering laugh rolls out of me. “I’m sorry. I got distracted.”
Kai stands, straightening his clothes and walks with a confidence only the heir to the throne could possess. He leans forward, pushing his nose into the bouquet and breathes them in.
“For me.” Kai starts to take the flowers.
“No, actu—”
“For me.” He says more firmly, scooping them out of Rowan’s hands and clutching them close to his chest.
Rowan’s gaze is wide with anger. He recovers quickly, forcing his hands into his jacket and leaning against the door frame. “Guess I’ll have to pick you another one, love.”
“Another one for me, you mean.” Kai raises his eyebrows.
“No, not you.” Rowan says, confusion tinting his words.
I purse my lips at Kai’s attempt at avoiding any uncomfortableness from Rowan’s brash behavior.
“For me.” He repeats once more. Kai digs his face into the petals, smelling their scent with great dramatics.
I cover my burning cheeks, trying to keep from giggling. But the drugs have done me no favors in being polite.
“Hurry off now,” Kai urges his brother out the door. Rowan steps back, still scowling. The prince closes the door, with Rowan on the other side turning back to me. “After all this... you’re going to owe me.”
Then we both dissolve into a fit of laughter.
Six
Vote Briar Anders
Lunch passeswith little to no notice of Kai and I. At some point his work began again and I curl into his chair, just watching. Occasionally, he looks up to catch my gaze and flash me a fleeting smile.
I lose track of time, sitting in an upright fetal position just admiring my friend. When dinner comes around, he gently shakes my shoulders, pulling me from the nap I’d eventually fallen into. Kai helps hold me upright even now. Waking up from a drugged sleep is hard.
One arm is looped around my waist. He’s holding me firmly but also allowing as much distance between as the position will allow.
“By the time we reach the dining hall, you’ll feel fine. It just takes a minute to re-adjust. You were sleeping rather heavy.”
I scrunch my nose. “Yeah, I’m okay. I’m fine.” Carefully, I push off of him and teeter on my heels.
“You sure?”
Finding my balance, I smile. “Of course. I’ve got this.”
He shrugs, clasping both hands behind his back as he watches me. Honestly, I think I’m doing rather well. My heels click with a steady rhythm as we move together toward the dining room. Rowan’s scowling face comes to mind.
“I hope Rowan isn’t too bothered by us earlier.”
“He’s a grown ass man, he’ll be fine. Don’t worry about him.”
“Okay.” It’s all I can do to nod because asking me not to worry is like asking the sun not to shine.
