Page 25 of The Iron Fae
“But I’m supposed to be subjected to eating with Kai’s pet?” The Queen seethes.
Wow, this woman really is a piece of work.
I take a long slow breath, trying to focus on keeping my own emotions under control. My knuckles turn white as I fist my hands and Kai tenses as I lean into him stiffly.
“Just pretend she isn’t there, dear.” The king reaches for Queen Avaleen’s hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze.
Kai slips a hand up to my waist, holding me steady, as I try to turn my gaze from the Queen and the King, with their demeaning view of humans and half-breeds. I focus my eyes on the dimly lit sconces or try to admire the velvet-like wallpapers. His hands are warm even through the materials of my dress, not like there truly is much.
“And how am I to be sure that this isn’t that Mortal Queen Cordelia has lost her rocker over?”
Every heartbeat stops. Kai, Rowan, Violet, and I make no obvious moves or changes to our expressions but I can feel it as much as they can. A seed of worry lives in all of them.
Rowan spurts out a laugh, quickly followed by Violet’s short chortle.
“The who now?” Kai leans forward, tilting me with his body.
A new sheen of sweat clings to me. All I can do is pray Avaleen can’t smell my fear in the air.
“Mortal. Queen.” Her lips press in a firm line as her children poke fun at her idea. The laughter quickly dies.
“No Queen, but I bet she would love that.” Kai draws a hand down my cheek, forcing my gaze to him. His intense gaze focuses on me with a plea to play along. “Isn’t that right, Cupcake?”
My tongue feels too heavy for words. My mouth too dry.
“Can’t I just marry you and become a queen?” I whisper back.
“For the love of all things good,” The Queen drops her hands dramatically into her lap. “Now she really thinks she can marry you?”
I channel my measly acting skills into confusion then sadness. “What does she mean?”
“Nothing, nothing.” Kai brushes it off. “Mother quit trying to ruin my fun.”
Avaleen opens her mouth to speak, but the doors to the kitchen quickly open and a slew of servants scuttle around us dropping fresh plates and large glasses of wine in front of us. Some sort of chicken, maybe? Broccoli and a cheesy pasta.
Dinner continues with many side-eyed glances. I try to eat in the perched position on Kai’s lap. My plate sits next to Kai’s in the same space as we shared currently. The moment I make a move to go back to a single seat, Kai clamps a hand on my waist and whispers, “Why would you want to be anywhere else, Cupcake?”
So I eat with my elbows oddly high so I continuously get in Kai’s way or hit him accidentally. My back aches as I have to hunch to cut apart my food. Kai snaps his fingers and a servant rushes forward and cuts his plate for him. What is he a child? I shift and remember his other hand on my waist.
The meal concludes as the Queen gives her children one final look. Her silverware hits her plate with an announcingthwack. “As usual, it was lovely to see you. I’ll make arrangements to meet with each one of you this week.”
The king, not yet finished with his plate, scoots himself out of his chair and stands to pull Avaleen’s out. When she holds her skirts and heads toward the door, he follows.
“Oh, and Kai,” She stops at the door. “Maybe keep your pets confined to your room next time.”
The moment her back turns to us, Rowan lifts his hand. He points an indifferent finger at a servant and gestures toward the door. “Could you just close that for us.” All the while, my mouth has surely hit the floor.
Both King Dravid and Queen Avaleen resume their chatter down the hall but their words are lost to us as the doors click shut. Rowan growls under his breath, both hands on the table as he stretches into his chair. Violet wilts into her seat, as theatrically as possible. Kai’s head tilts until his blonde ponytail is ruffled against the chair at such an angle he’s exposing his throat to me.
“That was sopainful!”Violet cries.
“Is it like this every time?” I finally close my gaping mouth.
“Yes.” Rowan and Kai groan in unison.
“And she’s makingappointmentswith us now.” Rowan uses his first two fingers to make air quotes as he talks. “Who makes appointments with their own children?”
Kai’s eyes are closed again and I’m certain it’s because his parents have utterly exhausted him. Is this what Lincoln had to grow up with? Did his mother even let him dine with them? If so, was she this obnoxiously rude?
