Page 3 of The Iron Fae
My next breath is caught in my lungs. I practically choke on it.
“Don’t say that to her,” Kai coos.
“It’s true.” She stops, pointing a pointed finger toward the door. “I’m assuming this room that Rowan thoroughly had readied is for the girl?”
Both their faces, schooled into cool confidence turn to me. A soft wind blows the curtains from the balcony that is near enough now I could run to it and throw myself over the edge without them even registering it. It feels like my only moment to run. Even if the two of them look at me as if I’m more prey than predator, I have to quell those anxious thoughts.
Through the split in the curtain the moon casts its light across the floor. The glow of it arcs against the tile reaching the bottom of the guest suite’s door. Like a sign. Or like what I wish was a sign that entering this room, so far away from Lincoln, is still the right thing to do.
“This is her room.” Kai reaches for the doorknob.
“I’ll let you two have your alone time,” she purrs, stealing away back into the shadows. My blurry human eyes can’t pick out her form as soon as she recedes, leaving me with the unnerving feeling of being watched by the unseen.
The door opens softly, Kai’s hand pressing to the small of my back to guide me inside. There is a warmth to the room, a coziness that tingles over my skin as I enter. Just what exactly is the Fae magic inside this room meant to do?
With a flick of his iron stained fingers, Kai flips the lights on. The room isn’t so much of a guest suite as it is a whole home by itself. A sparkling chandelier dripping in lavender colored pendants hangs centered over a small four chair table that’s polished to an immaculate shine. Bookshelves are set inside the walls in two slim pentagons bordered by the same metal as the rest of the high-pitched ceilings. The large window directly in front of us is tinted much the same as the rest, deep royal purple. I can hardly make out the twinkle of the stars on the other side.
I step around the table, running my fingers over the high-backed chairs and brushing the floral velvet material of the cushions. A fireplace burns ever so slightly where the room recesses down a single step. The black pelt of some large unrecognizable animal is laid down on the checkered floor. Surrounding that are two long couches, decorated with round metallic pillows that reflect the warmth of the light. A love seat sits between the couches catching the majority of the fire’s out put, another fur pelt strung across its back.
Stepping down into the living space, I look behind it. Three large pointed windows line the back wall. A long, large bed covered in the same pelts and quilts and sparkling metallic or velvet fabrics waits. Two sconces on the walls between the windows glow around it lighting up a pair of side tables.
To the left there are two doors. I stare at them.
“Bathroom and closet,” Kai says softly, still standing behind me at the door. The door is closed and his back is pressed against it but I didn’t even hear it shut.
“Oh,” I whisper, walking up to brush my finger against the bed frame. It’s metal that curls into intricate designs at the head and foot of the bed. I half expect the touch to burn or instantly blister but the bed is not iron. Thankfully.
“The closet is empty, but I’ll arrange for that to be amended tomorrow.”
Biting my lip, I sit on the edge of the mattress. Clipped to either side of the headboard, dangles two sets of… handcuffs. I narrow my gaze on them before turning to Kai. His face remains neutral but the tips of his ears burn.
He clears his throat, pulling out the Reminints and slipping a petal to his tongue. “This, uh, is typically, um, for my guests.”
“You often handcuff them?” I half way smile.
He blinks. “Yes. If they are willing.”
“So… I’m your… sex guest?”
“No. But yes,” he says all too quickly, “It’s just a ruse.”
My eyelids feel heavy, stinging in the way that suggests that I’ve cried, even though no tears have left my eyes. I don’t have time to cry over my situation or to ponder what’s between me and Lincoln. Not today. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week. Who knows how long I’ll be a guest of the Iron Court for?
“Why do we have to lie to your mother?”
Kai takes a tentative step forward, then shakes his head as if rethinking and steps back once again. “May I join you?” he finally asks.
“Yeah.”
“Yeah.” He mimics my plain accent, taking away from his beautifully smooth one. “That sounds so… churlish.”
“You forget I wasn’t raised as royalty.” I run my fingers through the fur underneath me.
Quietly, with the tails of his fine suit jacket trailing behind him, he walks through the living space and up to the bed. He stops with many feet still between us, examining me before he looks over the room.
“OurMotherdoes not take kindly to Shadow Fae. She has little love for Lincoln, or patience for that matter. As a human, full blooded and ignorant, you’re welcome for play. It’s quite common amongst royalty to take in human subs. Why else do you think so many Shadow Fae exist?”
I swallow. So that’s the kind of partner Kai is. Though, I try not to think too hard on it, I glance back at the handcuffs then down to the foot of the bed where I find two more.
