Page 4 of The Iron Fae
“My father, though, he is of lesser power than Mother, the weight of the court’s decisions do not fall on him. He has found love in his heart for Lincoln, a child that is not even his.”
“He seemed nice enough.” I think back to our brief encounter in the pocket realm.
“Yes, I suppose.” Kai’s eyes fall to near slits, his shoulders relaxing as he breathes out the effects of the Reminints.
“Will Violet say anything?”
He looks back up to me, his face riddled with confusion as if he forgot I was even in the room at all. “No. No, most certainly not. However, it would be naïve of us to assume that she won’t use the ruse to her advantage or for her entertainment.” Kai sways on his feet for a moment before he perks up. “I’ll leave you for some rest. Do you need anything before I go? I could call for whatever you’d like. As my guest my offerings to you will not be hindered and you’ll find yourself without want or need any longer.”
“I…no. I’m okay.”
He stares. “You don’t feel safe?”
My fingers curl into my palm. It’s not that I don’t feel safe it’s just that this entire new realm is theunknown.
“I’ll be okay. I’m just nervous.”
His shining shoes drag forward, his head tilted as he examines my facial expression. With now steady hands he reaches behind him pulling something from the back of his pants. As he brings it to the light, I realize it’s a small dagger. He tosses the blade in the air, perfectly balancing the point in his fingertips as he offers me the hilt. Purple stones and black stones alike shine along the handle.
“For you, to ease some of your worry.” He lets me delicately take it from him. I balance it in my palms. Kai turns toward the door walking a few steps before he pauses and looks back at me.
I pull my gaze from the weapon, cold and hard in my grasp.
“Please, don’t use it on me.” His face goes blank. “I’m trusting you as you must trust me.”
Two
Rag Doll
The hiltof the blade still rests in my palm. Every stone buried in the magnificent weapon’s metal is also pressed into my skin, leaving behind their marks. Still, I can’t bring myself to release my tight hold. It’s my only defense.
Sleep hasn’t come much in the night. The large bed, with its many blankets and covers still feels cold. Every noise is a new danger that makes my eyes flutter open only to stare at the door that never opens. It’s not particularly safe to sleep with a sharp dagger in the bed, but it feels safer than having to take the time to reach for it.
My eyes feel groggy, sleep begging my body to give in, but my mind keeps racing. I don’t want to think. I want just a moment to be numb and lost to the feelings that make my chest tight and my heart ache that much more. Maybe that’s too much to ask.
Sunlight filters through the purple windows casting the royal color across the room. The fire has long since turned to embers.
I roll to my stomach. Stretching, I point the knife at the still dangling handcuffs. With a flick of my wrist, the blade slips into the cuff. I let it drop with a quietclankagainst the black rails. It’s a bewildering thought. Never in my years, or in the short time that I’d known Kai, would I suspect him to be that type of man. Now that I know it, I can totally see it. It’s always the quiet ones.
A brief knock sounds at the door. With a sharp inhale, I push myself up and turn to face the door, still under the covers. The dagger presses against the bed, the point of the blade poking a hole into the sheets underneath me.Damn it.
“Yes?” I call. My answer is pointless though as the door swings open at the exact moment Rowan breezes in followed by Kai.
“I told him not to barge in,” Kai sighs.
“I told my brother that you and I are on a first name basis and the pleasantries are unnecessary.” Rowan drops himself onto the sofa. He looks at the ashy fireplace with a frown. Snapping his fingers, a full flame fire roars inside the hearth casting its glow across the floor and onto his smudged boots.
“Good morning to you too.” I say, placing the dagger in my lap.
“See? She is still a lady.” Kai fiddles with the buttons of his silver suit. “Good morning, Briar.” He breathes, clearly exasperated by his brother, and gestures toward the still open door. “Breakfast?”
A thin boned servant girl, with thin straight hair hanging around her round face, tiptoes into the room holding a bed tray. Steam rolls off the food, fanning behind her like her own personal storm cloud. She takes careful steps down into the living space and then back up toward the bed. Kai follows her, frowning at Rowan as he passes.
As they reach the bedside the girl looks down at the knife in my lap then up to my face. She repeats the questioning look until Kai steps beside her with a tense smile.
“You won’t be needing that for breakfast.” He plucks the weapon from my hand and sets it against the bedside table, allowing the servant to set the bed tray across my lap before she darts away. “We have actual silverware for you to use that would be easier than cutting your eggs with a family heirloom.”
“It seems you have more than one brother eating out of the palm of your hand, Briar.” Rowan sings, picking at his nails.
