Page 40 of The Iron Fae
"Ooooo," He inhales through his teeth. "Why must you always play hard to get like that? You know I just want what’s best for my queen."
"If you keep talking like that I'm going to throw up in my mouth." I turn back to him and roll my eyes. "And seriously, quit looking at my ass!"
"Some things just can't be helped, Briar."
"Well soon I'm not going to be able to help the foot that meets your balls."
Kai laughs. It's the most I've heard out of him since the Spirit.
Finally, the trees split enough that I'm able to see the cave’s mouth up ahead. It's enough to motivate me to move faster. It's the last little bit I have to make and then I can rest. I didn't pack anything to sleep with...I remember.Oops.But I won't say anything out loud because then Rowan will just tell me that I can sleep with him. As if that does me any good.
Kai notices the increase in my pace and moves faster too, and much swifter. He slings the backpack from his shoulders and chucks it into the cave, pulling himself up onto the rock. This isn't too tall for me this time. I cling to the edge and my boots scamper up the side. Rolling ungracefully, I topple into the cave. Rowan's already inside when I sit up.
I melt back down onto the cave floor. Everything in this forest is just covered in its own sweat. Even the surface of the rock, cushioned by a thin layer of moss, makes my clothing damp with more than just my perspiration. I lift my arms over my head, trying to stretch myself out. Both men are pulling things out of their bags and when I think neither are looking, I take a big whiff of my underarm.
Ripe. Definitely not fresh. Lovely.
Then there is another smell. I'm certain isn't me. I turn away from my own body odor and sniff the breeze as it passes the mouth of the cave. Lavender.
I shoot upright, blood rushing painfully to my head. "I smell lavender."
"What?" Rowan says slowly. "All I smell is you."
"You better mean that in a very wonderful way," I snap at him even though I'm very aware of how utterly awful I reek myself. "No, I smell lavender. It's what I smelled when the Wishing Spirit was near."
Kai sniffs the air and Rowan follows suit.
"I don't smell anything." Rowan says again.
Kai moves past his brother, dropping his bag at his feet. He walks beyond me, extending himself as far as he can without teetering off the edge. I watch, unable to move.
His soft chuckle breaks the following silence.
At least this is laughable for him.
"There actually is a small lavender patch. It’s a little out of sort for the area but I have a feeling it is some sort of spell. I'm sure the seer uses lavender every now and again."
I flatten myself back against the cave floor. Kai walks with loud steps as he goes back to his bag. Every movement he makes is deliberate and somehow there is a comfort in knowing that he wants me aware of where he is at all times. Rowan walks smoother, it's harder to pick up the sound of his movement.
"Water?" Rowan offers.
I open my eyes and find him sitting with his legs folded underneath him, not even a foot away. He holds out a small metal container. The humidity clings to my skin, I can even taste it in the back of my throat. But still, my body craves the water. I've probably sweated out half my body weight on the way up here.
With a thankful smile, I reach for the canister. As my fingers brush his he pulls it away.
"Ah, ah, ah," he teases, "I'll let you have a sip if you give me a kiss."
"Fuck off, Rowan!" I push myself further away.
He inches himself closer. "Just a little peck on the cheek. You've already kissed me once, what's the big deal?"
"I'm not using my body to make bargains with you." I give him my darkest stare and pray that it burns some sort of hole into his soul. Rowan is like that creepy friend you have that just never gets the hint. Take the damn hint, Rowan!
"What if--"
Rowan shoots upright, his toes scraping against the floor to find purchase. Kai's hands are wrapped in the fabric of his shirt pulling it away from Rowan's thick chest.
"I have had it! That's enough. If I knew that I was going to have to listen to you harass my guest the entire trip I would have left you at home." Kai's nose hovers just a hair away from Rowan's. His gaze squints as he focuses on his brother. Maybe I'm not the only one who wants to burn a hole into his soul...
