Page 59 of The Iron Fae
"The Shadow Fae are my people." I start. "So we won't be talking down to them in my presence any longer. Understand? In fact, I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak about them, the way that you do, at all."
"I'll take it into consideration." The Princess gives me a fake smile.
"Yes, she will." Kai repeats nodding his head. "How about a change of subject?"
I narrow my gaze at Violet, who only relishes in the fact that she's getting under my skin. She may have gotten under Lincoln's too, which is quite unusual for him. Kai reaches from his seat, placing his hand on mine. He strokes his thumb over my skin as he was when I woke up today.
"Briar," he says in a hushed tone directed at me.
It takes me a minute to quit wishing a sudden and painful death for anyone who speaks against my people before I finally turn to look at him. I stare back into his golden gaze.
"What."
"I understand your concern... and the respect that you wish for yourself and your court, but it may take some time for us all to learn how to leash out tongues." His smile tilts upside down as he looks to Violet. "Especially for my sister."
"I'm taking offense to that," she quips.
"You're meant to." Kai lets my hand go and folds his hands across his slim waist as he tilts his head back against his seat.
Rowan roars a laugh, slapping the table. My fork bounces against the metal.
"But we have more relevant things to talk about," Kai says over his brother, who still cackles at his end of the table. "We can set up a meeting, now, with your court. Gives you a chance to meet the higher-ups and the people who will be directly advising you."
"Judging you," Rowan interjects.
Kai closes his eyes, inhaling slowly. It could be that I'm not the only one bothered by his siblings today. When he opens his eyes again, directly meeting my stare, he asks, "What do you think?"
"I think it's time." I sit up a little straighter. "Though it would do me a little good to get familiar with what I can do and how to do it first. I don't want to go in totally unprepared."
"With your magic, you mean?"
"Yes."
"I'm afraid, none of us will be quite qualified for that job. We've never been foreign to our powers. Lincoln might be the better one for the job." Kai sits forward, setting his hands on top of his work.
"Lincoln's not around to help." I grit out.
"Can't you too speak into each other's minds? Do that." Violet juts out her chin.
"It's not the same."
I try my best to relax my jaw, nervous that if I don’t, I'll start shattering my own teeth. Lincoln being in my head is not the same as teaching me. It's just not. I'd learn better in person too. But I also can't keep pushing this off.
Every second I wait, more Fae are terrorized or killed by Cordelia. Any human that wanders in with an unknown lineage is slaughtered. There has to be an end. I will be her end. I mean, maybe she'll step down and we won't have to escalate the issue any more.... but I doubt it.
I shouldn't need protecting from people who want me on the throne anyways. Plus, Kai will be there. Possibly Rowan... okay probably Rowan too.
"Set the meeting." I finally agree. "But one condition..."
"About time you start acting like the queen." Rowan picks at his teeth, smirking at me.
"What's the condition?"
Damn it, Kai is so good at ignoring his siblings, I note. That's something I could use improvement on. I'm sure I'll have to ignore stupid people all the live long day as queen. I just have to think about it like how I made myself distant when I was in a foster home that wasn't so good to me, or one that I was determined not to be good in.
"I want to see Jase first." Not want, I need to. I had to be certain that everything is as they tell me it is. I would not be at ease until I knew he was safe. He's all I have left and I'll protect him till the day I die. Which, seeing as I'm half Fae, probably will be for averylong time.
"I think we can manage that." Prince Kai flattens his hands and pats at the scroll.
