Page 9 of The Iron Fae
“Okay.” The Prince scoffs before calling to his brother. “Kai, we’ve brought you a sexy little toy.”
“I’ll pretend as if it’s necessary for you to call her that when no one else is around. But I’m sure our Mortal Queen would enjoy just an ounce more of respect.” Kai pinches his nose between his index finger and his thumb.
My boots have long since been replaced with what I would consider stripper heels. They’re far too tall, and the heel far too skinny for my incoordination. I shuffle forward.
Kai blinks, letting go of his nose. He looks from me to his siblings then back to me, swallowing hard.
“Playing the part well? Right, brother?” Rowan purrs, melting against the door as it closes behind him.
Kai adverts his gaze back down to his desk. “You look stunning. Absolutely playing into the ruse.”
“Do you not like it?” It’s almost a hopeful question. If it doesn’t please him then maybe I could slip into something that’s actually more comfortable.
His eyes pan from my feet slowly up to my face. The right side of his mouth edges up into a smirk. “It’s perfect.”
Double damn it.
“Now that we have your keeper’s approval, perhaps I can give her a tour?” Rowan suggests.
“What are you doing?” I say quickly, stepping closer to Kai’s desk.
His hand rests with a pen pressed to a long document that he scribbles over. A few books are stacked together, one propped open against the pile with a feather stuffed between the pages. Kai drops the pen and runs his hand over his outfit. It’s less flashy than usual, a dull brown jacket over a cream-colored billowing blouse.
“I’m about to leave for a little hunt with a few Dukes bidding for my attention.”
“I love to hunt,” I rush to say. Then I try not to scrunch up my face with the rotten feeling of the lie afterwards.
Kai leans back in his chair, both hands flat against the desk. Violet looks appalled at the very idea and Rowan arches a skeptical brow.
“It would look good for our ruse for me to come along, yes?”
“I mean, yes. If it pleases you so, who am I to decline the offer of being in your presence?” Kai stands, accessing my outfit in a new scrutinous way. “You’ll have to sit side saddle.”
I’m not even sure I know how to get up on a horse by myself. But sure, I can hang off the side of one and not fall off. How hard can it be?
“I can do that.”
“You’d rather go for a hunt than tour the castle?” Rowan drawls.
“I’ll be here plenty long enough for you to give me the grand tour. Right? We can go tomorrow.”No offense, Rowan, but I’m desperate for an escape. Every second spent with you and Violet feels like a dangerous opportunity for one of you to pick the meat off my bones.
“Tour tomorrow, then,” Kai confirms. He brushes back a loose strand of blonde hair from his face and smiles weakly. “So scurry along now, you two surely have something better you could be doing right now.” He waves off his siblings.
Violet may have something better to do, and she seems unaffected by the dismissal as she slides out the door. Rowan, on the other hand, he seems to have nothing but time available to him. Rowan’s face falls to a neutral expression. He stuffs his hands into the pocket of his long jacket and walks out the door.
I let loose a sigh.
“So did you hunt much in the human realm?” Kai looks down as he speaks. He reaches under his desk, pulling a brown leather belt around his waist. The hilt of a long sword pats against his hip, the blade within the sheath bouncing against his thigh.
“Yeah, all the time.”
“Yeah.” He mimics my accent like the night before. From under his long lashes he shoots me an impish grin.
“I mean, yes.”
Veins in his neck pop out a little as he shrugs out of his jacket. He tugs open a drawer, revealing a baldric he buckles across his chest, another smaller blade protruding from it.
“We use guns.” I clear my throat. I’m familiar with guns. I’ve taken a couple different courses and learned the particular one I keep well enough to take it apart and put it back together. Still, the basics of owning a firearm.
