Page 57 of The Iron Fae
I should do the same.
My heels click with a newfound determination and strength. Even I'm not blind to the confidence this power is bringing me. As I'm reflecting, I push through the dining hall doors that have been closed. It's not exactly meal time, but I sure as heck am starving.
I stop when I enter, shocked to find all three of Lincoln's siblings stretched out in different positions at the dining room table. They leave many seats between one another. In the middle of the table, there is a small tray of fruit, a snack that appears as if they've already picked at.
Kai and Violet both turn to look back at me. Rowan's eyes don't even crack open. There's a book, face down, with the pages fanning out to hold his spot on the table next to his feet. He's angled in his seat, with his arms tucked behind his head, gently snoring. Though it's clear that he isn't supposed to be napping right now.
Violet drops the small embroidery she was working on. Kai sets down his pen from the long scroll he's marking on in front of him.
"Briar!" Violet says, oddly cheerful.
"I'm surprised to find you all in here. Lincoln left and I was just hungry so I thought I would stop by and see if I could get a meal." I finally let go of the doors and let them swing shut behind me, then tug the slight cream-colored jacket I found up over my shoulders to hide my wings.
"Of course, you're probably starving!" Kai waves a servant toward the kitchen. They scuttle out without question.
"You look so different!" The princess squeals, jumping out of her seat.
I take a step away, my back hitting the doors. "You're in an oddly good mood..."
"She had afriendover last night." Rowan finally cracks an eye, letting it drift quickly back closed. "They were up all night long fucking so loud I didn't catch a minute’s rest."
"Shut up, you oversized squirrel. Do you know how many times I had to listen to your pets screech as if you were killing them? Those are not the sounds of women beingpleased, Rowan. You hire very bad actresses."
Rowan snorts but doesn't respond. Kai's cheeks redden as he listens. "Must you two fight in front of our guest like that? You don't have to show her the worst sides of you. Though I'm certain Rowan has made it his mission to scare Briar away."
"You don't need to come to my aid. It's fine." I intertwine my hands in front of me.
“You’re right. I vividly remember you handling yourself well enough on our trip.” Kai bites into his lip looking from me to Rowan.
"I'm just happy," Violet grimaces, "to not be working on that damn embroidery anymore. This is the perfect excuse to take a break!"
"Why are you all working in here?"
Violet stands in front of my view of the other two, examining me. Though, Kai still speaks around her. "We're hiding. Together."
"Mom's in full force today and our tutors have some pressure from her, so they are being painfully annoying." Violet clarifies, lifting a strand of my hair and spreading it out on her fingertips. "It's so... metallic."
"Kai and Lincoln told me I didn't look any different."
Violet barks a laugh and shoots Kai a disapproving look over her shoulder. She flicks her long black hair behind her, crinkling her nose. "My brothers are idiots who pay no attention to anything. You'd think from the way they've stared at you since you arrived from the Mortal Realm that they would notice differences as vast as these." She looks me up and down, sneering, "Dumb twits."
"I'd say, 'play nice', but I'm too shocked to pretend as if I care."
"You're taller too!" Violet snaps her fingers. "Wow, I can sort of see the whole 'Mortal Queen of endless beauty' now. Sort of." She squints at me. "If I turn my head just right and allow my vision to go all fuzzy."
"I'll take that as a compliment, I guess."
"You're fucking blind, Violet." Rowan sighs. "I bet if she tried, Briar could pull more men than you on your best night."
"Doubtful, but she would give me a run for my money, I suppose,now."
It's a fight not to roll my eyes at her.
The Princess pinches the fabric of my small cardigan and lifts it up from my shoulder. “No!” she squeals, dropping the material and covering her mouth with both of her hands. “You have wings! I haven’t seen wings on a Fae since Cordelia went on her lunatic spree. No wonder you paired such a lovely dress with a cloth like that.”
Rowan leans forward as if he wants to stand and take a peek at my new body part too, but his interest quickly dies with one stern glance from his brother.
A servant, clad in a pressed black uniform, emerges from the kitchen holding a steaming plate saving me from having to retort. Violet dismisses me in a sweep of her hands, but her gaze follows me.
