Page 62 of The Iron Fae
"Yes. Yeah." He says sarcastically, "I just know that this needs to go well and I'm a little nervous. There aren't many people in the streets right now so there aren't many witnesses to our entrance. Though with as beautiful as you look in that white dress, they may mistake you for a bride."
"She looks like a goddess from my angle." Rowan adds from a few steps down.
"Lincoln and Jase should be waiting for us in the basement. The members of the court should be here soon." Kai pulls the French doors open. "You'll have a limited amount of time alone."
Alone. The word drifts into my consciousness for all of three seconds before I suck in a quick breath. The marbling has not only carried up the stairs but it fills the church’s entrance hall. The floor. The walls. All of it is marble. Specs of glitter shine back at us from within the stone as the sunlight follows us in.
This must have cost a fortune to build.
Kai leads me to another, smaller door. Rowan’s boots squeak with every step, they match the beat of my own pulse. The door opens to a small stairwell. It's dark with the exception of the light that comes from under the door at the bottom. There are voices on the other side, too.
"Do I look okay?" Jase's voice is shaky, and I can already picture him fidgeting. It brings a smile to my face.
Lincoln's gruff voice follows, with little amusement. "No one is coming here to meet you. I'm not sure why you're so worried about how you look."
"Isn't your brother going to be here?"
Lincoln chuckles. "He already is."
"What?" Jase's voice raises an octave and his feet shuffle like he is turning toward the door.
I reach for the doorknob. Kai's hand, clammy and cold, collides with mine.
"Allow me," he suggests.
I swallow the butterflies from my stomach that creep up my throat. I let the light of the room pour over me as we leave the last step behind. I don't care to take in the room, or the surroundings, or politely allow Kai to let my hand go. No. All I see is Jase and his large child-like grin as his gaze meets mine. His smile falls, his jaw dropping. I rip my hand away from Kai, and sprint to him.
My cousin quickly collects himself and sweeps me up in his arms. "Holy shit! Briar. Holy shit!" he repeats, "You look amazing. You look so different."
"Same old me." I let go, pulling away and trapping his face between my palms. Giving myself a moment, I look him over from head to toe. Somehow, someone had gotten him into a suit, a nice one at that. It would rival something Kai would wear. "How are you? Are you okay? Cordelia hasn't done anything to you, has she?"
"No, no. Lincoln and Lylix helped me find my own home in Calhutta," Jase gently pulls my hands from his face and cups them between us. "I'm fine. How areyou?You look like a fucking queen."
"She is afucking queen." Lincoln mumbles into a cup, taking a long sip.
I shoot him a look that he eagerly ignores. His brothers walk around us to lean against the same countertop Lincoln has propped himself against.
Jase lifts my chin, tilting my head this way and that. His eyes widen, almost fearful. "You look like you. But you don't look like you. It's...crazy."
"I'm me, I promise. But look…" I undo the clasp of the fur shawl long enough to show off the tip of my wings. Jase’s eyes manage to open even wider and I quickly clasp the shawl again. “Wings,” I whisper, grabbing his arms and giving him a little shake.
“Holy fuck.”
It's hard to not touch him. To hold him. It's been so long that a small part of me is afraid to let him go, that he'll disappear as soon as I do. I squeeze his arms.
"Gentle." He squirms out of my grasp.
"Sorry, I'm getting used to the new strength. I forgot to treat you like you're fragile."
"I'm not fragile."
"Well, you are a little bit." I shrug. "I know you're Shadow Fae but... you're still you."
Jase squints at me. "I think this change may have also gone to your head." He taps his finger against my nose. My lips curl in annoyance. "You're very pretty, Briar, but don't start letting your ego swell."
I laugh, swatting his hand away from me. "Let me step off my high horse." Gently, I straighten his suit. We let a brief silence fall between us, both of us content to let this building feeling of joy layer over us.
Rowan tosses braids over his shoulder, and pushes his way between me and my cousin. He offers two glasses, sloshing with clear, bubbling, liquid. "The court is here." He smiles. "Have a drink, you'll need it."
