Page 12 of The Poison of the Earth
She snorts but holds her tongue.Smart lady.
I continue, “I need a room prepared for them. I cannot insult them, nor do I want them to put on airs, so the location and size should be considered.”
“You really didn’t trust me to have this done without personally speaking with me?”
“I am a cautious man,” I reply as I spread my hands.
“Perhaps too much,” she mutters.
I arch a brow but decide not to bother. “Right then. I’ll be off.” I stand and slip out without another word.
I’m halfway to the south wing, where Allie’s rooms are, when Kai steps out of nowhere. The man is damn near silent, which one wouldn’t expect of a fire Fae. But he had two of the best teachers, as I did.
“Kai,” I start, as he strides towards me. “I—”
My words are cut off as his mouth is pressed to mine. His tongue is in my mouth and my hands wrap around his waist instinctively. His hands rise and one cups the back of my head.
I pull away from his kiss, panting.
He speaks before I can, “Why are you avoiding me, love?” His one hand plays in my hair and his eyes are tender.
“I’m not. Just busy.”
“You lie. This is about that silly maid, isn’t it?” He arches a dark red eyebrow.
I sigh, “No.”
“You’re an awful liar, Lonan.”
“Only to you. You know every part of me, Kai.” I lean my forehead against his as my fingers tighten.
He grunts. “Glad you think so. Your rooms or mine?” His lips find my neck as he tugs back my hair.
I gasp out, “Mine.”
Do I have time for dick right now? Not really. Do I give a fuck? Not at all.
Chapter Six
Oleander
Not long after Lonan’s visit, a maid enters my rooms.
Her fluffy tail swishes happily as she holds out my folded dresses. “Hi! I’m Lu! You’re to get dressed and follow me.”
I smile, her enthusiasm infectious. “Ok, Lu. That sounds great. I’m Allie. Just give me a sec?”
She nods and I slip into the bathroom, quickly giving myself a wipe down and slipping into my dress. I smooth down the navy fabric as I get my persona in place.I cannot fuck this up.
I step back in the room and Lu has her back to me. My eyes catch again on her tail.Some type of fox,I’d reckon. It makes me feel good about Thistle Grove; that a shifter would be comfortable enough to keep to their half-shifted form.
When the Veil Stones failed, we had just started to use human science to learn more about ourselves. Turns out, the reason shifters could only procreate with other shifters was simple: they have a different number of chromosomes than the rest of the Fae do. The reasonwhywasn’t found before we were cut off. But the realization did what any familiar with humanity would expect: those who already hated shifters used this information as further support for their hatred. And the fact that humans could interbreed with any Fae, shifters included, caused those who saw no differences in the Fae to use that as further proof that we’re all related.
It’s rather a moot point now. King Alder has been persecuting shifters for decades. Only Guivre Shores stands inopen opposition to his positions. Most likely because their ruling family are dragon shifters. Most essentials ignore the blatant attacks on shifters, as they are safe.Or currently are safe, anyway.
Lu grins at me as she turns and leads me out into the hall and down the wing. My sense of the keep is minimal but I believe we’re headed back towards the hall where I had breakfast with Lonan and his closest advisors.
Lu starts to chat, “So, that there is the staff office, that is where you can find the laundry, those doors there are all guest rooms. Both this floor and the second floor have big closets with cleaning supplies and linens.”
