The Iron Fae: A Sexy Paranormal Romance Fae Series (The Twisted Crown Book 2)

by A. K. Koonce

  "Don't pretend like you aren't envious."

  This time, for once, it isn't me who trembles. A shiver passes down Lincoln's spine and he straightens. His hands never leave my hips, though I fully expect him to step away from me. Lincoln is always putting distance between us when he thinks I'll make him vulnerable.

  "I think you two are lovely together." His smile widens giving me the view of his perfectly white teeth. It's a feline smile. Smooth but deadly, like the careful steps of a killer. The only difference is that I'm no longer the victim. He is, he just doesn't know it yet.

  I see you're still playing the same old games, Lincoln.

  "We're... friends." I clasp my hands over his, guiding them up over the curve of my body.

  Don't tease me, Briar.

  "In the same way you and I are friends?" His jaw is tight, his stare tensely set on my face.

  "Do you think I'd let Kai touch me like this?"

  His palms, much rougher than his brothers, catch on the fabric of the bra. Our hands graze over my breasts and then slip back down over my waist. Lincoln's Adam's apple bobs.

  "I wouldn't expect you to wait around for me. Kai's a great match. It'd make my mother proud to see you two together."

  "I have no intentions of marrying for power or to please some other court."

  Lincoln tilts his body back, his chin lifting with an amused chuckle. It's all a game. Love is like chess to him. I wrap my fingers around his wrist, squeezing tightly in frustration.

  "You're drunk on your new Fae abilities," there's a venomous hiss to his words as he rips his hands away. He rubs at his wrists, red from my grip.

  Did I really squeeze so tight I left a mark? The red fades quickly, but the image is somehow burned into my mind’s eye. I don't know my own strength.

  "Or I know what I want."

  I shove by him, letting our shoulders collide. My wings fan over him as I pass. I smile to myself, recognizing that hitting that steel frame body of his didn't make me feel as delicate and fragile as it normally does. His attention snags on the sheer blue skin of my wings.

  Knowing I have a drawer full of mortal clothes, and needing a connection to my humanity I head for my dresser. Before I'm drunk on my new Fae abilities. I mock his words in my head, uncaring on if he hears or not.

  No steps chase after me. No sulky or sarcastic remarks follow me into the next room. Lincoln’s presence is still there inside my head, listening with intention

  "Why did you come, Lincoln?" I shove my legs into a pair of dark jeans. When my legs poke out the bottom, I stare down at them.

  Highwaters. I sure as hell got taller.

  I growl, letting it rumble in my chest the way I'd heard Lincoln do before. It vibrates deep in my ribcage and rattles in my bones. Lincoln fists his hands at the sound. I can't see the man, but I can feel the way he wants to throw all his restraint out the window and gather me up in a tender kiss before he flings me to the bed and rips my clothes off.

  "I thought my intention was clear. I was worried."

  "Because I'm your investment, to get out of living under Cordelia's rule?" I accuse.

  Lincoln takes a large step out of the bathroom. He watches, scrubbing at his not-quite-beard as I unbutton my pants and shimmy out of them. Fae clothes it is. So I walk by him again, I'll make him chase me all around this damn guest suite today. I roll my eyes at the expanse of the closet.

  There’s an entire rainbow of clothes here and any other girl would be swooning at the possibilities. They're exhausting. I reach for red, loving the way it catches Lincoln's thoughts.

  "No," he grumbles.

  His steps make the floorboards creak. He doesn't move toward me, but away, into the living space.

  "No?" I say with mock surprise.

  "I was fucking worried," he whispers. My new Fae hearing catches it with ease.

  "And why would you be worried?"

  "I thought we already established that I care about you. Why are you making me say it? Why do we need to say it?"

  He’s so insufferable! Would his little Iron Fae heart stop beating entirely if an ounce of compassion snuck out of his cruel mouth?

  "I just need to know the answer." I tug the outfit, a corseted number that matches the undergarments splendidly, showing them off through the sheer material. Thick red fabric falls like a waterfall from the hips leaving the front open, though my legs are still covered by pants. So it's more like a pantsuit, I suppose. Even if the Fae acted like they didn’t know that that was not so long ago.

  I pause not sure how my new wings are supposed to fit into the garment… or not fit? Will I need an entirely new wardrobe?

  Lincoln’s sigh carries into my mind. Relax the muscle. Consciously think about relaxing your wings.

  Closing my eyes, I focus on releasing the tension in each of my muscles. I sway as I focus solely on my back and the wings sprouting from it. After a moment they curl against my skin, flattening over my shoulders and hugging my hips once again. I blink my eyes open and carefully pull the outfit all the way up.

  Well that’s handy. And will work well to hide my wings when I need to… which might be all the time until I can manage the whole Cordelia situation.

  And in this pant suite, I do feel rather business-y. Or really, like I'm ready to take care of business. Will the fondest of my new abilities, the parts of me that make me feel like I can take on the world, eventually wear off? Or will I feel like this forever? I hope it lasts forever. Instead of for the moment.

  "Why do you care about me? Why do you care what happens to me?" I hold the pieces to my body and stroll into the living space.

  Lincoln is spread out in a single seat, his legs relaxed and parted, his arms hanging against the armrests. His rolled-up sleeves reveal his vascular forearms. He clutches the side of the chair, making the veins in his hands swell. My eyes fall to stare.

  "Zip me up?" I bat my eyes.

  He stands. Blowing out a long breath, he grabs the zipper, pulling it up. As it zooms smoothly up the fabric, over my wings, he whispers, "You'll be the death of me."

  "Or I'll be your saving grace." I twist and snatch up the extra fabric of his shirt making him press against me again. There is a boldness in the way he doesn't hide the bulge that's stiffening inside his pants. It only makes me want him more.

  The classic Lincoln smirk tilts one half of his smile. "I'm always up for a good debate."

  "You're avoiding the question."

  "So is this where I'm supposed to admit that I'm madly in love with you?" He teases his nose along the edge of mine.

  Madly. He’s always madly. Madly in love might be a nice change.

  "The very least you could do is allude to it."

  Lincoln wiggles his brows but doesn't respond. Gently, he pulls one finger at a time off of his shirt. Then drops himself back into the chair.

  "I don't know, I seem to fancy this mystery between us." He fiddles with his collar and the wrinkles I've created in his shirt with a frown. “Will they or wont they be together…? That’s the question.”

  "You fancy making me insane is what you do." I storm back into the closet snatching up a matching pair of heels. I mumble curses of how frustrating men are as I seat myself across from Lincoln and strap them on. Once I'm thoroughly uncomfortable, I cross my legs and stare back at him.

  "You look a little tense." His eyes fall half-hooded

  "Let me guess, you'd be willing to help me release some more energy? As if it has anything to do with my powers and not the growing need inside your pants?"

  "Actually, releasing the energy of your pent-up sexual needs and desires is directly related to how well you're able to handle the magic. Why do you think we Fae treat sex as we do? We are not stuffy and stiff humans. You are no longer human."

  The stuffy and stiff human side of me is more stubborn than anything. "I think, I won't be letting you help me release that sort of energy until you openly admit your feelings."

  And stop fucking with mine.r />
  "What feelings, again?" He pinches his brows together, feigning confusion, before his tongue slides over his teeth and he grins again.

  I purse my lips. "Two can play at this game."

  "Eh, I don't know. I'm not sure I'm into playing as you do." Lincoln rises from his chair. "Well, I best be on my way."

  "You're leaving?" I jump too quickly from my seat.

  He looks me up and down, knowingly. "I've got responsibilities to return to in the Shadow Court. I've got to make sure it doesn't fall apart. I'm doing this for you." He tucks my hair behind my ear. "Wouldn't want you taking your Court back and finding it in utter disarray." His broad back faces me as he moves quietly across the room.

  "As your future queen I have two questions."

  He swivels on his toes, bowing without dropping our eye contact. "Yes, my queen?" His words are a rasp of a sound.

  Wow. Why did I just shiver so hard?

  "How's Jase?"

  "Oh," he says, "he's doing well. I've checked in with him a time or two and he's basically spent the entire time complaining that he misses you and asking me personal questions about my brothers. So... same old Jase, I guess."

  I smile softly. Same old Jase. God, I miss him. "I'll see him soon through, right?"

  "Yes. Now that you have your powers, I'd say it's about damn time we start making some real moves. You're not so fragile anymore." He adds the last part a bit more quietly than the rest. "You... ah, had a second question?"

  "Well, this isn't so much a question as it is a request."

  He hums, bouncing on his feet as he waits.

  "Don't put up your wall anymore."

  Lincoln freezes.

  "I want... I want to be a part of your day and I want you to be a part of mine. Share your thoughts with me and quit blocking me out."

  "... it's for your own good. And mine."

  He’s making me insane.

  "No." I shake my head. "You don't get to decide what's good for me and what's not anymore. It's my job to create those boundaries for myself."

  He nods, just once, almost robotically.

  "Is that it?"

  "Yes."

  Lincoln pockets his hands, escorting himself out of the room without a second glance. The door closes behind him, the wall he's put up so often slams into place. I blink at the roughness of the feeling. It's like he's a fucking teenager and I've just told him to come out of his bedroom for once and he's pissed about it.

  I laugh lightly to myself, but it quickly fades as I become aware of the muddle of feelings Lincoln had waiting on the other side of the wall. Desire and want, drowned out by dedication and tradition, are all buried under a deep past of hurt and sorrow. It slams against my chest stealing away every ounce of breath.

  It hurts. Being in Lincoln's head might actually destroy me, if I let it.

  Fifteen

  Small Talk About Big Things

  There isn't anything left to do alone in my room but fret. I'm chewing on my nails, trying to sort through Lincoln's mind. His thoughts are there, but awfully silent as he notices my presence. He only grows slightly more distant as he reaches the Shadow Court and busies himself with work. A distraction.

  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 a friend over 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 being pleased, 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.

  Balancing the plate of food, the servant offers me a chair. I sweep my long skirt under me, adjusting myself next to Kai,
content to not be sitting directly across from Violet. Kai's pen still remains on his scroll and stays there until I pick up my fork. The movement somehow reminds him that he too should be holding something.

  "On top of all the pressure mother's giving us, your presence has got her panties in a new sort of bunch. I had to listen to her all morning complaining about having a human in our castle. Well now, she'll be complaining about Shadow Fae later, I'm sure."

  "I don't understand." I shuffle the vegetables around on my plate. "Aren't you all adults? Why do you have tutors and such? Isn't your schooling over?"

  "No." The princess snorts.

  "I wish." Rowan says under his breath.

  Kai looks from his sister, to his brother, and slowly back to me. "Our main schooling is done, yes. But it's pretty traditional for us to have continued learning until we take our place on a throne one day."

  "And if you don't ever get a throne?"

  "Ug. I don't want to think about that." Rowan slaps his hands over his face, dragging his features down.

  "Then the learning and improvement never stops," Prince Kai adds softly. "As annoying as it is... it's good for us."

  "Such the traditionalist," Violet growls.

  I look down to my plate, admiring the thick cut of steak glazed over with butter. The smells drift up to my face, making my stomach scream in hunger. I push my fork into the meat and slice a bite off popping it into my mouth after only a second of blowing on it. It scorches my tongue as imagined, but the feeling dies quickly.

  I'm healing. I think with revelation.

  Being a human had so many downfalls, huh? Lincoln's voice fills my mind.

  I jump in my seat. I'm quick to scold myself, I'm the one who demanded he be present with me and to let me be present with him and yet here I am surprised that he's acknowledged a thought. Perhaps, I'm the idiot. I mentally face-palm.

  "Let me guess, Lincoln." Violet coos, lifting her embroidery ring. She scowls at me, then offers a much wearier expression to her sewing. "Tell my brother," she pushes the needle through the fabric aggressively. "That he left and if he wanted to spend time with you he should have stayed. I'm not sure why he even bothers. He doesn't stand a chance with you."