Sometimes his ability to read me freaks me out.
“Fine,” I agree with a huff. “You first, though.”
A grin splits his face when he says, “I’ve earned my spot on the throne. I’ll be crowned king within the next fortnight.”
My stomach drops. “You found her? Your mate?”
I rarely ask about that anymore. In the past, curiosity has gotten the best of me. I used to question him constantly about his soul mate. Then I realized I don’t want to know the answer.
Someday, he’ll stop coming here.
Maybe today is the last time I’ll ever see him.
I’m about to start crying again when he replies, “No.”
I can’t stop the whoosh of air leaving my lungs.
I shouldn’t be relieved. Kirian didn’t just end up being my friend—he became my best friend. Best friends are supposed to wish good things for each other. I should want him to fall in love and get his eyesight back.
I’m a selfish jerk. “They’ll let you be king without a queen? I thought that was frowned upon.”
“Frowned upon, but not illegal. The curse has made things difficult, but we can’t let the kingdom suffer for it. My father is tired, and he needs a successor. I’ll be a great ruler, with or without a queen.”
“I know you will.” Forgetting to feel sorry for myself, I smile along with him. “I’m proud of you. Congratulations.”
Kirian lifts his arms again, inviting me in, and I can’t resist anymore. I go to him, wrapping my arms around his torso while pressing my head to his sternum. His steady heartbeat is loud under my ear, and it’s a comforting sound.
“What’s this?” When he tries to stroke my hair, he finds exactly what I was wanting to hide.
“This morning—” Sniff “—on the bus, the kids behind me took turns spitting gum in my hair. I had to go home so my mom could try to get it out, but there was so much of it. The only solution was to chop my hair off. My hair was one of the only pretty things about me, and now it’s gone. I’m hideous.”
I burst into sobs, and my tears soak Kirian’s shirt while he pets my head. The stylist tried to keep it as long as possible, but I still look like a boy.
“Those striking bastards,” Kirian cusses.
Since we’re so close, the strong spark from the forbidden word ignites against my cheek.
“Ouch.” My hand goes up to the spot.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry.” Backing up to cup my jaw, he frantically rubs my face with his thumb to take away the sting. “Tell me who these criminals are,” he demands, his tone hard. “Fae hair is very precious. Damaging or stealing it is a punishable offense in my kingdom.”
His rage and threats pull a genuine laugh from me. “I’m not a fae, but thanks anyway. That’s not how it works here. My mom is going to talk to their moms. They might wish for an execution by the time she’s done with them, though.”
Kirian grunts out a dissatisfied sound as his fingers flit down to the straps of my dress. “And what are you wearing?”
“Tonight is the homecoming dance at school,” I answer, miserable as I look down at the pink glitter and tulle. “I was planning to go, but I can’t with my hair looking like this.”
I only put on the gown to appease my mom. She spent a lot of money on it and she’d convinced herself she could talk me into going to the dance if I felt pretty.
Well, wearing a two-hundred-dollar dress only enhances how out of place my head looks on my body.
Hard pass.
Kirian clears his throat. “You were supposed to go to this ball with a… suitor?”
“A suitor?” I glance up at Kirian’s pinched expression. “Oh, you mean like a date. No. No one asked me. I was just gonna show up by myself. I don’t want to miss out on the fun high school stuff just because people don’t like me.” A fresh wave of wetness fills my eyes when I think of tonight. “I just wanted to be normal. For one night, I wanted to feel like I fit in. That’s obviously not happening. Not now. Not ever. I give up. I’ve already got plans to ask my mom if her homeschooling offer still stands.”
Kirian pulls me in for another hug. “Quinn, you won’t ever be normal. You’re too kind, too smart, and too beautiful to ever be lumped in with those imbeciles.”
“Thanks,” I say. It’s the acceptable response, even if I don’t agree with him.
“Milady, I would be so honored if you would allow me this dance.” When he backs away and offers me his hand, his shirt sleeve rides up.
I gasp when I see a one-inch band of red blisters on his skin. “What happened to your wrist?”
He shrugs. “Iron shackle. Gia challenged me for the crown.”
“Again?”
“And I won.” He grins. “Again, and for the final time.”
Disgusted by the cruelty of Kirian’s own family, I bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from saying something awful.
After knowing him for two and a half years, I still don’t understand the way of the fae. Bloodshed is just a description of a regular Tuesday to them. They’re often violent and ruthless.
I mean, his own sister used iron on him during a fight. You’d think that’d be a big no-no, considering it instantly burns them.
From the sounds of it, Gia’s power hungry. She’s been salivating over the possibility of taking over, but she’s second in line. Kirian’s the rightful heir, by birth and by strength. He’s spent centuries honing his fighting skills. He’s undefeated, despite having only four senses to rely on.
To sum it up, he’s a badass of epic proportions.
My brother and I aren’t close—that’s what happens when there’s a fifteen-year age gap—but I know he loves me. My parents only wanted one child. They planned it, achieved it, and thought they were done. I was the “surprise” my mother never expected
