Page 13 of Fate and Flame
She looked from me to Kai, and he shrugged. “She can out hunt me, trust me. If she’s starving, it’s her own fault.”
“Can you really?” the king asked, moving to sit beside me.
“Kai talks so much he scares away the animals,” I answered.
This was quite possibly the most casual and informal family dinner I had ever seen outside of my own home, but it was such a welcomed surprise. I had imagined the king in a thousand different ways. I wished I could hate him. It would make my fate simpler. But he was kind and lovable, and that made everything more difficult.
Loti sat a heaping plate of roasted boar, fried agraroots, and various fruits before me, and I didn’t hesitate to dig in. Greeve smiled and added more to my plate. Once full, I sat back and finally took the time to notice that he and Kai cleaned up pretty well. They certainly smelled better. Greeve wore all black and his clean hair was tied behind him with new leather.
“Shopping tomorrow?” Wren asked as she stood and moved across the table to stand next to Kai.
“She’s already got plans.” Fen strode into the room and slipped a hand around my bare stomach “You’re stunning,” he whispered, kissing my neck.
Wren slammed her hand on a counter. “Damnit Fen, you don’t get to keep her locked up in your room anymore. You have to share.”
“Anymore?” Tolero asked, pinning his son with a stare.
“Don’t ask,” the others said in unison.
I looked at Fen, but he hadn’t taken his eyes from me.Where were you?
“We have a new guest. She claims she comes from the Wind Court and she offered a large amount of information on King Autus. I had to debrief her. I’m sorry I’m late.”
“Is she hot?” Kai asked, not missing a beat.
“What is wrong with you?” Loti smacked him in the back of the head.
“Ow,” he mock whined until Loti’s cheeks pinkened.
“He truly is just as whiny as I thought.” I shared a smirk with Greeve.
“What’s the plan with the new girl?” Greeve asked as Fen stepped away to make his own plate.
The Flame Court continued to surprise me. If Coro could order someone to blink for him, he would have. Fen took care of himself. They all did.
“Not sure yet. I thought maybe Wren and Sabra might take her to the others?” He looked to Wren.
“Sure. Tomorrow, if that’s okay. I’m going home and sleeping until midday.”
“That’s fine. She has magic. Just so you know.”
“What’s her gift?” I shifted the delicious food around my plate, too full to take another bite.
“She calls it spiriting. It seems similar to Greeve’s ability.”
“Feline eyes?” I asked.
He nodded.
I’ve seen her with him.
Me too.
“We’ll have to be careful. She could be a spy.” Greeve leaned his arms on the counter, the delicate breeze he commanded stilling.
“She knows about the rebels but claims she isn’t one. Let’s worry about it tomorrow.”
The king simply ate his dinner and listened to the conversation like it was music to his ears. Smiling as he watched his son take full charge.
