Chapter 28 Spilled Tea
SPILLED TEA
Kairos flung me inside my room.
I stumbled, catching myself against the bed. Water dripped from my ruined dress onto the floor.
“I hate you!”
I grabbed the nearest object, a silver hairbrush, and hurled it at his head.
He caught it, tossing it on the bed.
“I’m leaving this place! I mean it!”
He laughed and threw the satchel at my feet. “You made it all the way to a pond. Impressive.”
“Get out.”
He shot me a look before he left, slamming the door.
I threw myself into the chair by the vanity, fingers trembling as I tore at the buttons of the dress. The beautiful dress Kairos had chosen. I wanted to rip it to shreds.
My reflection stared back at me—wild-eyed, flushed, my lips still swollen from his kiss. I didn’t recognize myself anymore. I’d never been like that with anyone.
What was he doing to me?
I seized the comb and attacked my hair, yanking through the tangles hard enough to sting. Good. I wanted it to hurt. The teeth snagged on a knot and I pulled harder.
His lips had devoured mine. His mouth had been everywhere—sucking at my skin, dragging groans out of me—he was horrible. Everything I despised. Violent, arrogant, crude.
The bastard kissed me. I should’ve bitten his tongue off. Should’ve kneed him in the balls, not arched into his touch like I was starving for it. My stomach twisted. I didn’t even like him, and I’d mounted him like some desperate fool.
Bizarre.
Months ago, I’d wanted Vaeris. Had ached for his approval because I’d loved him. But this—this was different. With Kairos, I’d stopped thinking. I’d acted…like a fae.
I dug my nails into my palms.
The next morning, I was determined.
Stolen maps and supplies would never get me anywhere. I needed leverage. Control. Something that would actually work, but what?
I reached for a lavender dress, pulling it over my head. Every movement sent stabs of pain through my abdomen. Finally dressed, I walked into the hallway.
A fae warrior sprawled over a bench, pink feathers stuck in his hair. Another curled up beneath a windowsill. I stepped around them, heading toward the scent of baked rolls.
Inside the dining hall, Uther lay on the floor. He was half-naked, his arm draping an overturned chair. His tunic was tied around his waist, and his boots were missing.
“Should I alert the healers?” I asked.
He grunted. “Only if they can bring me a new liver.”
“Morning,” Elwen greeted from the table, looking too put together for someone who attended the same party. “Tea?”
“Yes, thank you.”
I sat beside her, reaching for a pastry and wedges of cheese. Elwen pushed a cup toward me, shouting at Uther.
“Are you going to join us or rot there?”
Uther rolled over and hauled himself upright. Yawning, he righted the chair and sat. “Shouldn’t have had that ale from the Southern Isles.”
“Here you go,” she said, handing me a steaming cup. “Steeped in saifan leaves. It helps with hangovers.”
I grabbed the cup. The smell wafting from the steam wasn’t enticing in the least.
Uther sipped his cup, wincing. “That’s foul.”
I swallowed a small mouthful of the extremely bitter tea.
Uther turned, grinning at me. “So, care to explain last night?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, we were speaking with the clan heads,” Elwen said, setting down her teacup. “By the time we returned, you’d already stormed off. Nobody could tell us what actually happened.”
“Just that you seemed upset,” Uther added. “And then Kairos carried you back.”
“Everybody’s talking about it,” Elwen murmured.
I gripped my cup. The jeering echoed in my head. Kairos had paraded me through the keep before tossing me into my room.
Deranged beast.
Uther tipped sausages onto his plate. “Normally, I wouldn’t pry. But scandals don’t usually involve so much water.”
I shoved bread into my mouth, chewing hard. “I went for a walk to cool off.”
“In the dark? Alone?” Elwen pressed.
“I like walks.”
Uther grinned. “You ran, didn’t you?”
I sighed. “It doesn’t matter.”
“So he caught you.” Uther chuckled. “And then what? The whole castle saw him carry you back dripping wet.”
I fumed, shaking my head. “He wouldn’t let me down. He’s a barbarian.”
“Strange,” Elwen said, eating a grape. “Earlier in the evening, you two looked…different. We saw you dancing.”
Uther’s eyes twinkled. “Yeah. The tortured warrior and his stolen human, lost in the moment.”
I groaned. “Can we not?”
Elwen held up her hands. “We’re not judging. It was…sweet.”
Uther snorted. “Until it wasn’t, apparently.”
I stabbed at cheese with my knife. “He was being insufferable, so I left, and he chased me.”
Uther leaned forward. “And?”
“And we fought some more. Then I bit him.”
Elwen coughed on her tea. Uther let out a wheezing laugh.
“What?” I demanded.
“Aelie…in fae culture, biting is very suggestive.” Uther’s grin widened. “It’s part of foreplay. Claiming. It’s not something we do unless we really like the person.”
Elwen nodded. “True.”
“Great,” I muttered, heat climbing my neck.
“We’re not lecturing you,” Elwen whispered. “But we should talk about why running is a bad idea. You can’t just walk out of the keep and expect to survive. Wandering into the wilds will get you killed or captured. You need a plan.”
“Kairos won’t let me leave.”
“He might,” Uther said. “If you can prove you’re not going to die when you’re out of his sight.”
“And how do I do that?”
Elwen popped another grape in her mouth. “Show him you understand the danger you’re in. Work with us instead of against us. Learn to control your ability.”
I swallowed hard. “My sister is out there alone.”
Elwen’s expression softened. “Kairos spent a century away from me. I know what that separation costs, but if you die trying to reach her, you’ll never find her at all.”
A heavy presence shifted behind me, and the hairs on my neck rose. My heart slammed into my ribs. I kept my eyes fixed on my teacup, willing myself not to look. Maybe if I didn’t acknowledge him, he’d vanish.
“Aelie.”
My hands tightened around the cup. I forced myself to turn.
Kairos leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. No smirk.
Uther grinned. “Morning. Sleep well?”
“Aelie,” Kairos said hoarsely. “Can we talk?”
I set down my fork. “Unless it’s a groveling apology, don’t bother.”
“Now.”
Uther cleared his throat. “And that’s our signal to leave, Elle.”
Elwen smirked, rising. “Try not to burn down the dining hall, you two.”
They slipped out, closing the door behind them.
Kairos threw himself in the seat beside me. He looked terrible. Dark shadows sat under his eyes, and a faint red mark peeked above his collar where I’d sucked on his neck.
My face burned.
I’d marked him. That shouldn’t have sent a thrill through me, but it did.
He sighed. “Letters from enemy kings to people in my realm, especially to you, represent a threat.”
“You think I’m conspiring with him.”
“He’s using old attachments to manipulate you. I can’t allow that vulnerability.”
“So burning the letter in front of me was strategic.”
“Yes.”
His knuckles were white where they gripped the table.
I leaned in, hissing. “If that were true, you would’ve done it privately. Not in the middle of a damned party!”
“Public displays send messages. To him and to my court.”
“What message? That you’re a brute?”
His throat bobbed. “I’m trying to protect you from him.”
“You went through my private things. We had an agreement.”
“Your room smelled like him!” He let out a frustrated growl. “I walked in and all I could think about was his hands on you.”
Heat flooded my face.
“I had to know what he wrote. What hold he still has over you. I can’t stand the thought of you keeping his words close when I—”
He stopped, breathing hard.
“Why do you trust him but hate me?”
I stared at him, my mind going blank.
He’s jealous.
But jealous of what? That Vaeris had touched me first? That I’d given something to another fae that Kairos wanted? Or was it deeper than that?
No. This was about possession. I was useful to him, and Vaeris couldn’t have any hold over his weapon. That had to be it.
He pushed back from the chair, dragging a hand down his face. “Forget it.”
“Kairos.”
“I’m leaving for the summit tomorrow,” he deadpanned, already turning to the door. “I’ll be gone for several days, maybe longer. I couldn’t leave with you thinking I’m some bastard who gets off on humiliating you.”
“Take me with you.”
He blinked. “To the summit?”
“Yes.”
He stared at me, the light draining from his eyes. “You want to see Vaeris.”
“You owe me this.”
A bitter smile touched his lips. “Alright. I’ll bring you.”
Relief flooded through me despite the pain radiating from my stomach.
He fixed me with a glare. “But when I do, you will be my war prize.”
“Your what?”
“It’s the only explanation that works. A pretty human I claimed during the massacre.”
That meant… what exactly? That I’d have to sit beside him? Touch him?
“No,” I blurted. “Absolutely not.”
His eyebrow arched. “You want to go? This is how you get there.”
“I’m not going to—to drape myself over you like some—”
“Like you did last night?”
I licked my lips. “That was different.”
“How?”
What happened in the woods was real, and this…could I touch him, kiss him, and not let it affect me?
“I can’t do it.” I stood, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. “You’re asking me to—to act like I’m yours. Willingly. In front of all the realms.”
“Yes.”
“No. Find another way.”
He stood, towering over me. “If you show up as anything else, they’ll ask questions. When they discover what you can do, you’ll never leave that summit alive.”
“Then I won’t go.”
“You just demanded I take you!”
“Not like that!”
He stepped closer, glowering at me. “What terrifies you about pretending to be mine?”
My heart hammered. “I’m not.”
“You’re shaking.”
I was. Damn him.
“You’re scared of what happened in the woods. So now you’re running again.”
“I-I’m not.”
“You are.” He took another step, and I had to tilt my head to hold his gaze. “You’d walk into the fucking wilderness alone. But gods forbid anyone thinks you're mine.”
My chest tightened.
“If you want to see Vaeris, you’ll have to stop fleeing from me long enough to sit beside me. That’s the deal.”
I wanted to argue. Wanted to shove him back and tell him he didn’t know anything about me. But my tongue wouldn't cooperate.
Fine. Yes. I was terrified of turning into that desperate girl that forgot she had a sister to save.
He searched my face. “Either you pretend to be mine, or you don’t come.”
“Alright,” I said through gritted teeth.
He turned and headed out.
I sagged against the table. What had I just agreed to?