Page 124 of King of Storms and Feathers

Her nails pierced the flesh on the side of her thigh, the subtle gesture of stress that I never failed to notice. “Yes,” she lied in a smooth, soft voice, still staring past me.

“Bullshit,” I whispered, and Ari cleared her throat loudly.

I dragged my gaze back to the brother. “My Sayeeda tells me your name is Quin.”

He gaped and nodded.

“Tell me, Quin, what date has been set for your sister’s coronation?”

He squirmed and scowled at my chest plate, while I considered plucking two feathers out and throwing them at his gold-fucked eyes.

“That hasn’t been decided,” he said. “For the time being, we will rule our kingdom together. Twins, you know? No relationship in the realms is as close and eternal as those who have shared a womb.”

Co-rulers. An interesting use of the term. And the twin thing made my skin crawl. I couldn’t wait to destroy whatever hold he had over Leaf. I would crush him to a pulp. Gut him. Pull his brains out his nostrils and slowly roast them with lightning. After that I would—

“Arrowyn,” he snapped to regain my attention. “Shall we proceed to the antechamber and discuss matters of trade? I imagine you were shocked to learn of Mydorian’s existence.” He moved toward double doors in the rear wall of the dais.

“No, perhaps moderately surprised,” I said, crossing my arms. “Now, whether or not I’m going to step into your antechamber depends on something important.”

He turned, raising a single dark brow in the same manner Leaf did when I pissed her off. “Oh? On what?”

“On the value you set upon your sister’s life.”

“You wish to kill her?” he asked in a hopeful tone.

“No. I want to put her back in her cage in my palace. In my city.”

Still silent, Leaf stared blankly over my shoulder, failing to notice the smile Ari gave her. Anyone well-acquainted with my Sayeeda would know she rarely smiled without purpose, and this particular smile was meant to reassure my Aldara that I was only playing a part.

“What do you mean exactly?” Quin asked.

“I mean that I want my property back. And that is the price you must pay to negotiate trade terms with me. Give. Me. Your. Sister. Now!”

Several emotions flashed across his face. Relief, quickly followed by terror when he realized he wouldn’t have control over her if she lived in Coridon. Confusion. And finally, pure madness.

“Are you saying you’ll only bargain with me if I let you take Zali?”

I nodded slowly, watching Leaf’s nails dig harder into her flesh. By the look on her face, she planned to murder me the first chance she got. Fair enough. No doubt I deserved it.

“Why does your sister not speak?” I asked, widening my stance. “What’s wrong with her?”

Bright green arrows shot through me as her bitter gaze pierced my heart.

Her lips parted. “I only converse with worthy people,” she said coolly. “Slavers don’t fall into that category.”

Quin snickered, while his sister raised her chin and resumed gazing haughtily past me.

“It is no easy thing to ask of a brother, to hand his sister to a stranger.” Quin steepled his fingers under his chin. “I need time to consider your request.”

“Consider this; if you give me Zali Omala, I will help you in three ways. I will keep her in my kingdom, away from human sight and interference. I will open gold routes between our cities and, lastly, guarantee you favorable serum prices.”

“Will you recognize my claim to the Mydorian throne?”

“I don’t see why not. After all, it’s in both our interests for you to sit upon it.”

“This pleases me. My steward will show you around Mydorian, and we shall reconvene at dusk, giving me time to draw up documents for your perusal.”

“No need for a tour. We’re still recovering from our journey and will return to our chambers to rest.”

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