Page 126 of King of Storms and Feathers

“Enough, both of you,” Ari scolded. “Argue all you like back in Coridon if it pleases you, but this is not the time to indulge your petty grievances.”

Leaf gripped the bars. “Did anyone see you come down here?”

“Not with my reaver’s cloak in place.” Ari smirked. To demonstrate her skill, she cloaked us for a second, then made us visible again. “If a guard does come down, Leaf, just stare at the wall as if you’re alone.”

“Step to the back corner of the cell,” I told Leaf. “I’ll try to blast the door off.”

“Your power won’t work down here. Quin is allied with the Sun Realm. The cells have been warded by one of their mages.”

I clenched my fists, summoning a storm. Blue lightning kindled in my chest, circling my arms, but it sparked and fizzled out when I tried to push it through my fingertips.

Fucking fire mages.

A soft groan drew my attention to the next cell. Within it, a gaping man-child crouched low, as if he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to attack me or hide from my sight.

I tipped my head in the prisoner’s direction. “That one might inform the guards of our visit. I’ll kill him now,” I said, already moving to take action.

“Arrow, no!” Leaf’s arms reached through the bars, and she dragged me close. “That’s Van, my younger brother. Unlike Quin, he’s not a vile prick, and I’d very much like for him to stay alive. Is that clear?”

“Yes.” I glared at the brother, another fucking gold addict, and he winced, wriggling back into the shadows. “Are you well, Leaf? Did Quin hurt you? If he’s caused even the smallest of your bruises, I’ll crush his skull under my boot.”

“He’s feeding me serum, that’s all. He doesn’t realize it has no effect. His guards haven’t been the kindest, but I got most of these bruises on my journey, after I left Auryinnia. Don’t you dare kill Quin. That pleasure must be mine, Arrow.”

“As you know, I would never withhold a pleasure from you.”

“That’s not true,” she said. “Remember the night you staked me out in the pavilion?”

I laughed and moved closer, my fingers wrapping over hers around the bars. “I wasn’t sure if I’d see you up on that dais today.”

“Believe me I had no desire to stand humiliated before you again. I’ve had enough of that to last three lifetimes. But I had no choice. Quin threated to kill Van if I didn’t.”

“Do you think he’s dressed you in less… illustrious clothing because he plans to refuse my offer?”

Fire sparked in her green eyes. “Your offer to buy me?” She sighed, her fingers loosening beneath mine. “I don’t think it means anything other than that Quin is a sadistic bastard who’d take great pleasure in handing me over to the Storm King dressed like a plague-ridden grave digger. But it doesn’t matter what he decides if we’re going to kill him anyway, right? I hope you two have cooked up a plan.”

“Zali, I have to tell you something that will help us,” said Ari. “You have gold reaver blood. It runs through the matriarchal line, and the males in your family gain no benefit from it.”

“I should be shocked, but that explains quite a few things.”

“Yes, you’re immune to the serum and can open reaver gates without assistance. You also have the power to cloak yourself.”

“By using the nugget you gave me?”

“No. The nugget is unnecessary. With your blood, the chant I taught you is all you require. Either say it in your mind or aloud. Both will work. You must practice cloaking before we make a move against the regent tonight.”

“But my parents were human. Will my cloaking powers be strong enough?” Leaf asked Ari.

“I believe so.” Ari smiled. “The power of reaver blood in the female line can never be diluted. Your mother must have explained this to you, and if she didn’t, would’ve done so in time.”

“When we’re with Quin again,” I said, “regardless of whether your invisibility cloak is sufficient or not, I’ll throw my sword to you. Then Ari will cloak me, and together, we’ll take care of any guards in the hall. Meanwhile, you will chop your brother’s dissolute head off, followed by his balls, then stuff the withered trinkets down his still-gurgling throat. Finally, wipe your hands on your tunic, and call it a good night’s work. What do you think? A solid plan?”

At last, she smiled at me. “It will have to do.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Arrow… Thank you for coming.”

“I will always come for you, Leaf. Cry out in pain, and I’ll be there. Call my name, and I will raze entire cities to get to you. It will always be this way until desert sand fills my throat and I take my final choked breath. Am I making myself clear?”

Green eyes tracked over my face—eyes, lips, and back again. No. She didn’t believe me. But one day, she would. I would die to prove it.

To lighten the mood, I took a deep breath and pasted on a cocky smile. “So, are you going to insist I call you Zali from now on?”

---