Page 24 of King of Storms and Feathers

“Inside you. Did they get inside your body?”

A slow head shake was her only answer.

“Esen, inform Ari that the girl, now known as Leaf, is in my service. She belongs to me and will remain in my chambers for as long as I desire. She will be chained and serve only me. Also, tell Ari the girl’s wounds need attention and to bring her salves to my pavilion.”

Esen shuffled her feet. “You can’t be serious?”

“And you cannot mean to question me. Hold your tongue or lose it.”

With a splutter of outrage, she turned on her heel and followed my directions.

“Raiden, take the girl to my quarters. I’ll follow shortly.”

Nodding at the guard on the ground, he said, “Shall I remove this one?

“No. I’ll deal with him.”

His mouth in a grim line, Raiden bowed, no doubt biting his tongue in half to stem the flow of questions that I could predict with certain accuracy.

Had I lost my mind?

Possibly.

What need did I have for a human chamber slave?

Absolutely none.

And finally… why?

I had no idea.

But never again would another male touch her. I would make certain of it.

“Thank you,” the girl whispered as Raiden lifted her to her feet. “Thank you for… stopping them…” She shuddered, her words trailing away.

“Best you don’t give your thanks too fast, little Leaf. You may find me a difficult master.”

As Raiden guided her toward the elevator, she shot me a look over her shoulder, her eyes wide with shock. She looked vulnerable. Innocent. But it was only a matter of time before her bitter heart made her attempt another act of rebellion.

But the truth was, whatever she did next, I would gladly welcome the diversion.

Bending, I gripped the guard under his arms, tossed him over my shoulder, then took the stairs to the slave cells two at a time.

It would be a while before I got the rest I needed.

Chapter 7

Leaf

Raiden led me up two flights of stairs, then shoved me inside an elevator tucked in a corner of a hall on the palace’s third floor, a place I’d never been before.

The doors slid open on the seventh floor. When we entered a well-guarded corridor, I wondered if it would take us to the tallest of the palace’s seven golden domes. The ones I’d seen from the carriage the night I arrived at Coridon.

As we started up a staircase, a spiraling marvel of carved gold, I turned to the tight-lipped Raiden. “The king lives in the highest tower?”

Raiden nodded, his grip on my arm tightening.

“Of course he does,” I said, keeping my voice level and hoping Raiden couldn’t feel me trembling. “What does Arrow mean to do with me?”

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