Page 42 of King of Storms and Feathers

“Yes, My King.” Ari placed the lunch tray on the nearest table, then bowed, a smirk glimmering on her face as I passed by, then took the stairs to my bedchamber with speed.

The Sayeeda was right to mock me.

I should never allow myself to take pleasure in a human, neither in their company or in their bodies. Gold chasers had killed my family. Humans repulsed me. But did that make it right for me to use this one rebellious girl to atone for the grievous errors of her species? And if it was wrong, did I even care?

Pausing at the entrance to my bathroom, where I planned to stroke myself to completion on the memory of the dreaded human’s soft sighs and ragged moans, I watched Ari help her stand. The gold chain rattled as Leaf followed her over the footbridge to the pavilion, her face still a fetching shade of pink.

Leaf despised her body’s response to me, hated herself for melting under my touch, perhaps almost as much as I loathed myself for being fascinated with her.

Very well.

I had found a suitable punishment for my rebellious human.

By making her surrender to her desires, I’d conquer her defiance, and before long, she would beg me to claim her many times over. And each time she did, she would hate herself more and more.

Meanwhile, I could pretend the result in some way justified my own foolishly burgeoning obsession.

Stupid, yes, but at least I was self-aware.

Chapter 11

Leaf

Another night passed in the pavilion with only the luminous stars and the cool breeze for company.

After yesterday’s mortifying grape-feeding incident, Arrow had mercifully disappeared. Ari said he and a group of soldiers were hunting gold raiders that were reportedly hiding in the Aureen Mountains. The ones we’d passed through on our journey from the gilt market.

I’d spent last night tossing and turning, terrified the king would return and make me betray myself again, horrified by my behavior.

When he’d touched me, I lost control of my senses, melted against him, making pitiful noises, like a cat in heat.

What was wrong with me? And how could I crave the touch of a man I despised?

After breakfast, despite trying to rid myself of thoughts of the Storm King by exercising until sweat soaked my skin, his heated kisses still plagued me. I gave up fighting it, then spent hours indulging the stomach-fluttering memories, reliving the torture. Pathetic, but it certainly made the time fly by.

At lunchtime, Ari arrived with a feast of still-warm bread, cheese, and salty strips of grilled vegetables. I devoured the lot as soon as she placed the tray in front of me.

“In case you haven’t realized, Leaf,” she said, watching me lick my fingers clean. “It is in your best interests to please him.”

“Who, Raiden?” I asked purely to unsettle her, hiding a grin as her golden skin blanched white.

Did the great Sayeeda think I hadn’t seen how hard she blushed in Raiden’s presence? Or that I didn’t notice how often he found excuses to visit the dome when she was tidying Arrow’s apartment?

“You know exactly who I mean,” she replied. “Arrowyn is not the monster you believe him to be. You continue to defy him, and he hasn’t once beaten you, has he?”

No, I thought to myself. What he’d done was much worse—made me crave his touch and dream about his penetrating silver gaze.

“I suppose it depends on your definition of a monster,” I said. “Has he ever hurt you, Ari?”

“No. And even if Arrowyn did enjoy harming others, he wouldn’t dare touch me. I am too precious. A bonded gold reaver is a king’s most valuable asset, and my good standing in the kingdom is essential to maintaining the accord between Coridon and my people, the elves of Auryinnia.”

“That explains why you think him a better man than he is. He’s not allowed to treat you badly.”

“I assure you, he doesn’t want to harm me.”

I grunted, and her lips compressed with frustration.

“Where is Arrow’s family?” I asked. “Is he related to Stormur and Raiden?”

---