Page 111 of King of Storms and Feathers

“Gone? Where?” Lightning forked above me, the golden morning turning into darkest night.

“Home.”

“With your help I take it?”

The Sayeeda nodded, her eyes downcast.

“You drugged me last night.”

“Yes, she did,” said Ildri. “And I helped her.”

Fury exploded inside me, an aura of blue and orange energy crackling over my body.

Panic flared in Ildri’s violet eyes. “Arrow. Please, you must listen—”

“I must listen? I must listen to those who have betrayed me? Are you fucking serious?”

Lightning bolts struck the campsite, setting fire to a cart and two nearby tents, thunder shaking the ground beneath my feet.

“Arrow,” said Ari, her voice level and face as serene as a lake on a windless day. “If you don’t gain control of yourself, you’ll burn everyone in the camp to cinders. I know you don’t want to hurt your people.”

“Don’t I? I’ll raze the whole fucking realm, turn it into a wasteland to get her back, Ari. The sooner you realize that the better.”

“If you want to know where she is,” she said, “if you want our help, you will need to play nice. When your father died, my life was bonded to your will, but know this, I’ll only help Arrowyn, my friend, not the king currently ruled by rage. Tear me to pieces if you must, but acting rashly today may be as good as signing Leaf’s death warrant.”

I shut my eyes and forced a fake sensation of peace through my blood, into my lungs, then sent it to the storm clouds above. Rain poured down, drenching everything in the camp within seconds.

“Fine. Tell me,” I commanded. My body shook with the effort of not roaring at Ari as I stared at her through my wet hair.

“I will, Arrow. I promise. But first, let us return to your tent, where we can have a civil and private conversation.”

For several heartbeats, I glared at her, then stomped toward the tent, streaks of silver shooting across the sky and thunder rumbling in my wake. I focused my anger, my fear, and chased the darkness and the rain away, restoring a gloomy gray light to the sky.

In the tent, I slumped in an armchair, grinding my teeth. The canvas flap opened, and Raiden marched in, followed by Ari and then Ildri.

“Arrow,” he said, rubbing his temples, no doubt suffering the aftereffects of being drugged, too. “My mother… please, I beg you—”

Silencing Raiden with my outstretched palm, I turned to Ari. “Talk.”

Taking her time, Ari poured water into a cup, then handed it to me. “We had good reason to think it was necessary to help Leaf return home.”

“To what?” I shouted. “Ruins in a forest roamed by raiders and gold addicts? What you’ve done is send her to her death. A very unpleasant one. That is something I will never forgive you for.”

“No. I am certain that at least some of her family remain there. She deserves to be reunited with them.”

A low table flew across the tent as I pushed it away, lurching upright and grabbing Ari’s face between my hands. “What Leaf deserves is to be protected by me.” Of their own accord, my wings raised themselves above my shoulders, trembling hard and ready to lift me into the air. “Tell me where she is. I’ll retrieve her now and deal with you when I return.”

“I can’t. Not yet, and you’ll never find her on your own. Reaver magic hides her location.”

My brow knitted as I searched her face, fury flowing through my veins.

“Threats won’t work, Arrow,” she whispered, reading my intentions correctly. “Return to Coridon. By the time we arrive, Leaf will be safe at her destination. Then I’ll tell you everything and help you find her if you still want her back.”

“Fuck,” I breathed, releasing Ari and pacing across the floor of the tent. If I still wanted her? Hadn’t she been paying attention? “I could take you with me now in my arms. We’ll fly back to Coridon. It’ll be faster.”

“No, I need more time, not less, before I am prepared to tell you everything.”

Stifling a growl, I kicked the water goblet across the floor, my head pounding. “Raiden, activate our spy network. Any whispers or rumors about any travelers, even if the descriptions don’t match Leaf, I want to know about them. Send the information to me without delay. By any means. Understand?”

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