Page 114 of King of Storms and Feathers

“Yes. You’d taken Mother’s side in the argument about the slave trade and could go on about nothing else. The very trade that all five of the realms rely on. Under your rule, our family’s power would have diminished until we were nothing.”

“But, Quin, we are nothing in the other realms. The fae kingdoms believe our city is long gone and only ruins and decay stand in its place.”

He smirked. “Not all of the kingdoms. The Sun Realm is still aware of our glory and of our remarkable connection to the gold reavers.”

Ice slid through my veins as the truth of what my brother had done hit me like a bolt of lightning. “It was you! Fuck, Quin. You had our parents murdered. You’re a fucking monster! Why didn’t you just kill me too?”

A sly smile lifted his mouth. “There are rumors about twins. Two hearts, one soul. That kind of thing.” He chuckled. “I have a very superstitious nature, sister. Don’t you remember?”

Superstitious? Greedy, cruel, and callous better described his personality.

“You’re an addict. How could you think yourself fit to rule a kingdom?”

“All one needs is a crown, Zali.”

Those words told me everything there was to know about Quin Omala. Perhaps once he had been the brother of my heart—a source of joy, my sunshine in the forest of our childhood—but now… he was nothing but a murderer. A thief. And an unrepentant drug addict who had killed his own parents. A lost cause, who I wouldn’t waste a single tear over.

I stared him down until he squirmed, his lip curling into a sneer. “For speaking lies against the Regent, for accusing me of murder, I should command that guard over there to put an arrow in your back.”

Speaking of an Arrow, I thought. “Aren’t you curious about where I’ve been, Quin? Perhaps you should ask if I have any useful information to share.”

“You were in the Light Realm and a servant at the disgusting Storm Court.”

“I was a servant for a time, but then my circumstances changed rather significantly…” I let my words trail off, teasing him.

Quin lurched off the throne and swayed to the edge of the dais before crumpling on the bottom step. He folded his elbows on his knees and craned his neck toward me like an enraged dragon about to strike, both madness and gold fever swirling in his irises.

“Yes?” he hissed. “Tell me what happened.”

“The king took a fancy to me, and I slept in his bed every night, soothing his nightmares.”

“And no doubt you soothed the ache in his golden cock, too.” He chuckled, leaning back on his elbows. “So, the rightful queen of the Earth Realm became Arrowyn Ramiel’s whore.”

Fury exploded in the base of my spine, but I gritted my teeth and smiled, digging my fingers into the flesh of my outer thigh. “Not precisely.”

Chin resting in his palm, Quin tapped his cheek. “Come here, sister.”

Hunching my shoulders, I shuffled forward, hoping I looked meek and terrified. “I’ve been inside Auryinnia Palace, dined with the Zareen. The king killed a man who dared to touch me and even his own guards for trying to hurt me.”

“Did he now? Interesting. Perhaps you might be able to help me wrestle the gold trade from that power-mongering bastard’s control.”

I bit my tongue, holding back the jibe pressing against my lips: it takes one to know one, you stupid fuck.

“It’s possible,” I said. “Tell me something, Quin. When I arrived, Sonail called me the outlaw princess. What lies did you tell to earn me such an unbecoming title?”

“It hardly matters now. Be quiet, Zali, while I consider what to do with you.”

Zali. Even if he called me by that name a thousand times, it would never feel like it belonged to me. Another name felt more comfortable. The name that gorgeous, winged asshole had given me.

Picturing Arrow’s silver eyes and the sensual smile he saved just for me, I willed tears to form, allowing them to spill down my cheeks.

“Brother,” I said, dropping to my knees in front of him and gripping his wrist. I tried to look at him the way Raiden gazed at the Sayeeda, like a pathetic lost puppy. “Please, remember our bond as children. Remember how much we once loved each other.”

Delight softened his scowl as I begged, his gaze euphoric with victory. I drew Sonail’s little blade from my shirt, aimed for my brother’s heart, and thrust hard.

A force caught me from behind, shoving me to the ground before my knife could plunge through leather and hit its corrupted target.

A guard straddled me, his dagger at my throat, and the sound of my brother’s crazed laughter echoed through the hall.

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