Page 127 of King of Storms and Feathers

“If I did, it would have to be Queen Zali,” she said with a teasing grin. “I haven’t forgotten that you promised to kill me the next time I escaped from Coridon, Arrow. Is that your plan after you help me get out of here?”

“Did you not hear me just make a dying oath to protect you? The only being I want to kill at present is your fucking asshole twin.”

“And that asshole is my responsibility,” she reminded me, looking away, and then flicking her gaze back to my mouth. “Why are your fangs out? I thought that only happened during…” Her hand waved vaguely between our bodies, but I knew what she meant.

“Sex? Lust? Blood lust has a similar rousing effect.”

“How did he steal your memories?” Ari asked.

Van crawled to the front of his cell. “Quin hired a mage from the Sun Realm to work dark magic on Zali’s mind, and then, as a backup, had her injected with a drug that can cause amnesia. The fire fae were taking her to their realm for safe-keeping but slavers ambushed them.” Van turned to me. “Our brother would have killed you himself, Zali, except he’s superstitious and believes that killing his own twin might bring him harm. Since hearing you’d been sold to the Light Realm fae, he’s been living in hope that if someone else finished you off, he’d escape the terrible twin-souls’ fate his gold-addled mind had conjured.”

“Please tell me I can rip his head off,” I said, turning to Leaf as storm energy crackled from my fingertips.

Van grimaced. “I hope you’re not referring to me. I’m on your side. And a tip… you need to kill Sonail first and the bearded guard, Veznar. They’re loyal to Quin. Everyone else hates him. Your people, Zali, are sick of the gold that he floods through the population to keep them weak and compliant. They want reform and I believe would watch our brother fall with glee.”

As I nodded my thanks to Van, I gripped my sword pommel.

Ari touched my wrist, stopping me from drawing it. “Arrow, before you rush off to kill Quin, think about what you would deprive Leaf of. This revenge is hers to relish, not yours. Save your fury for dusk. For now, we must return to our rooms and allow our powers time to recharge.”

The Sayeeda was right. Again.

I pressed my face against the bars of the cell. “Leaf, before I go, kiss me.” I grinned but let my gaze show the true intensity of my feelings for her. “If your brother’s guard shoves a dagger into my heart tonight, this could be your last chance.”

“What a villain, trying to guilt me into it! I think I shall cope without a last kiss from you.”

Pain lanced my chest. “Cruel,” I murmured. Stepping backward, my wings manifested, flaring above my shoulders like dark shadows of disappointment.

A smile danced over her mouth. “On second thought, how can I resist those wings? Get over here.”

“Finally, you admit that you’re attracted to me.”

“Yes. Annoyingly so. Help me get rid of Quin, and I’ll consider admitting a few other things that might interest you.”

“An intriguing offer,” I said, taking her face between my hands and crushing my lips to hers.

She sighed into my mouth, and we kissed as if the realms were exploding around us and this was the last thing we would ever do. If I could choose my final act, without question, this would be it.

“Leaf,” I breathed, breaking away to stare into her eyes, their color as fresh as new grass, even in the dim light of this hellhole. I drank in her features, memorizing every torch-lit curve, familiar shadow, and hollow.

“Excuse me,” said the Sayeeda, her voice sounding distant. “We’re preparing to enact a murder, not attend a bacchanal at a bathhouse.”

With the tip of my fang, I nipped Leaf’s lip, then drew back to gaze at her one last time. I flicked her a final smirk that I hoped would give her something else to ponder instead of this dank shithole. Then I sauntered out of the Mydorian prison with Ari grumbling about cloaking spells behind me.

At dusk, we strode into the Earth Realm hall, and I was momentarily mesmerized by the light flickering over the white branches holding the ceiling aloft. But then, as the double doors creaked shut behind us, my worst fears were realized. There was no Leaf standing on the dais beside her gold-swathed prick of a brother.

The back of Ari’s fingers brushed mine. “Wait,” she whispered.

I released my wings, flaring them above my shoulders. “Fuck that. Where is she?” I boomed, stalking forward, careful not to trip over tree roots as I climbed the stairs onto the dais. Sonail and the bearded guard thrust their swords at my chest. I laughed, swatting them away. “Where is your sister, Regent?”

Quin rose from his slouch on the throne, his eyes unfocused and movements clumsy. He was practically blinded by serum, which suited me fine. Less dangerous for Leaf, too.

“Have you no sense of occasion, King Arrowyn?” he drawled. “Come. Follow me, and Zali will be along shortly.”

Guards opened black diamond-studded doors at the back of the dais, and we walked through onto a rectangular stone balcony. A crowd’s roar erupted. Every human in the city seemed to be gathered in the square below us. Hungry mouths gaped open as they screamed, revealing rotten teeth and pale, unhealthy gums.

Quin Omala was starving his people, squandering the crown’s money on gold feathers and serum.

A robed servant stood next to a narrow high table. Unrolling a vellum scroll, he nodded at Quin, who raised his arms toward his people.

---