Page 21 of King of Storms and Feathers

“No. You’re right. My presence would deter the gold chasers. It is my duty, and I should return. I know I must, and I will… when I’m certain I can control my fury. In the meantime, we’ll send soldiers to patrol the border with orders to kill any raiders on sight. We’ll even lead some parties ourselves. The hunt will be entertaining, don’t you think?” I asked, trying to shift his focus.

Leaning back in his chair, he patted my shoulder, satisfied for now. “You look tired,” he said, tipping his head toward the courtiers below. “You should have some fun for a change and follow Esen’s lead.”

“Last time I checked, I was the king, not you. Shouldn’t I be issuing the orders?”

Scanning the hall, I found Esen’s blue head amongst the revelers and laughed. A bearded fire demon drew her onto his lap, feeding her grapes and sucking her neck as she ate them.

I grinned at Raiden. “I think I’m too big to fit comfortably on that demon’s lap.”

Raiden laughed. He knew my tastes ran toward curvaceous, obedient female fae. At least, that was the case before my family died. Lately, I’d had little interest in bedding anyone—fire demon or not.

The Sayeeda appeared in the hall, and Raiden’s attention shifted toward her. His longing to be near her was an intense energy that ignited the feather glyphs on my hand, turning them from dark red to glowing gold.

I should dismiss Raiden, let him join her. But I didn’t. Those damn control issues again.

I surveyed the crowd, skimming over the servants in their plain gold tunics, my attention snapping back to dark hair escaping a girl’s headband and framing the edges of a rosebud mouth.

The servant’s body was lithe and compact, her movements confident and deliberate despite the fact that only days ago, she had been weak from starvation and abuse.

It was the slave I’d purchased from the Farron Gilt Market. The girl who claimed to possess no memories. The human I should have killed the moment I caught her trying to escape from the market.

My reflexes sharpened, muscles readying to pounce, like I was a desert panther sighting prey. It was likely I could single this girl out from a crowd of thousands by the unconstrained hate burning in her brilliant green eyes. I recognized that emotion all too well, for I saw it in my own gaze each time I caught my reflection in a mirror.

Last night, in the Grand Hall, I saw her and another servant spying on me from the kitchen. They had witnessed the might of my power and the high price I paid to wield it—exhaustion and a terrible weakness. My strength renewed eventually with rest, experiencing a surplus of positive emotions, or by taking a careful dose of gold serum.

Two of those things did not come easily to me, and the third could be lethal if I misjudged the dose.

The Sun Court envoy who was visiting my court set his fork down and smoothed his palm over the nameless girl’s hip as she refilled his wine cup. My fingers clenched around my goblet. He had better get his fucking hands off my property.

“Ari,” I barked out at the same time the girl snatched up the fork and drew it back, as if ready to strike the envoy’s neck.

Standing nearby, my Sayeeda’s head flicked up, and within moments, she appeared at my side. I directed my chin at the commotion below. The envoy had grabbed the servant’s wrist and stopped the fork from lodging in his throat just in time.

I longed to kill him, but couldn’t afford to break the peace treaty with the Sun Court and their powerful fire mages. So, instead of marching down the stairs to tear his head off, with great difficulty, I swallowed my violent urges and beckoned Ari closer.

“Give the envoy my apologies. Tell him that tomorrow, he will leave my kingdom with an extra crate of gold, free of charge, as thanks for his clemency toward my valued slave.”

Her golden eyes flickered, a flash of confusion crossing her face. “And the human?” she asked.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

She nodded, and then hurried to follow my instructions.

The envoy’s frowning fury dissolved as soon as Ari gave him my message. He resumed guzzling my finest wine and gorging on my food, content that he would return to his land with an extremely valuable boon.

At Ari’s signal, a guard marched from the shadows, grabbed the human by the arm, and led her back to the kitchen. She went easily enough, her spine and shoulders rigid, her features a blank mask, and I wondered how she remained so calm.

After her reckless, violent action, surely she feared a painful death was imminent.

A mystery, with no name or known birthplace, this human was a tough one. It would not be a simple task to break her. I could kill her. I should kill her. But it was more entertaining, no thrilling, to keep her alive.

Why? I dared not ask myself.

As king, the Sayeeda served me first, and I was always one course ahead of the rest of the court. Soon, Ari would deliver a fragrant bowl of saffron and rose petal pudding to my table, the smile she reserved only for me shining brightly on her golden lips.

When she returned to my side, she brought no dessert tray, and a scowl marred her lovely face.

She leaned close and spoke in a low voice. “How should I punish the human, King Arrowyn? Is it to be the fires for her tonight?”

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