Page 27 of King of Storms and Feathers

Also, I was unaware of my people’s traditions. Were we reserved or free with our bodies?

Despite how hard I tried, I recalled no memories of heated kisses or caresses. But in the servants’ hall at night, people sneaked into their lovers’ rooms, and I found the noises they made stimulating and entertaining.

And in the hall tonight, I’d seen fae tongues swiping across lips and delving inside painted mouths. Hands had caressed breasts, and bulges rose in the males’ laps. Rather than feeling shocked, I’d been curious to see what raged beneath the material of their pants. So at the very least, I guessed that meant I wasn’t a prude.

But later, in the hallway, when the guards’ cruel fingers and hips moved against me, they’d laughed and joked, enjoying their game, their sour breath coiling tendrils of fear and disgust inside me.

I had felt no pleasure.

Only pain.

And if the king had more of the same in mind for tonight, then I wished he hadn’t bothered to save me.

By the position of the moon in the sky, I estimated about an hour had passed when I finally heard the thud of boots against the stairs. They grew louder, then a crown of golden feathers appeared, followed by the king’s tall form. Fear shivered down my spine.

Arrowyn had arrived.

He clicked his fingers and lightning globes like the ones in the servants’ hall spread a warm glow throughout his living space. As he strode forward, removing his breastplate of deadly feathers, his gaze fell on me, and an unpleasant smile crossed his face.

“Ah, little Leaf. How do you like your new residence? A spectacular view, no?”

To stop myself from roaring at him, I dug my nails into the side of my thigh. To survive, I needed to be meek, obedient, but I hated him so much I wasn’t sure I could manage it.

He stalked across the narrow footbridge, his chest bare, but with his stupid crown still glowing on his brow, then he stopped in the middle of the pavilion. Planting his feet wide, he crossed his arms and inspected me.

“Those chains suit you well,” he rumbled, prowling forward until he stood within arm’s reach.

“And you look good, too,” I said. “I prefer you without your chest plate, weaponless.”

Broad shoulders moved with each deep breath he took. “I’m hardly defenseless, human. What dangerous tricks do you hide beneath your tunic?”

“None,” I whispered.

His hand shot out, and I flinched. Warm fingers rubbed the shawl over the notch between my collarbones. “Ari is too soft-hearted,” he murmured.

The Sayeeda soft-hearted? That was debatable. His gilded slave was about as kind as a starving lioness protecting a prize kill. I smiled, realizing in that scenario, the slab of meat would be the very king who frowned above me.

He moved closer and sighed into my face, his right hand wrapping my throat, lightly choking me. The smell of sandalwood, cinnamon, and wine clouded my mind, a destabilizing combination that made me sway.

The intricate feather glyphs that twined his chest and heavily muscled arms burst to life, blazing gold, like flowing lava. If he noticed the phenomenon, he made no visible reaction. Glowing silver eyes traced my face, the thumb of his free hand parting my lips. He rubbed the gap in my front teeth, seemingly fascinated by it.

“Fae don’t possess such curious imperfections,” he mused.

My heart pounded as I pictured biting down and spitting the tip of his bloodied thumb onto the tiles.

A dark chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I see your thoughts as clearly as if you’d spoken them. Bite me and I’ll toss you over the edge and leave you hanging all night from your ankles, the blood pooling in your brain as you asphyxiate. You will die before I wake.”

I had no doubt the ruthless bastard would do it.

As we stared at each other, intense energy crackled in the space between our bodies. Self-disgust flushed through me when my skin prickled with a different awareness, heat burning low in my belly.

My cheeks flamed as he inhaled sharply, grinning at my reaction to his touch. It was base and instinctual, exactly like an animal’s.

He dropped his hand to my hip and stroked lightly over my tunic. “I despise humans,” he said.

“I wonder how you can bear to touch me, then?”

His perfectly curved mouth lifted in a sneer. “Your race is weak, greedy, and small-minded. You people are willing to destroy anyone and anything to obtain your desires… food, gold, control. You don’t care as long as you achieve your ends.”

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