Page 46 of King of Storms and Feathers

Arrow’s head fell back against the gilded chair as he watched me through a hooded gaze, waves of heat shimmering from his muscled body that made my stomach tighten.

Every indignity leads me to revenge, I reminded myself as a feeling not unlike power snaked through my blood, bolstering my confidence. Desire seemed to weaken him, and that could be exploited.

Bringing my face close to his, I made a breathy sound, teasing my hips over his erection and watching his pupils dilate. Feather glyphs glowed as he made a guttural sound and dug his fingernails into the chair’s armrests.

“Fuck,” he breathed in a low voice. A large hand caught my hip, stilling my movements. “Are you trying to kill me?”

I gave the only answer I could—the truth. “Yes.”

“Congratulations, it’s working.” He turned me so I sat sideways on his lap, right over his hard length. “By the gold,” he muttered, shifting beneath me. “Stay still or suffer the consequences.”

Unsure what he meant by consequences, I obeyed. My heart pounding as I stared blank-faced at the courtiers, their glowing eyes assessing me in the golden light of the hall.

The few fae who possessed wings flicked them in my direction with lustful interest. Let them look. I doubted Arrow was the sort of man who liked to share his things with them. I was safe enough up here on the dais. For now.

As a line of dancers wearing tall golden crowns and not much else snaked through the hall, the king grunted his dismay at the entertainment and bid his friends goodnight.

Pressing his lips against my ear, he said, “I have a better form of recreation in mind back in my chambers. Come, Leaf. It’s time for us to retire.”

Time for us to retire. As if I had any choice in the matter.

As he led me through the crowd encircling the dance floor, the gold chain hanging loose between us, courtiers’ sharp features blurred before me.

I stared back, refusing to give the Light Realm fae the satisfaction of cowering before them. I imagined the groping touches on the backs of my arms and legs were only the soft brushes of giant fern leaves as I hunted through the forest.

A green hand shot in front of me, swiped between my legs, and squeezed hard. I yelped, suppressing the reflex to elbow the Sun elf’s nose deep into his skull. Arrow whirled around, his eyes shooting toward the male who walked beside me, still assaulting me.

With a roar, the king knocked the elf to the ground. Thunder groaned nearby, lightning flashing, and all at once, the auron kanara screeched as if they were under attack.

Arrow’s hands wrapped the elf’s throat, and he thumped his dark head against the floor. “You’re fucking finished,” he yelled.

The elf begged and pleaded, tears streaming down his pinched face as he whispered the words please King Arrowyn over and over in a strangled voice.

“Arrowyn,” said Raiden, coming up beside me. “He’s a Sun Realm fae. Remember the treaty.”

“I don’t give a fuck about treaties. Do not touch what is mine. Ever.”

Lightning bolts forked through the windows, seven striking Arrow as he leaned over my assaulter, the force buckling his body. A blue current sizzled over the king’s skin, down his arms, burning out his fingertips. Dark, acrid smoke fouled the air.

My attacker’s face turned deep scarlet, spittle forming on his lips as he muttered nonsensical words. Pity opened my heart. No matter how much I resented the Storm Court fae, I didn’t want this. I didn’t want anyone to lose their life because of me if I could help it.

“King Arrowyn,” I murmured. “I’m so tired I can barely stand up anymore. And you forget our entertainment…”

The lightning rewound up his arms as he looked over his shoulder at me and blinked. “Yes. Of course. We should leave.”

Esen stepped forward and pulled the bloodied elf to his feet, glaring at me as if I’d forced the stupid male to put his hands on my flesh and make the king lose his already unhinged mind.

Arrow straightened to his full height and faced the court, tiny bolts of lightning still curling from his hands and circling his limbs. He looked dangerous, feral enough to destroy everything and turn his hall into a smoking pile of rubble.

He seized my hand in a bone-bruising grip and skimmed a smoking-hot gaze over the crowd.

“Court of Storms and Feathers, I command each of you to heed my words… I will fry the brains of any fae who touches the girl known as Leaf. This human who stands before you is mine. Do not make me prove it to you with a more explicit demonstration than the one you witnessed tonight.”

All around us, fae bowed, whispering words of deference.

Arrow shuddered as he drew the last remaining storm magic inside his body. Then, leaving my chain dangling like a gaudy ornament, he picked me up and carried me in his arms from the hall, past slack-jawed guards and into the elevator.

As the door slid shut, he said, “Leaf, I find myself torn. Should I reward you for tonight’s good behavior or punish you for your past transgressions?”

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