Page 89 of King of Storms and Feathers

“It’s a reaver door,” Ari said, sticking her head through the wooden panel and holding it open. “The trader was part elf.”

Raiden stepped over the threshold. “I’ll catch him. Tell Arrow where I’ve gone.”

“Must you go alone?” Ildri said, a mother’s worry etched on her brow.

“I’ll collect some guards to accompany me on my way through town.”

Ildri blew him a kiss. “Be careful.”

As Raiden disappeared, I turned toward the Sayeeda. “Why did you come here? To check on me?”

“We had good news to share and couldn’t wait to bring you back to the king’s dome to tell you.” Ari looked up from removing the serum bracelet from Grendal’s thin arm. “The king has agreed to visit Auryinnia Mines and plans to take you with him.”

“When?” I asked.

“In seven days. The gold reavers need time to arrange a celebration. This is a long overdue and very significant visit.”

“I’m sorry about your gown,” I told Ildri, my hands shaking as I pointed at the blood-smeared fabric.

“It’s fine, dear one. I have plenty of others. Let’s return to the palace. Ari will arrange for the courtyard to be cleaned.”

Cleaned… What would they do with Grendal’s body? And who would help her son, Zaret, and tell him that she was gone?

As Ildri led me away, I glanced back at my friend crumpled against the wall, the front of her body bathed in blood, and her gaze fixed on the perfect, clear sky above.

The sky she would never see again.

Chapter 23

Arrow

I tipped my chin at Leaf, who sat opposite me in the carriage. “Come here.” She rose, then settled in the curve of my arm, her palm on my thigh and her body warm and pliant. “Apparently, someone released an auron kanara from its cage last week,” I murmured, watching her face closely.

Staring past me and out the carriage window, she toyed with the silky material of her gown. “Really? Did it escape the palace?”

“No. And, unfortunately, a guard injured the bird when he caught it.”

She stiffened in my arms, confirming my suspicions. It was Leaf who set the bird free. That much was certain.

“I was sorry to hear of the death of your friend, Bronwal.”

“Her name was Grendal actually, and as it turned out, she wasn’t such a great friend—just another victim of the Light Realm’s illegal gold trade. I’m glad Raiden caught the trader who was blackmailing her.”

“Raiden caught him, but I delivered the punishment myself.” Images of flesh peeling from bones flickered through my mind. The punishment had been harsh, but very just, in my opinion. Anyone who touched my Leaf without consent would suffer the same consequences, as dire as they were.

I stroked the shaved side of her head, then walked my fingers along her braid until they reached the gold-bound tip lying against her breast. “I like your hair this way. It matches the two sides of your personality—harsh and prickly versus sweet and soft.”

She graced me with a sensual smile. “I don’t have a soft side.”

“Not true. Think of the tender way you soothe me through nightmares. How sweetly you beg to feel the sting of my fangs. And when I kiss you, you’re softer, more delicious than butter. A delicacy to be savored.”

She blew out a breath. “If you despise humans as much as you claim to, I don’t see how you can find one delicious.”

I traced the Aldara mark on her throat, my cock thickening as our elemental bond heated and vibrated, like a woven cord of gold strung between our hearts. “I hate humans with an irrational passion.”

A dark eyebrow arched. “Then it’s not so bad to be your enemy.”

“You know you are different, Leaf. You’re mine. I knew I wanted you from the first moment your vicious gaze met mine through the bars of the gilt market cage.”

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