Page 90 of King of Storms and Feathers

“Liar. At the time, you didn’t care what happened to me. When we arrived in Coridon, you tossed me to the Underfloor guards and let the Sayeeda decide my fate. She could have easily sent me to the cell that feeds the fires of Amon.”

“Do you really believe I’m that stupid? It was no accident that I left my cloak around your shoulders. I knew Ari would see it and know that I had chosen you.”

Green eyes narrowed as she studied me with suspicion. “And when you take a queen, will I become fuel for the fires, then?”

“I will never marry a fae of the realms.”

“Then how do you propose to get heirs?”

My mouth curved. “You will give them to me.”

She froze. “Me? A human? You’re insane, Arrow. You just admitted you despise my entire race. Your entire kingdom would rise up to replace you on the throne if you had half-human children. And you believe that you could actually tolerate them? Be a father to them? I think not.”

“Whatever you and my court think about my plans, it is irrelevant. You’ve seen the strength of my powers. I’m impossible to kill. They couldn’t dethrone me.”

Leaf laughed. “Oh, there is always a way to kill someone. Not even you are invulnerable. Everybody has a weakness. Think about how drained you are after you release a large amount of storm magic. An enemy only needs to wait until you’re in this weakened state, then strike before you’re able to rest and recharge.”

Sighing into her sun-warm hair, I pulled her closer. “Then I am fortunate to have you by my side. You bring me contentment, and positive feelings recharge Light Realm magic far better than any other method.”

A calculating expression crossed her face. “I don’t imagine your emotions would be very positive when you’re under attack.”

“You’d be surprised,” I replied. “Regardless, you are mine, and when the time is right, my people will accept you as my consort, the mother of my children, the creator of Coridon’s golden princes and princesses. At that time, I will stop using the ore magic that has prevented impregnation, and you will conceive promptly.”

“That’s the first I’ve heard of this ore magic. But if it prevents pregnancy, then I’m grateful you’ve been using it.”

A sensation similar to strong displeasure bristled over me, then she pressed a kiss against my chin, and gazed up at me, her expression a mix of pity and sadness.

“You’re quite mad, Arrow, and I’m not sure if I like you better or worse because of it.”

“Better, of course,” I said, tucking stray hair behind the round shell of her ear.

“I’d like you a lot more if you abolished the Light Realm’s slave trade. Evolved societies have no need or desire to trade in lives. Why should Coridon continue with such brutality?”

“Humans are notorious for their terrible treatment of slaves,” I replied. “Our world is brutal, and we do what we must to create and maintain order. If you know of less savage ways to survive in the Star Realms, then please share them with me.”

She frowned, her eyes glazing over as if she had entered a trance, a memory of the forest taking her away from me.

“Leaf, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I was remembering a disagreement with someone from before. This person argued the merits of the Earth Realm’s trade in servants, while I spoke against it.”

“There, you proved my point. Humans are slavers, too.”

“But Coridon sends humans to the mines, or if they’re too weak, incinerates them. That’s horrific.”

“I disagree. Most who find themselves traded are gold addicts, lost souls. For hundreds of years, if not longer, my court has salvaged lives from the wreckage of their own dissipation. Gold eaters. Those who could not be saved, we ended their suffering, granted mercy. We punished those who had repeatedly harmed others and made miners of the ones who still might, using their strength constructively. And we gave low doses of serum to those who were addicted, keeping them healthy while they served my court in the kitchen or palace. Rulers of the Storm Court have displayed compassion to those who fall into the trade.”

“That may be true, but under your rule, Arrow, you sometimes create addicts from humans who’d never touched gold before they came to your court. That is unforgivable. Every decision you make, big or small, adds to or subtracts from your worth, the final tally equaling the king you will forever be known as. Think about the kind of legacy you want to leave when one day in the distant future, the ash of your bones is mixed with the gold dust of your desert.”

“I never said I was perfect, Leaf.”

“No. Just hinted at it many times.”

A haze of gold veiled the hills in the distance, and I gazed out the carriage window, stroking Leaf’s arm bracelet, wondering again why the serum didn’t seem to affect her. Who was this lost girl? And why did I care what kind of man she thought I was?

“I will consider what you’ve said. I don’t wish to be remembered as my father is—a tyrant who gained respect through fear. Although, perhaps in that regard, I am a lost cause. If Raiden had suggested what you did, I would probably have punched him in the face.”

“Arrow!”

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