Page 93 of King of Storms and Feathers

Leaf’s breath hitched, and I stepped back and to the side so that my arm touched hers, a gesture of reassurance.

A smile on her face, the Zareen walked forward, her hands outstretched toward Leaf. “It is an honor to meet you,” she said, grasping my human by the shoulders and pressing kisses on both her cheeks.

A wrinkle formed between Leaf’s brows. “The honor is all mine. Auron tadar maleeka.”

The Zareen laughed, delighted to hear the human greet her with the traditional reaver words that translated as may the gold always flow to you.

“And same to you, lost one. Ari has told me a lot about you. Did she instruct you to greet me in this fashion?”

“No. It just came to me then. I must have learned the phrase in my old life, back in the Earth Realm.”

“Yes, you must have.” The Zareen’s eyes sparkled as she wove Leaf’s arm through hers and strode forward without a word, forcing me to jolt into motion and take long steps to catch up with them.

We walked toward the entrance of the mountain, and the Zareen turned to the assembled crowd, reaver elves to the right and human miners and servants to the left. Several hundred beings stood motionless, waiting for her to speak.

“Citizens of Auryinnia, we welcome Arrowyn Ramiel, the King of Storms and Feathers, and his consort, Leaf of the Earth Realm of Dust and Stones. As it is written in the Book of Auron Ways, may the feathers always float the way of the fae and the gold flow between us, forever replenished by our friendship and alliance. Auron tadar!”

“Auron tadar,” shouted the crowd in unison, before erupting in loud applause.

Raiden marched behind us as the Zareen beckoned us along the carpet of wildflowers. Ari joined her, and Leaf fell back beside me as we moved closer to the mountain’s entrance.

Linking Leaf’s arm through mine, I bent and whispered in her ear. “One day soon, you will admit the truth that you managed to evade in the carriage.”

“What truth?” she asked.

“The truth of who you belong to.”

“Not that again.” She smiled and, in a cheerful voice, said, “Tell me, do you love me, Arrowyn, warrior king of the Light Realm of Storms and Feathers?”

“Love?” I spat the word out like it was bitter poison. “That emotion is for children who’ve never woken from nightmares with no one to wipe their tears. I am a man grown, raised in the shadow of violence and death, who has brought more of the same to the realm that I rule. Love shrinks from my being and will never exist within the bounds of my soul. I love nothing and no one, my little Leaf, least of all the things that belong to me.”

After that declaration, I expected she’d scratch my eyes out, but she only shook her head and smiled sadly. “And you wonder why I don’t rejoice in my position at your court. Anyone who was close to you would wish to deny it. For what could they gain by admitting the truth of it?”

Gold be damned, this human was a bold one. The truth hurt, everyone said. And as fire roared through my veins, burning that wretched organ in my chest until it felt like a charred husk, I agreed with the ridiculous platitude.

I swallowed a curse, forced my muscles to loosen, and slid Leaf’s arm off mine. Then, gritting my teeth hard enough to break them, I strode with purpose toward Ari.

If Leaf believed I was unworthy, I would be happy to provide her with good reasons to want to belong to me. The main one being: no one had the strength and will to protect her the way I could. And if she required proof, then fine, I would give it to her.

Chapter 24

Leaf

Clearly angry, Arrow stalked off. Like a typical king, he preferred to hear lies from his courtiers and servants, who were happy to withhold their honest opinions as long as it kept them in favor.

When would he realize I could never be content with lying to him?

As he reached Ari and the breathtaking gold reaver matriarch, he bowed his head and spoke rapidly, both elves listening intently. The Zareen gave a solemn nod, and a moment later, Ari shouted commands in the reavers’ musical language before coming to stand beside me.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my fingers catching the draping sleeve of her gown.

“Quiet. You will see. No matter what happens, you must say nothing. Do nothing. Do you understand, Leaf?”

With my stomach twisting in knots, I nodded.

Arrow, Raiden, and Esen stood in front of the mountain’s entrance, their arms folded across their chest armor and boots planted wide in the golden-red sand. By their thunderous expressions alone, I knew that whatever was about to happen next, it wouldn’t be good.

Sighing, I shuffled my feet, wishing Arrow would allow us to wait out of the sun’s scorching heat. But that wasn’t his way—to consider the comfort of others. I mentally swatted away memories of the times he’d given me warm blankets in the pavilion. Or delicious food that satisfied more than my hunger. And how he had ordered Ari to shave my head because he knew it was important to me.

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