Page 111 of King of Fire and Flames

“Yes. But also your life, which is worth more to me than the moon, the stars, the mountains, every speck of Mydorian dust, and the desert sky. That’s what I was protecting. You are everything to me. Always will be.”

“You’re such a charmer,” she said, her voice soft and trembling.

I grinned. “Let’s see if you still think so after this.”

“After what?”

Without explaining, I plunged forward, hurtling downward, but instead of landing inside my chambers as she probably expected, I set her down near a narrow doorway. An entrance to the palace she likely remembered all-too well.

The scent of night jasmine and cinnamon floated on the warm breeze as we retraced the steps we had walked a few months ago—a pissed-off king and an angry, frightened slave. I hadn’t stopped thinking about her since the moment she stabbed Esen, and I chased her through Farron Gilt Market.

But now I walked beside her, my arm slung over her shoulders, hers around my waist, and my wing warming her back. Together. Our steps in sync.

The moment we entered the palace, the auron kanaras fluttered and chirped in greeting, and I felt a shiver roll over Leaf’s shoulders. I recalled how deeply she had sympathized with their plight and had longed to set every bird in the city free.

She knew what it was like to live imprisoned behind bars of gold, at the mercy of the Light Realm fae, at my mercy, and as much as I wanted to gift her with the release of the birds, I couldn’t. They needed us and would die without our lightning magic.

But soon, I hoped she would understand just how much her compassion had taught me.

“Why are we here, Arrow?” she asked as we passed the golden cages lining the corridor and stopped in front of the elevator’s barred doors. “Shouldn’t we be attacking each other in your bedchamber right now?” She grimaced. “After a hot bath, of course.”

Illuminated by flames from the wall sconces, the sweet, dusty red of desert roses flushed her cheeks.

I smiled and nodded at a passing servant whose eyes widened at the sight of me. “I thought the most romantic thing I could do, Leaf, before any bathing or attacking, would be to demonstrate the extent of your influence.”

“Oh. Sounds intriguing. Please lead the way.”

The same two soldiers who had guarded the elevator the night she first arrived in the city, bowed, then opened the scrolled-metal doors. They clanged shut behind us, and we plunged down two levels.

Underfloor.

Memories of the putrid stench of suffering battered my senses, and beside me, Leaf shuddered and swayed, taking a step backward as I exited the elevator.

“It’s all right,” I said. “Trust me.”

Taking my hand, she stepped out, not into the dark tunnel from her nightmares, but into a space now painted gold and lined with light, honey-colored wood. No slaves dwelt here anymore. The cells had been ripped out, and in their place, learning spaces, partitioned rooms with desks, comfortable furniture, and shelves stuffed with books and scrolls invited her to investigate.

Her fingers relaxed around mine as she inspected every gleaming nook and cranny, finding new wonders with each step. Running her palm over metalworking tools, she turned to me and said, “You’re teaching your people the skills needed to improve their lives.”

“Yes. Well, not me personally, but our tradespeople are. Remember the mineral pool through there?” I pointed toward the door nestled in the far wall, indicating the entrance to the torch-lit cavern where I’d been told guards had thrown Leaf and her human friend Grendal into the water before they began work as kitchen servants.

She nodded.

“That’s a place of healing now. The minerals in the spring water are very powerful, did you know that?”

Shaking her head, she laughed gently. “Your face… Arrow, you look so proud.”

“I am proud. Extremely so. After thousands of years, the slaves of Coridon are no more. Our servants, even those who were once gold chasers, live in a newly built area of town. All workers are paid a fair wage. We don’t create addicts with our serum bracelets anymore, we help them recover. But I need to know… are you proud of me, my Leaf?”

Illuminated by lightning globes, she spun on her heel, taking in Underfloor’s new warmth and beauty, then gripped my forearms and held my expectant gaze. “Are you saying that you reformed Coridon, even reformed yourself for me?” she asked.

“No. I changed because of you. Because you showed me by word and deed that rulers must reflect upon their actions and even more so on their inaction. Your blunt criticisms made me realize I wasn’t exempt from bearing the responsibility of the systems my father and his father before him had put in place. Not correcting them was as bad as if I had created them myself.”

“Oh,” she said, a hand pressing over her heart. Seemingly lost for words, she smiled, her warm expression of unfiltered love one I’d only dreamed of seeing on her face again.

If I could only make her happy every single day of her life, then I’d have a legacy to be proud of.

“While you were alone in Mydorian, I took a hard look at myself and my kingdom and realized what my reign was built on. Terror. And I felt only deepest disdain for myself. I hope one day to deserve you, Leaf, and I want nothing to stand in your way of loving me. If you cannot see me as a partner of value, then I am done for. Kill me now. I have no wish to live if you cannot even like me.”

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