Page 15 of King of Fire and Flames

“I’d rather be crowned queen of my own realm. Anyway, Prince Bakhur isn’t interested in me. And if the sham of a marriage did take place, I doubt he or his father would let me out of the tower afterward.”

Bright blue eyes cut to mine. “Last night, Azarn clearly told you what he’s interested in—the gold that you’re connected to through the reavers.” A small geyser exploded only five feet in front of us, and Esen tugged me out of the way just in time. “Watch where you’re walking or your face will be burned off, and then your beloved horse won’t recognize you.”

“Face or no face, Luna will always know me. Arrow controls both the lightning weavers and the auron kanara. Mydorian can’t supply Azarn with gold. He needs the Storm Idiot on side, and I can’t imagine that asshole giving control of anything over to the fire fae. Can you?”

She snickered. “Other than you, no I can’t.”

The sun rose higher in the gray sky, burning most of the foul-smelling smoke away. Through the end of the tree tunnel, the silhouettes of distant buildings shimmered, blurring in the heat, like the body of Azarn’s ghost sister—the pitiful, but terrifying, Ruhh.

Our footsteps echoed against flagstones as we entered a large courtyard surrounded by walls covered in tumbling roses so dark they appeared black. Hoping to test their perfume, I strayed toward them, but Esen plucked me back and marched us over to a large, rectangular building made of dark wood and gray stone.

Two guards flanked the open wooden doors, trolls with long curling tusks and orange eyes that reminded me of Gorbinvar. A cold shiver puckered my skin as memories of laying beneath the blacksmith shuddered through me.

It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have escaped Coridon without a plan or an ally. Shut up, I told myself, squaring my shoulders and mentally slapping myself. I’d do exactly the same thing again if given the chance to flee Taln.

I regretted nothing.

Freedom was worth risking everything for.

Rows of stalls constructed from smooth, wooden beams and the same volcanic stone that the palace was hewn from lined the stables. Pulsating triangular symbols adorned its roughly rendered walls.

In a haze of dust, grooms worked at the far end of the building, sweeping hay and cleaning stalls, the sound of horses’ whickers and stomps filling the air.

“Luna,” I called out, and her white head appeared over the second stall on my right, her nostrils flaring and ears flicking forward.

I hurried over and pressed my cheek against the flat of her nose, breathing in her familiar scent as I whispered soothing words. I opened the half-length door and ran my hands over her coat before inspecting her feet, hugging her neck when I was satisfied that she was well and happy.

“She seems to like you,” said Esen, leaning a shoulder against the stall’s wooden frame.

“I raised her from a foal. Other than Ari, Luna is my dearest friend.”

“The Sayeeda?” Esen snorted. “So everyone despises me, but that icy gold reaver elf has no trouble making devoted friends?”

Slowly, I turned to face her. “If you try being nice for a change, you’ll make friends, too, Esen. And I also recommend that you don’t attempt to murder any potential friends. Remember our near-fatal gold foundry visit?”

She laughed and pushed off the wall with her shoulder. “You haven’t changed a bit. Still don’t know when to keep your thoughts to yourself.”

“I’d rather die than not have the last word,” I teased.

“Suit yourself,” she said, digging a piece of apple from a pouch and giving it to Luna. “I’d better take you back to the tower before you accidentally offend someone and get yourself stabbed.”

“Can I take Luna for a quick ride first?”

“No. You’d be halfway across the realm before I even realized I’d been left behind.”

“Come on.” I made a pleading face. “Or… are you afraid I’m a better rider than you?”

A flash of fire magic rolled off Esen’s palm, and I winced as it hit my shoulder.

“What was that? Did your power misfire? Or did you do it on purpose?”

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” She looked away, flicking her fingers as if in pain. “Let’s go.”

Promising Luna I’d return soon, I dropped a kiss on her nose and exited the stables.

We took a different route back to the palace, meandering through gardens filled with plants and trees heavily laden with fiery-colored flowers that were planted in intricate arrangements—sweeping spirals mixed with more formal rectangular patterns.

A red sun hovered in the sky, casting pinkish light over black statues of winged fae, their limbs tangled together in the midst of fierce battles. A stone phoenix spread its wings in the center of a fountain spewing liquid fire into a pond, its light too dazzling to study for long.

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